harrisguy-29246
Clunky acting and an unbelievably predictable plot
John Raymond Peterson
It's a good movie for those who like Lacrosse or those who wish to get a feel for the sport. Let's face it, movies depicting the sport are rare. I wanted to see it because I played intercollegiate Lacrosse and knew I could appreciate the movie if it did a fair job of conveying the rigors of playing the sport; it does, sufficiently so but no more. I was not thrilled by the drama or core story as I doubt any moviegoer would. The cast did however do a good job of performing the 'game play' scenes. The toughness of the game may have been downplayed a little to the eyes of the erudite; the opposite will be perceived by those who have not played or seen several matches. The endless practice required to perform at the level depicted in the movie did not get enough coverage; I suppose the lessons and moral values the movie tries to impart had to take precedence. Unless you have an interest of some kind in Lacrosse, you might want to take note of the movie, otherwise if you want sport related drama of any kind, there are so many more better movies to pick from, I wouldn't know where to start.
zoerobe
"Crooked Arrows" breaks no new ground in plucky underdog sports movies, but does offer a sweet, mostly clean alternative to some of the current theater offerings. It's rated PG-13, but has no graphic sex scenes, contains a positive message, and even a non-lacrosse fan like this one, found the games edge-of-your-seat intense. It does offer proof that sports movie clichés stay the same regardless of the ethnicity of the underdogs, but no film's perfect.Brandon Routh plays the reluctant coach of the Jackpots (later Crooked Arrows) a ragtag public high school lacrosse team made of mostly Native Americans. He's also responsible for negotiating a land deal with a shady white guy, and is regarded by most his tribe, as a sell-out. Tensions come to a head when his dad opposes selling the land, and the council decides that dad gets to stipulate what Routh must do in return. The team is sufficiently pugnacious (they start a brawl after losing to a snooty prep school), but they need a coach who can channel their aggression and boost their confidence enough to be serious contenders. Also, they need much better equipment, which to the movie's credit, is dealt with openly.The players break down into recognizable types: the goofy, fat kid; the insanely talented guy who needs to learn to be a team player; the spunky tomboy who's got more cojones than all her teammates put together, etc. The opposing coach who coached the teenaged Logan, is blond, scowly and borderline psychotic - and at one point, in perhaps a nod to The Karate Kid, bellows, "No mercy!" from the sidelines during a game. Unsurprisingly, the team will learn valuable lessons in life, and the coach will also grow as a person. As a Mr. Miyagi-like mentor figure puts it, there's a reason lacrosse is called "the Medicine Game."
Artie K. Martin
I seen this film described as a, "David vs Goliath" event; Small team vs Big team = Small team wins! That's it in a nutshell, but It's so much more then that! Sure lacrosse is in our blood and our families played for centuries - and that alone is enough to bring tears to peoples eyes when they watch this on the big screen - but the imagery and language of our people in a medium that will touch so much people - makes me proud!This new awareness of haudenosaunee people in popular media is way past due! When's the last time you seen a native even in a sitcom let alone a Haudenosaunee? You may know about the Cree, Navajo, Seminole, Cherokee, and Apache, but how many people know about the Haudenosaunee (a.k.a. Iroquois) league of nations? I love how this film incorporates subtle facts about the Haudenosaunee and doesn't miss expressing our sovereignty!For those of you who play lacrosse and especially the younger ones getting into the game - this movie is for you! Your eyes might tear up and you may get so excited you want to cheer along - but you'll walk out of the theater more knowledgeable and more importantly - INSPIRED!!Niá:wen / Thank you to the actors, production team, and everyone involved - what a great experience!
AD
