Secretariat movie, a dissapointment - Sorry but thats the way I feel

[lauriep]

[QUOTE=dillon424;5149480]
About the ears happily forward in a race, I was just looking at the 5 yr old mare Zenyatta run her 18th win in a row against the boys on youtube - and she had her ears up. She just looks like she’s real level-headed. There is supposed to be a race between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, a 3 yo filly, who has also won against the boys. I hope they both do well. That is supposed to be Zenyatta’s last race.

Our rescued OTTB raced till just before he turned 6 - and he did not have his ears up. He did not like racing, he is very big at 17h (Secretariat his great grandsire) and they started him as a 2yo. He is a VERY sweet retiree - and is learning about dressage - and is soooooooo glad to not race any more.

Not sure I’ll watch the movie - frankly I do not like the racing scene - I don’t like to push a horse to its limits - and then ask for more to the finish line. Just a nice trail ride with a few days of dressage training for balance and learning how to “not” have a lateral canter will be fine for me.[/QUOTE]

Secretariat wasn’t “pushed to his limits” in the Belmont. That is what was so extraordinary about the race. He ran faster and faster all on his own, just because he loved to run. Turcotte was just along for the ride once the race was won.

[lauriep]

[QUOTE=fivehorses;5149162]
race experts, did Penny lose control over him when he went to Claiborne?

Any good books or films about Secretariat or Penny or any of his connections that you would recommend?

I have not been a racing fan so only remember him from the news, etc. But seeing the Belmont clip and then the preakness, all I can say is wow to those of you who saw irl. wow, I’d never get over that.[/QUOTE]

Three.

Secretariat, the Making of a Champion, by William Nack
Secretariat, by Raymond G. Woolfe
Secretariat’s Meadow - The Land, The Family, The Legend, by Kate Chenery Tweedy and Leeanne Ladin.

The last was released last month and is a beautiful book about the history of the farm, the family, the people that worked there and all that led up to producing Secretariat. Written by Penny’s daughter and has terrific pictures not seen elsewhere. Great book!

There is also a DVD called “The Life and Times of Secretariat” available on Amazon.

[Jumpin_Horses]

[QUOTE=lauriep;5149471]
You really need some perspective…[/QUOTE]

jeeez, what is YOUR problem? I can post that I was disappointed if I want. othes can post that they like it if they want… I dont really care.

it is YOU who needs to get perspective and leave me alone.

its like you are stalking me.

you’ve attacked me in both posts now… what do you work for Disney or something?

I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE MOVIE!!! for MY reasons listed above… thats not going to change

if others liked it, then thats GREAT for them, but I DIDNT

you back-off… huh?

gosh, im so sick of SH** like this on these forums!

sorry, but, you are NOT as superior as you think you are.

[lauriep]

It is you that keeps calling the horse your “hero.” I think I’ll confine my hero worship to people I think make a difference in the world, not to a race horse. Who I dearly love as much as anyone, but not my hero.

The perspective I speak of is to consider the audience that is the target. It is NOT horse people. And all of the trivia you keep saying would make a better movie - sure, for US, horsepeople, but it would make the eyes cross of the general movie going public. Or put them to sleep.

I don’t care if you like it or not. But you have to consider what they were trying to do before condemning them and turning people off from seeing it.

[RugBug]

@Jaegermonster;5149490

My main disappointment with the movie was that they did not use any actual footage of Secretariat’s Triple Crown races in the movie.

The Preakness was actual footage.

[fivehorses]

[QUOTE=lauriep;5149501]
Three.

Secretariat, the Making of a Champion, by William Nack
Secretariat, by Raymond G. Woolfe
Secretariat’s Meadow - The Land, The Family, The Legend, by Kate Chenery Tweedy and Leeanne Ladin.

The last was released last month and is a beautiful book about the history of the farm, the family, the people that worked there and all that led up to producing Secretariat. Written by Penny’s daughter and has terrific pictures not seen elsewhere. Great book!

There is also a DVD called “The Life and Times of Secretariat” available on Amazon.[/QUOTE]

I bought the scanlon book today.
thanks for replying.

[fivehorses]

I liked the music in the movie…oh happy day I can’t get out of my head!

I hope they are considering a soundtrack, but it doesn’t appear to be so:no:
does anyone know if a soundtrack is going to be available?

[Jumpin_Horses]

[QUOTE=lauriep;5149736]
It is you that keeps calling the horse your “hero.” I think I’ll confine my hero worship to people I think make a difference in the world, not to a race horse. Who I dearly love as much as anyone, but not my hero.

The perspective I speak of is to consider the audience that is the target. It is NOT horse people. And all of the trivia you keep saying would make a better movie - sure, for US, horsepeople, but it would make the eyes cross of the general movie going public. Or put them to sleep.

I don’t care if you like it or not. But you have to consider what they were trying to do before condemning them and turning people off from seeing it.[/QUOTE]

wow, now you want to control who MY heros are? AND what my perspective is?

you must work for Disney…

im afraid you are going to be disappointed… because MY HERO IS a “horse”, in fact, THAT particular horse. and THAT is MY perspective… im so sorry it differs from yours… I guess you are going to just have to live with that, if you can…

PS, anyone can go see the movie if they want, I dont care. im just stating my opinion. just like others have here… and guess, what? you cant stop me… muwhahahaha!

ETA - by the way, Secretariat DID make a difference in this world, at least he did for me - IMO

[King_s_Ransom]

I actually loved the movie. I knew it was Disney going in, so I was prepared to be disappointed.

Frankly, I was just sooo tickled that they didn’t have the horses talking to each other!

[Vesper_Sparrow]

Saw the movie last night. In general, I enjoyed it but the portrayal of Sham and his owners disturbed me. Specifically, I have a problem with the contrast between the black horse and dark-skinned owner with a crooked nose and an accent and the the blonde-haired, Gospel-inspired owners of Secretariat.

[curlykarot]

@lesson junkie;5147656

I saw it last night. I liked it better than I thought it would. My favorite part (besides the full screen shots of him in the paddock at Claiborne) was coming around the final turn in the Belmont, all alone and breaking the silence in the theater. I’ll go see it again just for that shot.

The lady sitting next to me panicked during this shot. Waiting for him to come around the turn, She goes " OhNo! I hope he is ok!"

I wanted to lean over and tell her that he hit an iceberg and sunk :lol:

The gospel music was a bit over the top and Penny looking into the horse’s eye every othere scene was a little rediculous but overall, I thought it was a cute movie.

[dressagetraks]

Haven’t read all the replies, just throwing in my reaction. Saw Secretariat in Kentucky during WEG.

I went in with low expectations, and they were surpassed (underpassed?). It is definitely a DISNEY movie. Even more of one than I had anticipated.

Pros: Fantastic cinematography, great race scenes and action. Excellent acting performance, I thought, on the part of the lead. Lots of “oh, come on!” moments with the material, but the actress was good.

Cons: Lots of “oh, come on!” moments. Such as:

Penny lives in DENVER (established in movie) and is at HOME (in Denver) when the farm (in Virginia, although apparently also within a “find Bull Hancock for lunch” drive of Lexington) calls Penny to state that Somethingroyal is getting ready to foal. Next scene, Penny, the trainer, the groom, and all are in the stall (in Virginia) watching Somethingroyal foal. Now THAT’S fast plane service. In 1970, yet.

The mystical owner-horse bond. Like her having a “private conversation” with him on the racetrack when everybody steps away, leaving her alone on the track holding this race fit horse, and they have the mystical bonding eye-connection moment for about 30 seconds during which she apparently “inspires” him to eat and get better, as he immediately starts eating again afterwards. Also such lines as “nobody knew (about the abscess) because Red will only relax his mouth around you.” :rolleyes:

The gospel music. Unbelievably out of place. And that’s from someone who likes gospel music.

Lucien Lauren. A travesty in many ways of the actual man.

Finding out Secretariat won HOY through the papers while all sitting in a restaurant.

The “jiving” grooming session with owner, groom, secretary, trainer, and all dancing while having cool drinks while grooming the horse - accompanied of course by gospel music.

Getting hit with the moral (“run your race”) over the head 89 kazillion times, just to make sure you didn’t miss it.

I was disappointed. Maybe I’m just less movable than others, but definitely no happy tears at any point. And yes, I objected to War Admiral’s portrayal in Seabiscuit, and I wanted to throw up during Dreamer.

Must admit, though, there was ONE exchange in the movie that made me laugh out loud. Best line of it, IMHO.

Mrs. Ham: “There are some words of wisdom that have carried me through many dark times, and I’d like to share them with you.”

Penny: “I’m all ears.”

Mrs. Ham: “Good evening, K Mart shoppers.” :lol:

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=JER;5149211]
You might have a point if Secretariat was a Fox movie. But it’s not.

Having worked for Disney numerous times over numerous years in numerous political climates, I can assure you that this particular company is only interested in the bottom line.[/QUOTE]

grumble grumble They better be.

And again, it’s a MOVIE. Horses don’t watch movies and aren’t capable of understanding the concept of drama and plot. Normal humans can’t really get behind animals as heroes without severely anthropomorphising them (which would create a whole 'nother series of complaints.) Movies generally have to be about humans, or humanized substitutes, for a general audience to care. Again, “Seabiscuit” was about the people. “Dreamer” tanked.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

I think I get it now

I believe I understand now why they tinkered with the facts.

If they’d told the story accurately, we’d all understand the tension and emotion and conflict involved in producing a Triple Crown winner, right? We’d be on the edge of our seats. Just as we were back then.

The average non-horsey moviegoer? Y’know, I think they’d see it as three horse races. And shrug.

But by adding in the family dynamics and the possible loss of the farm? Those elements got the rest of the audience (at least when I saw it) to the edge of their seats. They reacted like a real crowd at a real race. They whistled, yelled, clapped, and cried.

I think what Disney did was allow people who wouldn’t be able to experience that level of emotional involvement based on the factual situation to understand why the rest of us hold this horse in such high esteem.

I liked it.:yes:

[ravenclaw]

[QUOTE=Kyzteke;5149367]
I truly believe the Belmont broke his heart – he tried so hard to keep up with Secretariat, but who could? And especially on that day.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe Sham ever won another race.[/QUOTE]

Sham didn’t race again after the Belmont. He was found to be injured after a workout and was retired. This wasn’t long after the Belmont. I think just 2 or 3 weeks after?

[King_s_Ransom]

I had a different take on the eye-to-eye scene between Penny and Secretariat. I just figured she listened to him and she knew he wasn’t ready to run that day. So she made the decision to let him rest one more day. Maybe that is how I interpreted it, because I’ve done the exact thing with my own horse(s). Lots of us have. If you know them well enough, you can usually just look in their eyes and see if they are ready to go, or if they’re worn out. I didn’t get the impression she was telling Secretariat to get better, but rather she was saying – nope, not today, he still needs to rest.

I had some “oh come on” moments, too – but overall, I really did like the movie.

[kookicat]

[QUOTE=Jumpin_Horses;5145946]
I dont get your point… of course Spirit wasnt a real horse (although he was based on the Kieger Mustang) but, SECRETARIAT WAS… so, whats your point… even given that… even Spirit (not being a real horse) got to tell HIS story… Secretariat did NOT…

come on! blaring gospel music instead of showing the greatest run of ALL TIME in all its splendor! you’ve got to be kidding…

Ive already contacted “Dreamworks” proposing that they do a “good Secretariat movie” and asking them to “pick up Ruffian too” while they are at it, cause if Disney does it, they will obviously screw it up.[/QUOTE]

It was one movie. Get over it. :winkgrin::lol:

[Jaegermonster]

[QUOTE=RugBug;5149766]
The Preakness was actual footage. :)[/QUOTE]

I did realize that later, it was hard to tell while we were watching the movie. I thought it was, then not, then did a double take. I watched the footage last night on youtube and realized it was real. But it wasn’t enough, I think they should have used all his actual races, so people could see how amazing he really was.

[SuperSTB]

Watched it yesterday with my 8yo daughter… I was actually concerned she might get bored which she did a bit but overall she was very into it. Always a plus.

It’s a Disney movie not a documentary. I enjoyed it despite the eye rolling scenes like the dancing around and sudsing up 1200lbs of a TB stallion or the eye to eye owner/horse connection.

I knew it wasn’t going to be dead on accurate. I know the Secretariat history. I was actually enjoying the human Penny drama entertainment side of it. You can’t get that from a documentary.

[fooler]

Watched the movie yesterday - going in with the full knowledge that NO MOVIE ABOUT ANY HORSE, REAL OR FICTION, IS COMMONSENSE!!!

My BF and I “bet” a quarter (as in .25) on the TC races each year. She picked Secretariat and I picked Sham. The year before she had picked Riva Ridge in 1972 and sad to say I don’t remember who I picked.

Anyway the movie was what one should expect from Disney in 2010. Too many people don’t have a clue about horses and even less about horse racing. Suggest you send letters to Disney regarding your displeasure.

Finally - the song “Oh Happy Day” is actually hymn re-arranged and recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers placing #4 on the US chart. Back then we listened to all kinds music so a station would play 'Oh Happy Day", followed by the Doors, the Stones, Al Green, the Carpenters, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, James Taylor, the Beach Boys, etc. Music was integrated, not segregated like today.
In short the sound track for the movie was the sound track for the time.

Now we need to write the script for a movie about Man O’ War :yes: