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Searching for Bobby Fischer Movie on DVD

  • Studio: Other
  • Run Time: 109 min
  • Format: DVD
Description:

Searching for Bobby Fischer is the best mainstream chess movie ever made. It is a great family film that reinforces positive attributes like dedication, patience, good sportsmanship, but most importantly - perspective. A great movie for young chess players and their parents... or old chess players and their kids!

PLOT SUMMARY: Josh Waitzkin is just a typical American boy interested in baseball when one day he challenges his father at chess and wins. Showing unusual precocity at the outdoor matches at Washington Square in New York City, he quickly makes friends with a hustler named Vinnie who teaches him speed chess. Josh's parents hire a renowned chess coach, Bruce, who teaches Josh the usefulness of measured planning. Along the way Josh becomes tired of Bruce's system and chess in general and purposely throws a match, leaving the prospects of winning a national championship in serious jeopardy.

Rated PG, DVD Region 1 (US, Canada only), 109 minutes, widescreen version

Reviews:

by unclenugget - 2 days ago
gundagai Australia
Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 17

Rating:+++++

good movie

by Tacoma - 13 days ago
Tacoma United States
Member Since: Aug 2008
Member Points: 9

I love this movie! One of my favorites.

by dark_knightB - 34 days ago
florida United States
Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 2

Movie was great, but I enjoyed the book even more.

by Aramista - 2 months ago
Canberra Australia
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 67

Rating:+++++

it has allready been said on this Forum - I found it one of the most thoughtful, inspirational, delightful, poingniant, experiences of my life


by okmrbill - 2 months ago
Toledo, Ohio United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 136

Rating:+++++

Good story based on real events... must see for chess lovers of all ages!
by jimr - 5 months ago
south NJ United States
Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 35

Rating:++++-

this is a great movie.  maybe the best chess movie ever made.  my favorite aspect of the movie is the way it deals with the dicotomy of chess (tricotomy?  quad-cotomy) with the two totally different coaches...is chess a sport?  a science?  or an art?  or as the laura linney character thinks, "just a game."

 my favorite line, (after josh says "I can't see it")  "let me make it easier for you"  and bruce sweeps the pieces off the board onto the floor.


by wutangsword - 5 months ago
London United Kingdom
Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 7

People please note that the seventh seal is not a movie about chess, it is a film about a soldier returning home from the crusades to a land infected by the plague, he meets Death in the beginning of the film and he promises to keep him alive for the duration of a played game, with the soldier winning his life back if he can beat him. It is more about the concepts of god, hell and the questionable life after death than anything, the chess playing is just more of a romantic theme.

 To those who may be disappointed finding out it's not all about the game itself.

 With searching for bobby fischer, it's very impressive, quite long, and it has Laurence Fishburne in it.


by Pawn_mower - 6 months ago
United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 38
Love this movie.  It works on so many levels.
by JaVeZ3 - 6 months ago
Guadalajara Mexico
Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 1

Rating:+++++

This is a movie to encourage you to really enjoy and live chess like you do with basketball or football, I love how young kids get excited even if they don't understand the game yet, another movie that gave me the same feeling was Lushin's defense, althought for kids is a hard movie to understand (I translated the title into english from spanish, not so sure what's the original title) 
by Benkobaby - 7 months ago
Seattle, USA Australia
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 2001

Rating:++++-

I liked this movie a lot. The story is great - the chess played in the movie, not so much. I just can't see how a chess prodigy (Josh's opponent) in the final game would not have seen that his position was lost. Oh well - other than that small point - great fun.

 

I see someone also suggested "The Seventh Seal" - Now THAT is a fantastic movie. It may not have enough chess overtones for some peoples tastes though. The only chess movie I have seen where the chess actually played was GM class is a made for TV German movie - Black and White as Day and Night. The quality of the production is poor but the story, performances, and (most importantly) the chess played in the movie are fabulous. (German with English sub-titles). Schwarz und Weiss wie Tag und Nacht.


by Amnesiac - 7 months ago
United Kingdom
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 557

Rating:+++--

Good performances by Ben Kingsley etc etc and good if you like chess, but purely on terms of how good a film it is I would say average.
by JSABBAS - 8 months ago
Tirunelveli City India
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 11

Rating:++++-

i love chess toomuch and i enjoyed from this . i hope that this site will improve the games to all
by cheboy - 9 months ago
virginia-dumfries Peru
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 8

Rating:+++++

Kiss   I'm peruvian  in this country  Last year  I went to N.York to play chess at the same place  in the park . Where the movies showed ' Bobby Fisher',my son loved it.
by nicfer07 - 9 months ago
#8 Balinas St.,Mansilingan, Bacolod Ct Philippines
Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 263
Chess is my life...teaching my two kids chess game as to develop their character and the very important is DISCIPLINE. frustrated chess player parents pushed thier son to play chess cuz...of thier own personal happines is a FAILURE, because their son can not experience the TRUE joy and pleasure that comes from playing chess,. as a parent we must motivate  them first.
by Hugh_T_Patterson - 12 months ago
San Francisco, CA United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 222
This movie brings up some very interesting aspects of chess and life. I was taught by one of my parents who pushed me to play a very aggressive game. He also taught me the value of good sportsmanship. This movie shows you two children who take different paths in their learning of the game. In the end, Josh demonstrates that he is a good young man who will not take the "low" road. I've seen too many "chess parents" who live their failed lives as chess players through their kids. This can take the true joy and pleasure that comes from playing chess. As a professional musician, I see similar bad behavior in younger musicians who apply out of control egos to their craft. I have remained a nice guy and the rewards are far greater. This film really shows what most people miss when they hear a story about the latest chess prodigy on the nightly news. I have seen it man, many times and it still holds my interest. Great cast as well.
by hooperxxx - 12 months ago
Ferndale, MI United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 213
I didn't hate this movie, but it isn't one of my favorite chess movies (those would be "The Seventh Seal" and "Shatranj Ke Khilari"). SFBF is a bit too schmaltzy for my taste.
by IanSteiner - 13 months ago
Highland Square(akron,Oh) United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 111

Rating:+++++

This movie influenced me to start playing chess.  It is one of my favorite movies of all time.  I highly recommend it.
by Sprite - 13 months ago
Washington, D.C. area United States
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 404

Rating:+++++

This movie is fantastic, both to non-chess players and the chess fanatic.  I can't find a way to not like it, as even my mom (who's never played chess) watched it with me and really enjoyed it.  Even though they only showed one real sequence of "real" chess, it's still good enough to please a chess fan like me.
by StacyBearden - 13 months ago
New Caprica United States
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 900

Rating:+++++

I love this movie! My favorite part is "His parents gave him to me. All he does is play chess." "Certainly he goes to school?" "No." "You should be very proud of yourself." "I am." That guy is the Darth Sideous of chess.
by zackistall - 13 months ago
Singapore
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 111

Rating:+++++

This movie thought me a lot about chess. I reccomend this movie to anyone of all ages intrested to play chess.
by southforbes - 13 months ago
Quezon city, Philippines Philippines
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 1
 i read all the comments and it seems interesting, i'll check video shops and buy one..thanks to all..
by jona004 - 13 months ago
Telford, UK England
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 356
This is a great film, but in the UK they changed the title to the cheesy ' innocent moves '. YUK!!
by chessme - 13 months ago
United States
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 31
 This movie is AWSOME. I have been looking for a copy on D.V.D. Everyone should see the film. Just a little thing to say. When my dad and I play we will spend about a half an hour to 45 min. Before a piece is taken. No speed chess.When I fined a copy it's mine.
by Nuttengud - 13 months ago
United States
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 24
I once used this movie to motivate some kids I was teaching in a summer program organized by the local public library.  I often use it as an illustration for kids who don't play their best because they believe they are young and don't have to take chess seriously.  Great movie, I recommend it to everyone.
by greersome - 13 months ago
Chicago, IL United States
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 194
Saddly, I've never seen this film.  I'll add it to my netflix list.
by verusamo - 13 months ago
Kingston, OK United States
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 308

Rating:+++++

Bloody brilliant!
by o0obruceleeo0o - 14 months ago
Corona, CA United States
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 163

Rating:+++++

As everyone else has already said, it's a great movie!  Also a great book, if you ever get the chance to read it :).
by nyarlathotep - 14 months ago
United States
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 125

Rating:+++++

My wife and I both enjoy this movie.  It's definitly the best chess movie on the market that I've seen so far.  I still think it's strange that the boy in the movie is supposed to be the Chessmaster representative now (and a martial artist).  It's odd listening to Chessmaster's academy voiceover (with the real Josh) and seeing the kid in the movie. *shrug* I enjoy it Laughing
by jay - 14 months ago
San Jose, CA United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 1029

Rating:+++++

Yes, my favorite "chess" movie of all time, unfortunately there aren't too many to choose from.
by vernon - 14 months ago
Coweta,OK United States
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 203
i havent seen it yet but would love to where can i get it
by AliciaS - 14 months ago
Chicago United States
Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 76

Rating:+++++

Very good movie, top-notch film in every way! It has a great cast with Joe Mantegna and Joan Allen as Josh's (Max Pomeranc) parents, Ben Kingsley as Bruce Pandolfini and Laurence Fishburne as Vinnie, a speed chess player Josh meets in Washington Square. The book of the same name that the movie is based on is also very good, goes into more depth and includes a few things that were left out of the movie, such as their trip to Russia and the fathers search for Bobby Fischer.
by erik - 14 months ago
Mountain View, CA United States
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 5956

Rating:+++++

This is a must-see movie for everyone who loves chess, has kids, or just loves a good story. Very well done movie. You don't even have to know chess at all to enjoy it. A+!!

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