Peaceful Warrior (2006)

A chance encounter with a stranger changes the life of a college gymnast.

Director:

Victor Salva

Writers:

Kevin Bernhardt (screenplay), Dan Millman (novel)

Stars:

Scott Mechlowicz, Nick Nolte, Amy Smart

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Scott Mechlowicz	...	Dan Millman
Nick Nolte	...	Socrates
Amy Smart	...	Joy
Tim DeKay	...	Coach Garrick
Ashton Holmes	...	Tommy
Paul Wesley	...	Trevor
B.J. Britt	...	Kyle
Agnes Bruckner	...	Susie
Tom Tarantini	...	Thug with Gun
Beatrice Rosen	...	Dory
Ray Wise	...	Doctor Hayden
Scott Caudill	...	Thug One (as Scott 'Jesic' Caudill)
Matthew Prater	...	Thug Two (as Matthew John Prater)
Bart Conner	...	Himself
Jimmy Bradley	...	Commentator One

Storyline

Dan Millman has it all: good grades, a shot at the Olympic team on the rings and girls lining up for the handsome Berkely college athlete all teams mates look up to with envy. Only one man shakes his confidence, an anonymous night gas station attendant, who like Socrates, keeps questioning every assumption in his life. Then a traffic crash shatters Dan's legs, and his bright future. Now Socrates's life coaching is to make or break Dan's revised ambition.

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Plot Keywords:

comeback | cameo appearance by real life subject | olympics | gymnast | college | 

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Taglines:

There are no ordinary moments.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sensuality, sex references and accident scenes

Details

Official Sites:

Author Dan Millman's Official site. Official distributor's page for the film. [United States]

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 June 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Peaceful Warrior

Filming Locations:

Fullerton, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$80,602, 4 June 2006

Gross USA:

$3,960,414

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,693,440

Company Credits

Production Co:

DEJ Productions, FortyFour Studios, Inferno Distribution

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Dan Millman is seen lying on top of the old car outside of the gas station, the letters "SM" are spelled out on the top of the car with rocks which are the initials for the actor who plays him (Scott Mechlowicz).

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Goofs

Just after Millman is rejected by the Coach in the Olympic letter scene, Millman and Socrates are talking in the Service Station. Behind Millman, Socratese is reflected in the glass of the window. His lips are moving and he shakes his hand but the audio has no dialog from Socrates at that exact moment. In the final scenes, when we see the gym and the Olympic try outs, we hear cheers and applause, but only the people sitting in the first three or four rows of the audience directly in front of the viewer are clapping.

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Quotes

Socrates: Death isn't sad. The sad thing is: most people don't live at all.

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Connections

References The Karate Kid (1984)

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Soundtracks

It's All Right
Written by Daniel Bush, Lee Rickard and Chris Zeigler
Performed by Thee Make-Out Party!
Courtesy of Kapow Records/Thee Make-Out Party!

User Reviews

A Great Film with an Important Message

I've long been a fan of the book upon which this film is based -- Dan Millman's The Way of the Peaceful Warrior.

If you've read the book, you know its central lesson is learning how to live in the moment.

Filled with memorable aphorisms, the book is part novel, part autobiography, and part spiritual guidebook -- and I have to admit that I was nervous about how the book would translate to the big screen.

But I was lucky enough to catch an advance screening of the film. And for fans of the book like me -- and people who've never read it -- this film delivers.

Nick Nolte's performance as Socrates is one of the best he's ever given. Scott Mechlowicz does a great job showing us the transformation of Dan Millman. And the feeling one has when one walks out of the theater-- of wanting to seize every moment that life offers you-- is a feeling that we don't get often enough. That feeling is worth the price of admission alone.

Peaceful Warrior is that rare film that manages to be hugely inspirational without being cheesy. It's well worth seeing.