Nayan Gough
A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.
Wyatt
There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.
Asia Kitt
I really loved this movie. One of the best "feel-good" movies I've seen. Loved the cheesiness, and the synth-y music used. Also how it was in Canada! I liked how there were no overly dramatic emotional scenes. This made it feel like I was on vacation. It was relaxing, and very funny. Nicholas Wright was engaging and endearing, and I especially liked the British guy Trevor and his mute "best mate" Darryl. The only thing I disliked was Hyachinth - she seemed forced and character too good to be true. I wish more people knew about this movie. There's not even a Facebook fan page for it!Anyway - watch it. :)
Samuel Sloan
This is a great movie, long overlooked. A small town high school is nuts about chess and everybody plays The big showdown comes when a team from the Soviet Union is flown in to play the big match. The coach for Hatley High is a Soviet defector who defected during the last chess match between the two teams. The new Russian coach is a Russian nationalist, and the rivalry is personal.On the night before the big showdown, the Russian team captain, Anya Petrovich, played by Ilona Elkin, seduces the Hatley High captain, played by James A. Woods, and tricks him by putting handcuffs on him and locking in the principal's office. When the Hatley High Captain does not appear for the big final match, the Hatley High team will be forfeited unless somebody can be pulled off the bench to play the big final game.The creators of this movie could have used a real chess consultant. Many of the moves shown on the chess board are illegal. Black moves first in the first game and, although they use chess terms like Sicilian Defense and Budapest Defense, the moves shown on the board are nothing like those openings.However, we can overlook these defects because this movie teaches us chess players important lessons about how a movie about a high school chess match can be made exciting and interesting to the general non-chess playing audience.Sam Sloan
filmwiz33
I saw this at The San Diego Film Festival, and i think it was the best movie there. Everything about it was just brilliant. The acting was all top notch from everybody. I considered the movie an ensemble piece because everybody was just equally as good as the next person. The screen writing was also awesome. It was extremely Rushmore-esqu. But for me thats a good thing. After i saw the movie i met the director, and he's one of the nicest guys anyone could ever meet. I really hope this gets a U.S. release. I actually think if marketed right, this could become the next Napolian Dynamite (only this movie is much better). Now i just have to wait for their next movie(Prom Wars).
landon-1
Staged in a small town that worships chess this movie kept me smiling all the way through. Even though it comes off as a play on the typical American "worship the football goods" type movie there are many of details that might not be apparent at first viewing. A combination of familial loss, new town acclimatization, cold war history and rook envy come together well in a movie fit for pretty much everyone.The main character, Tommy, did a good job of coming across as a complicated young man who has the initial idea of who he is but still has the rough edges to work on. Hyacinth, well, other than everyone falling in love with her while she keeps Tommy dancing, I expect to see her again in more movies as she has a good energy that is transferred here.This is a movie that makes me glad to be a Canadian!
