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Bhagavad Gita + Why This Movie Has Such a Low Rating

posted 11 years ago by Eowyn8
7 replies | jump to latest

I've answered three questions on this board. Different questions, but I was able to give the same answer answer to each question. Upon giving the third answer I realized that many people don't know that this movie is a re-telling of an ancient story, simply updated and told through the events surrounding the Bobby Jones story.

The Legend of Bagger Vance is a re-telling of the Bhagavad Gita, in which the hero of the story, Prince Arjuna, is experiencing battle fatigue. He sees his friends being killed and begins to see the futility in fighting. He gives up on everything, including himself.

His spiritual guide appears and teaches Arjuna that the real fight is one within himself. He must master himself, his mind and his responses to the world. The golf course is the battle field and the game is won in Arjuna's mind.

Matt Damon's character is Arjuna. Wil Smith's character is Bagger Vance.

When this movie was released I knew there were some people who thought this film was simply about a golf pro who lost his sexual prowess. I didn't realize that so many people were not aware of the roots of this story.

I'm guessing that is why it has so many low ratings. Folks just don't know the back story.

[–] Jumper021 11 years ago

I don't believe a back story makes most movies any better, unless you find out later it is a true story. Aside from that a crappy movie is a crappy movie.

[–] Fred-333 10 years ago

I agree about the "back story" concept but when one really knows or recognizes the "back story" and what it can teach an individual then it becomes something special and a real spiritual learning experience. Redford is brilliant when he does this. Watch that old fly fishing movie "A River Runs Through It" and tell me it is all about fishing.

[–] Jumper021 9 years ago

I love A River Runs Through It - one of my all time favorites. You brought up a great point.

Incidentally (doesn't change your point) but did you know "A River" is actually a true story?

[–] Fred-333 9 years ago

Oh yes, I grew up in northern Wyoming and have been fly fishing in Wyoming and Montana many times. Still go back (from Atlanta) every year to fish. Thanks

[–] captwampler 11 years ago

I find the movie inspirational and entertaining. As the more creative movies have back stories as to their origin, like "Oh Brother. Where Art Thou" and Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, I was curious of The Legend of Bagger Vance's origin.

Thanks for the Hindu lesson.

[–] Irish_Pete 10 years ago

It has a low rating because it is a bad film.

[–] ScreenwriterVA 10 years ago

A film should presume the audience knows nothing of the backstory other than what it presents. Even though I studied the Bhagavad Gita in college, none of that came back to me. I'll bet less than 1% of non-Hindu Americans have even heard of the Bhagavad Gita. So the film must stand on its own. This one was mildly interesting, but as others have pointed out, the treatment of Bagger Vance as a black man in the 1920s South was so misrepresented as to be distracting. Also, what was the point of the title "The Legend" of Bagger Vance? The film is really about the golfer with the weird name, Junuh.