The Brooke Ellison Story (2004)

Best movie of this year hands down!

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

The acting in this movie is really good.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Outstanding film describing how a family came together to sacrifice for their middle daughter who sustained paralysis from a neck injury.While it is true that the older daughter suffered depression from this ordeal, this is a story of definite perseverance and great fortitude upon the outstanding parents in making sure that their daughter was able to attain her full objective.It showed you the rehabilitation center that the child was in and how they wanted the parents to accept the girl's fate. It glossed over the bureaucracy of Medicaid, but again perseverance prevailed.How many mothers would do what the girl's mother did for her? We see community coming together to assist the stricken family.Finally, we see our paralyzed girl attain love only to find disappointment. Yet, the motivation was there to go on.An excellent, inspiring film.

Imagine the world if we all demonstrated the kind of dignity, bravery, and integrity that Christopher Reeve showed us. The entire film was a testament to his creative brilliance as a film maker and his personal commitment to give voice to people who live with (not 'suffer from') spinal cord injury. "Contribute to the world or be paralyzed. It's your choice." What a legacy he left for all of us.Just one thing to add to all the comments: It was not only Brooke's mother who sacrificed and stood by her daughter to help her achieve success: Her father also demonstrated the kind of unwaivering strength and unselfishness we rarely see today. His contributions were every bit as important as his wife's. Mostly, though, it was Brooke's own spirit, determination and, well, GUTS that propelled this story. Cheers to a beautifully executed project and a lasting gift to the world.

Besides his obvious qualities as a human being, Christopher Reeve was an artist. He didn't cash in on his Superman status by choosing the pretty-boy cash-attractive roles that were unendingly open to him after his flight in tights as the Man of Steel. Instead, he chose various, divergent parts, in movies that, though not always successful, were, almost without exception, striving for something of meaning. His final artistic effort, Brooke Ellison, is a classy coda to a career of serious artistic searching and a life of unquestioned transcendancy. How sad that someone like Christopher Reeve must leave while others unworthy ride around on the freeway screaming with bulging eyes and flashing the finger at every inefficient lane change. He would have smiled at the injustice.

Made by someone else, this could have been melodramatic and false. ChrisReeve unflinchingly shows what life is like for someone with a spinal cord injury. Though the story is one of astonishing hope and triumph, all through it hasdarker details that animate the story, and keep it from being an simpleglorification. The acting is at all times believable, and often deeply moving; the camera work is sure and effective; the locations are perfectly presented, and the whole tone is honest and respectful.This is one of the best films of the year!