I usually avoid the overcoming-the-odds type movies, but I love movies about horses and since this was British, I hoped it could avoid the type of cliché usually found in American films of this sort. It might have if the music wasn't so overdone. I wished I could shut it off in certain scenes, it was too dramatic and corny for the action, and should have been saved for the ending, for which it was well-suited.
John Hurt is a wonderful actor. He was possibly a little old for the part and didn't really have a jockey's physique, but he made it work, especially in the scenes in which he dealt with his illness. The only thing I didn't think was very good was that he didn't seem to have much rapport with the horse, Aldaniti, and I was expecting something more in those scenes.
I only have seen Kirstie Alley in weight loss commercials, and didn't realise that before she gained the weight she had a stunning figure, she looks quite beautiful in the short scene in which she is featured.
The children in the film were great, especially the niece. A cute scene is the nieces asks Bob, who is hairless from the chemotherapy, "Uncle Kojak, if you only came third in the Gold Cup, how are you going to win the Grand National?" Their subsequent dialogue is funny and moving.
I also liked treatment of the nurses devotion to Bob.
I'd say my biggest complaint about the DVD is that there are no special features. So many DVDs have interviews, comments and documentaries. This is one that really should have had some footage of the real Bob and Aldaniti, and at least one interview. BIG disappointment.
Bob Champion has a website and has done a lot for the cancer research. I'd like to read the book the movie is based on, but still ... some special features would have been nice.
John Hurt is a wonderful actor. He was possibly a little old for the part and didn't really have a jockey's physique, but he made it work, especially in the scenes in which he dealt with his illness. The only thing I didn't think was very good was that he didn't seem to have much rapport with the horse, Aldaniti, and I was expecting something more in those scenes.
I only have seen Kirstie Alley in weight loss commercials, and didn't realise that before she gained the weight she had a stunning figure, she looks quite beautiful in the short scene in which she is featured.
The children in the film were great, especially the niece. A cute scene is the nieces asks Bob, who is hairless from the chemotherapy, "Uncle Kojak, if you only came third in the Gold Cup, how are you going to win the Grand National?" Their subsequent dialogue is funny and moving.
I also liked treatment of the nurses devotion to Bob.
I'd say my biggest complaint about the DVD is that there are no special features. So many DVDs have interviews, comments and documentaries. This is one that really should have had some footage of the real Bob and Aldaniti, and at least one interview. BIG disappointment.
Bob Champion has a website and has done a lot for the cancer research. I'd like to read the book the movie is based on, but still ... some special features would have been nice.