Knights of the South Bronx (2005)

recommended

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

I was really looking forward to seeing this movie and overall it was a good movie. Like most chess players any movie which portrays chess in a good light is welcomed with open arms.Lets get the gripes out of the way first. For me Ted Danson was never really believable in this movie, I can't quite put my finger on the reasons why but he just didn't seem to be comfortable in the role. Then there are the chess errors, any attempt by TV or Film to represent the royal game seems to fail miserably with the chess basics.I am not talking about a 1 second clip here with the board incorrectly set up, but in the Nationals when Jimmy is playing, there is a close up which pans out with the board completely set up wrong. This is just unforgivable and any basic chess consultancy on this film would have picked this up. For me that cost the film 3 stars right there. This may seem harsh however this is not the only error in this movie other less serious errors have been documented on the Internet.However that said if you are looking for a feel good movie with the usual happy ending with chess in it you can't really go wrong with this film.

In a time where critical thinking and being able to think "outside the box" are fundamental, this movie give hope to so many who don't have much exposure to things outside their little world. Not everyone in the USA even knows the wonder of your neighborhood library, or of an art / science / history museum, or has even been to a zoo. So many in our country are struggling just to learn to read. It gives hope to see these young children learn to master the game of chess, learn to know that they too can take a stand for what is right, for what they deserve. It also shows how rewarding it is to help show someone the way to a new way of learning, thinking, doing, being...to give hope.

I thought this was one of the best things Ted Danson has done. I liked the story and I liked all the kids! I must admit this is one of my favorite kind of stories. I think Richard was a great teacher and he accomplished what many teachers only hope to accomplish. I have great admiration for teachers who use innovative ways of teaching children who don't seem to want to learn. In this film, the teacher uses the game of chess as the instrument of learning. It may seem strange that children would find this game interesting. That's where the intellect of the teacher shines through.I highly recommend this movie to one and all.

The genre of "inspired and unusual teachers who impact the lives of their students" goes back at least to "Goodbye Mr. Chips" (1939) and perhaps farther than that. Many of us still remember our reactions to "To Sir, With Love" (1967) and "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969). The present effort, based on the founding of "Chess in the Schools" by David MacEnulty, doesn't rank with these "greats," but it's a respectable sentiment piece and makes up for its formulaic plot to some extent with notably excellent acting. I think Ted Danson is generally underrated, and his performance here is skillful and convincing. I don't know what the real-life MacEnulty was like, but I can imagine him being just about like Danson's portrayal. The five young people who constitute the "Knights" chess team are the heart of this movie, and all are serious actors, though a bit long-in-the-tooth to be in the fourth grade. One gets so accustomed to that misrepresentation, especially in American films, that it goes almost unnoticed. If you watch enough movies, you start to wonder why the real kids you know are so LITTLE! Anyway, this is a not-bad film with a good story to tell, and it won't give anybody nightmares.