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62 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Molding a leader...., November 3, 2001
is the topic of Bryce Courtenay's novel of the same name. The DVD does credence to his excellent (5 star!) book. Virtually unknown to the viewing audience thanks to release errors made when the movie came out in 1992, the story provides a showcase for the acting talents of Stephen Dorff - then a virtual unknown, today one of our strongest young character actors; he stars as Peekay, a young English orphan torn by the promise of an easier future outside of his native South Africa and his love for all things and most people of his land. He is drawn by his past and the lessons learned from a series of wise mentors, who see in him the promise and hope of a better future for South Africa. Color blind, he grows up speaking many tribal languages, and is foreign only to the politically powerful movement that created the system of Apartheid in South Africa. Power of One was recommended to me by a dear friend, who said the movie inspired him in many ways. He was so right. The music, a mixture of soaring melodies and tribal songs, inspires on its own. The scenic beauty of the land of South Africa, from the grasslands to the waterfalls is breathtakingly portrayed on film and captured with true artistry in the DVD. There are many fine supporting players in this tale, some famous, some unknown. Like most tales of heroes and leaders, they shine for awhile in the tale of the child, the adolescent and then the young man Peekay (kudos to the casting director for the two youngsters who play Peekay in his early years; they light up the screen!) and each one's sun sets as Peekay lives through the losses and tragedies that form the backdrop for most heroes. Really a fine tale - a little long in the last hour, some gratuitous violence - a story of the African struggle that few of us know was taking place while the world watched the Nazis. If you see the Power of One, and are moved by the story, be sure to read Courtenay's novel. Both are outstanding!
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51 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful, May 7, 2001
This review is from: Power of One [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I have to admit to being totally surprised by the way I felt about this movie. I expected to HATE it. A movie about boxing!! Not my idea of an interesting, or insightful view of apartheid! Although it is not nearly as good a movie as it is a book this movie more than delivers the goods. You have a wonderful more than slightly bitter story about this incredible child growing into a caring and concientious young man truly against the odds. His guides on his path from boyhood to adulthood are beautifully played by Armin Mueller Stahl, Morgan Freeman and Sir John Gielgud, not an unimpressive list. Stephen Dorff is impressive as the older Peekay and the actors playing the younger versions also help to create a character that is truly warm and appealing. The music from this movie also remains one of my favourite soundtracks of all time. It moves between being uplifting and happy to melancholy and powerful. It is truly a beautiful soundtrack. All in all I cannot reccommend this movie enough, if I had never watched it I wouldn't have even know of the book and it is now one of my favourites also. Watch this movie and I truly believe you won't be disappointed.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gorgeous, Stirring Film, September 12, 2001
Not what you'd expect from the director of "Rocky" and "The Karate Kid", two well done but rather shallow 'fighting' movies. While part of this movie does have to do with boxing, it is just a vehicle to better show the audience deep character changes happening inside the heart and mind of the lead character, P.K. (called Peekay in the book, apparantly, although I never read it). The director deserved any awards that were lying about when he made this film! The story is about a small British boy, P.K., who is orphaned at a young age and lives in an all-Afrikaans boarding school. He is harrassed and beaten, and eventually comes under the tutilage of 'Doc', an eccentric and wise old man from Germany. When Doc is taken to prison, he is treated exceptionally well, and introduces P.K. to Piet, a black inmate who teaches the small boy to box. In this way P.K. grows up, witnessing tragic and terrible happenings around him as well as triumph as he outrgrows his thin, scared figure and becomes a muscular, self-confident and strong-willed man. The film follows him as he grows as a human being, striving to change his world and live life to its fullest. The story is one without flaws, and although is a bit unbelievable (I don't think this is a true story; however, it very well might be) it is very convincing. The preformances are exellent, the best of which is definitely from Stephen Dorff, who plays P.K. His accent is wonderful considering I'm almost sure he's American. Mueller-Stahl as Doc is obviously spectacular, as always, and the acting of Morgan Freeman, who plays Piet... well, I needn't say more! The story is deeply stirring, sending literal chills down my spine as I watched. While the flakish, yet spunky, character of Maria (P.K.'s sheltered love interest who matures more with him then I think she would have otherwise in her entire lifetime) is played well, her character seems to be there simply to add a love story to an already fabulous film. The romance is quite touching, however, and is a nice distraction from the chaos of P.K.'s world. A film not to be missed.
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