PEACEFUL WARRIOR

If you give in to the experience, you might just walk away a peaceful warrior yourself.

Okay, I'm going to make myself a promise right now: I will never compare one movie to another ever again. I will undoubtedly break this promise in the very near future, but it's worth thinking about. No one really means any harm when they say something like, "Oh yeah, The Peaceful Warrior is just like The Karate Kid," but such comparisons can have a disastrous effect on the audience. All I could think for the first 20 minutes was, "This is nothing like The Karate Kid. There is no Ralph Macchio, no Pat Morita, and there's certainly not going to be a showdown against the Cobra Kai Dojo to the tune of "You're the Best" by Joe "Bean" Esposito." I finally shook these thoughts when Nick Nolte made a little speech about living in the moment, and from there I enjoyed the movie very much.

Dan Millman (Scott Mechlowicz) is a skilled young gymnast who has spent his life dreaming of Olympic Gold. Now that the tryouts for the Olympic team are fast approaching, he wants to do everything in his power to wow the judges. If he can just claim that gold medal, he's sure his life will be complete and he'll live happily ever after. It's a good plan, but Dan is increasingly aware that he's not comfortable with his present life. He has trouble sleeping at night, and his relationships lack depth. His whole universe revolves around competition, but inside it's empty.

Everything changes after a chance encounter with a mysterious gas station attendant (Nick Nolte) who seems to leap from the ground to the roof in a single bound. How did he do it? And more importantly, how can Dan do it? He commits himself to learning anything this man (nicknamed Socrates) can teach him, but soon grows frustrated. His attempt to lead a purer life only leaves him "hungry, horny, and tired." He falls back into his old pattern of training, drinking, and having meaningless sex, but he soon pays the price. Dan shatters his leg in a motorcycle accident, and his Olympic dreams are dashed.

Though Dan's old friends slap him on the back and wish him well, it's clear that they have counted him out. Perhaps they're even secretly relieved to have him out of the running. Only Socrates and his friend, Joy (Amy Smart), offer constant empathy and encouragement, but they make Dan earn it. Joy doesn't throw herself at Dan like the other girls do, but their friendship evolves naturally, and actually has substance. Through his recovery, Dan learns the importance of living in the moment and enjoying life's journeys rather than focusing on the destination.

The Peaceful Warrior is not a splashy film, but it's surprisingly moving, and it does give the audience plenty to chew on. It's good to see Nick Nolte back on his game, and it's nice to see a 66 year-old-man who looks his age (no freaky face work, no hair dye to detract from the talent). Scott Mechlowicz remains relatable even when his character is unlikable, and Amy Smart is quietly lovely. Together they create a remarkably nice (if not earth-shattering) movie. If you give in to the experience, you might just walk away a peaceful warrior yourself.