(2012-04-28 04:23:14)

Enjoyed with my grand daughter

It's hard to find a movie I enjoy equally as well with my grand daughter, but this is one. This is an adult movie that kids will like, rather than the other way around.

(2012-04-27 11:55:07)

Just my own .02 worth

I saw this in the theatre when it came out last fall. Yes, there are some inaccurracies. Call it Hollywood. Those flaws do not lessen the impact of Secretariat's story in any way. The coin flip was decided the year before Secretariat was born. Ogden Phipp's did win the flip of the coin. That left Mrs. Chenery with the Somethihngroyal foal of 1970 who of course turned out to be Secretariat. She was not present at his birth, rather her father was. I believe it was Ms. Ham who said "whopper" in regards to Secretariat.It was Angle Light who won the Wood 3 weeks before the Derby. I've read alot of people who said that Disney made it sound like Sham had won. But if you listen closely to the call at the finish--the announcer says its Angle Light and Sham with Secretariat coming in third. Yes, it was kind of awkward and for those not closely associated to this story you might be misled.Overall I think Diane Lane brought Penny to life for a whole new generation of kids who don't don't this story. Watch the credits and you will see Penny listed as the consultant.One of Secretariat's grandkids actually played him in the movie. It was shot at Churchhill Downs. Disney really did do an outstanding job with this movie making it as true as they could--and still adding more Hollywood to a story that really didn't need it.My biggest complaint with the dvd is the coloring. It looks awful on my HD tv. I had to adjust stuff cause leaving things at neutral leaves Secretariat's blinkers looking green. They should look somewhere between medium and navy blue with chalk white on them--with the red coat of Secretariat. Perhaps its just my copy or my tv. It's simple to adjust. Once you do you will immensely enjoy this movie even more.A wonderful piece of history. One that kids today should watch. Kate Tweedy was into protesting Vietnam--that's a history lesson for middle schoolers! Plus its family friendly, no bad words and no behaviour that would make parents think twice about letting their kids see.Hollywood we need more great horse stories like this. Ones that kids can learn from. We desperately need family friendly movies that all can watch and not be worried about content.

Joshua Tyler

(2012-04-26 17:54:06)

Secretariat all but ignores the horse it?s named after in favor of telling the tedious, mostly irrelevant story of his owner.

Jackie K. Cooper

(2012-04-26 03:12:52)

The horse's story entertains but it would have been nice to have more of the owner's personal life explored

(2012-04-21 11:28:51)

What Happened to this DVD?

This review is from: Secretariat (DVD) I was very interested in race horses and I ordered and prepaid for this DVD "Secretariat" some 4 months back. I thought I was able to give my view on this particular disc but it never came. I reported the non-delivery and the only answer I got was a refund of my postage. I reminded and re-reminded Amazon's staff that I still wanted this disc but got zero reply.How do Amazon expect me to review this disc? Secretariat

Elias Savada

(2012-04-20 15:28:44)

Secretariat is basically an amiable crowd pleaser. It's a good film about a great horse.

(2012-04-20 07:26:50)

Excellent Family Movie

This review is from: Secretariat (DVD) Secretariat is a very enjoyable movie, about the horse, the family who owned it, and the men who road and trained it. Like Seabiscuit, this movie is as much a story of the humans involved as it is about the horse. Great acting, wonderful audio and visual effects, an upbeat soundtrack, and attention to the societal issues of the day highlight this fine film that's great for the whole family to watch together.

(2012-04-19 15:34:27)

Wow this was a great movie!

Let me just say first of all I was skeptical. I was. I was going to buy it but since it didn't seem to do that well at the theater I didn't. I had some free Amazon codes for Video on Demand so I figured why not? It's basically free - WOW can I tell you how sorry I am that I didn't buy it? VERY SORRY. EXTREMELY SORRY! This movie starts a little slow but you need the back story to get it. Then watching it once it takes off - OMG! Now any movie based on a real person, animal or event you kind of know what the outcome is but you don't care - you get caught up in it. You cheer for the horse, for the woman breaking out of the Donna Reed/June Cleaver kind of role that life thrusted on women at that time, just WOW - AWESOME movie!!! Should have been nominated for Best Actress Oscar and Best movie!

(2012-04-10 21:21:38)

Feel The Passion and Spirit of Greatness!

Because this movie will move you. So well done.. I Loved IT!! Well done Disney. You should get also the real footage..even more amazing then the movie!!

Christopher Tookey

(2012-04-10 07:41:37)

I think this is one of the year's most enjoyable family films.

(2012-04-03 02:19:44)

Wonderful Family Movie

This review is from: Secretariat (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) (Blu-ray) Another Disney Keeper, well done and since I remember this remarkable horse and rise to fame...the movie mingled the historical with theatrical in a well balance. We viewed as a family and actually watched it two times that day. Nice Background extras as well.

loufalce

(2012-04-02 05:27:58)

A Horse is a Horse Of Course Of Course

Formula bio-pic sports flick about the wonderhorse of the 70s. DianeLane and John Malkovich are good, but the film is very problematic. Athrowback to 1930s style melodrama, the story tells us very littleabout Secretariat itself, but concentrates on the behind the scenesdrama concerning the owner and the problems in her life. Thephotography is lush, but its no "Black Stallion",the music swells, andthe phoney "feel good" factor manifests itself from the get-go. All itreally is is a horse movie with some TV movie style meloramatics addedto the scenario. Its the Triple Crown of boredom and predictability.The whole atmosphere has a scrubbed, sterile 1950s feel to it eventhough it takes place in the early 70s. Sad thing about it is that ifyou are interested in the "sport of kings", this movie will tell youvery little about it. Plastic and totally predictable, a complete wasteof celluloid. Trying to review a film like this objectively is the samething as whipping a dead horse. Secretariat gets scratched at thestart.If you are looking for a winner, the multiplex playingSecretariat is not the place to show. You can bet on THAT!

Jules Brenner

(2012-03-22 19:46:00)

Celebrates greatness on four legs with a decent--if not record-breaking--amount of light entertainment. What're the odds?

Joshua Rothkopf

(2012-03-22 16:07:32)

A family entertainment that the Brady Bunch would have enjoyed (if not actually starred in), Disney's real-life horse story, about the 1973 Triple Crown winner, is a solid shot straight up the middle.

gradyharp

(2012-03-21 18:06:27)

Good Sport Film

SECRETARIAT is a solid Disney film for families about the importance ofgod sportsmanship and the devotion of people to animals and the bondingthat can take place. Based on William Nack's book SECRETARIAT: THEMAKING OF A CHAMPION and adapted for the screen by Mike Rich the filmis a solid biography of a great horse and an even more interestingstatement about women surviving and excelling in a 'man's world' ofsports. as directed by Randall Wallace the film takes care to developthe history of the great horse, from before his birth through thebirthing process, the training and the exhilaration of triumph. Thetime frame of the story is well captured and the cast delivers solidperformances. Diane Lane (in a somewhat unusual role for her0 is theowner Penny Chenery who takes over her father's horse ranch - ChrisChenery is portrayed by Scott Glenn - and the important contributors tothe growth and subsequent fame of the horse are John Malkovich (playingJohn Malkovich assuming the role of Lucien Laurin) and the redoubtableMargo Martindale as Miss Ham. This film will appeal to audiences who love biographies, especiallythose of animals. There is a fine sense of delivery of this interestingtale but somehow it never catches fire and seems longer than its 123minutes. The reason to watch this film may very well be to watch thetrue star of the film - the horse 'Big Red' AKA Secretariat. Grady Harp

(2012-03-21 02:35:57)

Secretariat - loved it

This review is from: Secretariat (DVD) Wonderful movie. Good for the whole family. Can't wait to watch it with my grandchildren, even my grandmother friends will enjoy it. Thanks to Ammazon, I purchase so many good movies without leaving the house especially during the winter months and they arrive in a few days. Thank you Amazon. Audrey Parey

Nell Minow

(2012-03-19 15:51:42)

What a pleasure to see the exquisite Diane Lane in a role worthy of her talent and beauty. In this movie, she is the champion who gets to run the race she was born for.

(2012-03-19 11:31:08)

The WORST Horse Movie Ever!!!!

Well,except for the remake of "Flicka" this is by far the worst horse racing movie I ever sat through, my mouth hanging open in disbelief!First of all the hideous acting. Diane Lane basically called this one in, mostly standing there with that dumb half-smile. John Malkovich- basically mumbled all the way through, couldn't understand most of what he said. The Tweedy family were mostly cliched cut-outs standing around.Getting to the horse stuff! Horse owners and breeders NEVER say their mares are "pregnant." They are 'with foal", but I guess the dummies who gave this thing 5 stars need explanation. Has director Randall Wallace even ever watched the Triple Crown?!!! At the Kentucky Derby he had the crowds singing "My Old Kentucky Home" long before the race. If he'd only watched ONE Kentucky Derby on TV he'd see that the song is NOT sung until the first horse places the first hoofprint on the track. There were no pony horses taking the racehorses to the gate. This is to keep the racehorses calm and assure they are not injured before the race itself.The races were boring, boring, boring!! If Wallace had actually WATCHED a Triple Crown race he'd see that when a horse who has been behind starts to "move" at the stretch, the race announcer will catch that and give a rousing cry which lends an intense suspense to the race. These races were as exciting as washing dishes. ZZZzzzzzzz........The cinematography was dark, filmed on some dreary days so that these beautiful animals did not shine as they should.I hate racing, know first hand what happens to these poor souls who do not win or earn their keep. Too horrible to tell you here. I only watched because it was on Starz. Would never pay to see this and glad I didn't! If you want to see the BEST horse racing movie ever made, see "Phar Lap", the true story of an Australian underdog of a horse who became unbeatable. It has heart, soul, suspense, great acting and phenomenal photography. 5 hanky at least. And Phar Lap also was a victim of racing.Please help make the racehorse an Endangered Species. Better yet, EXTINCT!!

(2012-03-18 10:39:18)

Great movie

This review is from: Secretariat (DVD) This is a great movie for any horse lover and an entertaining movie even if you're not. A well done true story.

horse_pro

(2012-03-17 16:03:42)

No writers or editorial license was taken here thankfully

I have to agree with McCormack 7 and as a person who spent many yearsworking in the horse racing world. I must say the film holds very trueto the facts as recall them. There is no embellishing of the story thatI can see to make it more pleasing to the viewer. There was really noneed to do that as this series of events are noting less an incredibleon their own without the writers taking editorial license. They did notand for that I am very grateful. This is a great movie and it will be awonderful addition to my collection when it comes out on DVD. I wouldencourage anyone interested in seeing a true depiction of an animalthat exceeded expectations so far as to be accurately called a freak ofnature in a totally non derogatory sense. What this horse accomplishedin the Belmont Stakes has never been done in racing history and likelynever will be done again.