A League of Their Own (1992)

not horrible nor great

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

I was always surprised this film did so well at the box office. If you are a baseball fan it is almost unwatchable. I like Tom Hanks but he mostly snarls and growls in the film. Madonna is a complete anachronism and painful to watch. Most of the other women are simply irritating. Only Genna Davis is worth watching. Completely fails to capture the spirit of the wartime America. Don't waste your time with this turkey of a film.

A League of Their Own (1992)It's funny, but I remember seeing this when it came out in a tiny theater with an oversized screen in upstate New York, and I really liked it. It seems big and fun, with some great characters, and I was just getting to know Tom Hanks. This time I still loved the fun parts, and with Madonna being silly and Rosie O'Donnell being a crack-up it was worth the look. But it's not an especially good movie. In fact, it's kind of a pastiche of ideas, even though there is a solid historical basis for the plot (the creation of a woman's professional baseball league to replace the men's league during WWII). At times it's trying to be a touching story of young women with real dreams of greatness. Other times it's making hay off the historical quirks, including the sexist madness of it all (without any actual comment on that sexism). Other aspects include a businessman's world mercenary intentions (with David Strathairn as the good guy in that mix). It's cobbled together without a lot of realism—in other words, it's all for entertainment.Which is fine. But then there is the Penny Marshall touch. This famous director/writer has a way of making things as simple and sugary as possible, as if we are all living in a Hallmark commercial. It undermines every single aspect listed above, including the touching part, which is her real goal. By the very end, with the inevitable look at the contemporary women (who are played by actresses, don't be fooled into thinking they are the real deal), it gets moving but in that pushy way that makes you kind of glad the film is finally ending.Too bad. There is more potential here than all that.There is a host of striving baseball movies that fall flat due to sentiment. I like baseball, but movies like "42" and "The Natural" (and even the recent Clint Eastwood "Trouble with the Curve") seem to acknowledge that the sport is something mired in a nostalgic past. Only in something like "Moneyball" does it morph into something bigger, and much better. So maybe it's me wanting baseball to be great but also realistic and vivid and intense. Not sticky with honey and amber glows.Yeah, an enjoyable movie on many little levels, including moments of nearly everyone's performances. But don't expect more.

This is not just a great sports movie, it is one of the best movies of all time. There's a good reason it's been selected by the Library of Congress as a culturally important film. It is moving and funny, exciting and uplifting--with terrific music, acting and directing. If you are a baseball fan, you have to see it. Geena Davis and Tom Hanks are incredible, and the final scene is magical. The story of two sisters competing, and the death of a husband, and the stories of love, respect, friendship and redemption--it's all there. Look for Tea Leoni at first base, and a hilarious Madonna. It's a beautiful story and spectacularly presented.

Two sisters (Davis & Petty) help make the first ever professional baseball league. They make sure it's successful, but problems begin to commence. Manager Jimmy Duggan (Hanks) is a former star player that has a drinking problem and refuses to take the job seriously. Meanwhile, tension brews among the girls. This was a really good movie! I'm a guy, but I've always thought men and women should have equal rights. I'm not sexist and I try to not discriminate. They mirrored the time period precisely and I enjoyed the look of the field and the baseball uniforms. The baseball action is exciting as well. Some of the catches the girls made were very athletic. Geena Davis and Lori Petty are the heart of this movie! Their passion and intensity really made this movie. They were on the top of their games. Hanks is excellent as he always is, but he has tremendous support. Even Rosie O'Donnell is admittedly solid, and I can't stand her! Madonna adds star power. The ending is very heartwarming and made me smile. Baseball fans and movie fans in general shouldn't have much to complain about! It's exciting, engrossing, and riveting. Check it out!8/10