Bad News Bears (DVD, 2005, Widescreen)

Im not a big fan of remakes-----but this movie is SOOOOOOOOOOO funny---Billy bob Thorton does a great job of reinventing the role of Morris Buttermaker----this movie is great if your a baseball fan----a fan of the original----or just a fan of commedies---THIS MOVIE IS GREAT!

Billy Bob Thornton took filmgoers by surprise in 1994's Sling Blade, emerging as one of the screen's most skillful character actors. So who could have guessed, a mere decade later, he would become Hollywood's foremost on-screen degenerate? Thanks to his matter-of-fact intensity and smooth southern drawl, Thornton's taken on a few authoritarian roles (Armageddon, Friday Night Lights). But an unforgettable cameo as a lecherous American president in Love Actually and the hilarious, MPAA-defying Bad Santa apparently created a whole new niche for B.B.T. It didn't take long for studio alchemists to throw a remake of 1976's The Bad News Bears his way, even offering the re-write to Bad Santa scribes Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. Thornton stars as Morris Buttermaker, a womanizing, down-on-his-luck former baseball player who spends his days working as an exterminator. The opportunity to scrape together some extra cash coaching little-league ball comes his way, thanks to attorney Liz Whitewood (Marcia Gay Harden) — even then, Buttermaker can do little but get soused during practice while his misfit team of middle-schoolers wonder why he's there (or themselves, for that matter). But after a rivalry develops between Buttermaker and championship-winning coach Roy Bullock (Greg Kinnear), he recruits two ringers for his team: estranged stepdaughter Amanda Whurlitzer (Sammi Kane Kraft), who throws the hardball better than most boys, and dirt-bike-riding rebel Kelly Leak (Jeffrey Davies), who fields and slugs like a young Ken Griffey Jr. Those who enjoyed Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa, as he cursed with drunken exasperation while young children sat on his knee, will find many of the same laughs in 2005's Bad News Bears as he heaps abuse upon little-leaguers and adults alike — the film's PG-13 rating ensures that the air doesn't turn too blue, but scenarists Ficarra & Requa are allowed to write for an actor they know pretty well ("You can love baseball, but it doesn't always love you back," a wistful Buttermaker tells his kids. "It's kind of like dating a German chick."). The mere fact that the movie smells like a pitch-meeting (Billy Bob! Bad News Bears!) is an easy strike against it, but the execution is agreeable enough — Thornton doesn't quite match Walter Matthau's original performance but he's also one of the few leading men out there who could star in a remake of this classic with some credibility. Like Thornton, director Richard Linklater is a baseball veteran (he a college player, Thornton a former minor-leaguer), which keeps the direction honest. And while the kids still have the same central-casting appeal (this time with a few twists), the fact that most were complete amateurs keeps the whole affair fresh and slightly off-kilter. There's little reason why fans of the original Bad News Bears would dislike the 2005 update — but then again, with the characters and plot left virtually intact.

30 years in the re-making comes this re-make of the original flick. Billy Bob Thorton and Greg Kinnear do a fine job - and the child actors fill in nicely. I was a fan of the original - and this one does a fine job living up to it.

Took the original feel-good 'Bears', & remade it into a trashy, foul-mouthed facsimile. Made no use of Thornton's acting ability. Don't watch with young children, better yet don't watch at all!

I am very satisfied with my purchase of the Bad news bears DVD tha shipping time was great recieved it in 3 days. Very Happy!

Let me start off by disclosing I don't like remakes in general. I find it wasteful and dishonest to film an "updated" version of an old film if the original source material remains relevant, i.e. story and characters etc...

The Plus side to doing remakes seems to introduce younger generations to older films and if done correctly can actually enhance the original while building its own following. This is the case with this film. Billy Bob Thornton captures the washed up and out coach perfectly without destroying Walter Matheau's original character. The language and antics may be cruder, but that just reflects society and the audiences' tastes for our current time and in no way detracts from the comic aspects it aims for. The original team players are all accounted for and stay true to their origins too which alleviates a big concern for older buffs like myself.

Tanner is still Tanner, Kelly is still a big game player and Amanda still out pitches the competition. With these core players intact the film also brings in some gradual updates and some new characters to help diversify the team and show that "losers" of all types can join for a common goal and overcome adversity and earn respect for themselves. This message is still there and remains true for any underdog out there in both versions. To thier credit both movies never hammer that point home in sappy easy to decipher see it coming a mile away scripts, but rather let it evolve easily enough.

Its a comedy first and foremost and those looking for laughs certainly will find some here if they give it a chance. This film succeeds in all areas from script, casting and performances to filming and deserves to stand along the original as a enjoyable experience. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for some laughs and a feel good movie with some twists. In this movie as in life winning is hard to define, but always worth chasing.

the bad news bears remake is a perfect example of how to redo a classic comedy without wrecking it. billy bob thorton is hilarious and the writers did great job updating the one-liners rather than simply rehashing the original script. great movie for adults, but the language may not be suitable for a younger audience.

I love this movie because of the great interaction between Billy Bob Thorton and the kids. Granted some of the kids are already smart asses, Billy Bob doesn't help much by serving as their role model. Examples... passing out drunk during practice and getting a gentleman's club the kids' team sponsor. Great movie. I would say is more for adults than for kids.

We could not allow our family to view this movie! There were far too many curse words and examples of children smoking, etc. What kind of example does this set for our children?? I wish that I would not have wasted the money!!

The movie is very funny and with the kids in it it keeps the attetion of my kids as well. I got the movie because we watched it one night and figured it was a good movie that we would watch again and again.

i bought this movie because i saw the previews for it and it seemed funny. once i watched it i was glad that i bought this movie. thanks for making it available and at a great price.

I came very close to rating this at below average. This is a very poor movie compared to the original. Just a few modern changes with the same plot. Enjoyed the original very much. If you have the choice to purchase the original or the 2005 edition I would rent the new one unless you get a real good deal.

We bought this movie because we enjoyed it and were happy with the seller's feedback. We received this movie in great condition. We also bought it on Ebay because it's a lot more inexpensive here than paying full price in a store.

christmas present for my son who loves sports movies; recommend to any kid or sports fan, great price and condition

this movie will have u cracking up from the start to the end i love the first and i really love this one this is a classic movie hands down

THEY UPDATED THE ORIGINAL TO REFLECT TODAYS KIDS. THORTON DOES A GOOD JOB AND SHOWS A LOVABLE SIDE OF BOILERMAKER,MY SONS HAD SEEN THE ORIGINAL AND I WANTED TO GET THEM THE REMAKE AS THEY ARE BOTH BASEBALL PLAYERS. THEY ARE 10 AND 15 ANDTHEY BOTH REALLY ENJOYED THE MOVIE.

I really liked this film - no academy award winner, just fun to watch. I liked how the director adapted the original to modern day humor. Billy Bob is always funny in roles like this one. If you liked him in Bad Santa, you will like him here.