I read the book back in the mid '80s and at that time there was much I did not understand fully,I may have thought I did however as the last 20 years have bloomed in my life I know that my views were clouded by what I thought I knew rather than the experiences and revelations which come to a life consciously lived.

That is what this movie is all about,breaking free from all the misconceptions we have and living in the moment,a moment that is rich with all the things we think are missing and in actuality are present in every heartbeat,so close and in our face that most of us miss it.

Its what Socrates calls being asleep while walking around living our lives and missing the fullness of life which surrounds us completely.

I saw this movie then re-read the book and while I would recommend the book over the Movie,if you go into the theater with a mind willing to see something new about yourself,as opposed to being a critic,then it is possible to come away with a new prospective about your place in this world.

Of course letting go of what we call mind would be even better.

If anyone has ever read "The Art Of War" by Sun Tzu then you know what the Peaceful Warrior concept is all about. The greatest warrior of all is one who has resolved the battle within oneself.

That is what this Movie is showing us and in my view the human race would be far better if all did this work.

Very few movies actually leave you with something to consider about how we run our lives in the way this one does and if you are willing to be open to these lessons,then you will get far more than the price of admission.

This one is worth 10 stars,for what it shows us about ourselves.

Dan Millman (Scott Mechlowicz) is an University gymnast haunted by fears and close to qualifying for the Olympics. He's reckless hard-partying young man. After a nightmare, he goes running and encounters gas station attendant Socrates (Nick Nolte) who may have supernatural powers. Socrates asks him "Are you happy?" He also meets Joy (Amy Smart) at the station. Dan accepts Socrates' offer to train him as a real warrior.

Nick Nolte as a spiritual guide is mind-bender. Scott Mechlowicz is OK as a brash young man but Paul Wesley could be better. He doesn't have the likability when he acts like a douche. There is a lot of zen spiritual self-help Miyagi stuff being spewed but it overwhelms the movie at times. I don't particularly like the lead character and I don't particularly get the message from this message movie. It exists and yet it doesn't.

An adaptation of Dan Millman's best-seller "The Way of the Peaceful Warrior¨ . It deals with handsome Dan Millman (Scott Mechlowicz) who has it all : good physical and a shot at the Olympic team on the rings . Only one man shakes his fate , a chance encounter with a stranger changes the life of the college gymnast . As an anonymous night gas station attendant, nicknamed Socrates (Nick Nolte) , keeps questioning every assumption in his destination . Then a motorcycle crash breaks Dan's legs , and his bright future in Olympic Games . Now Socrates's life coaching is to make or shatter Dan's revised objectives .

This agreeable predictable entertainment displays splendidly its interesting issues , however resulting to be heavily developed and full of philosophical themes . The movie works at usual manner , though contains weird events and packs good feeling . Stirring and enjoyable screenplay by Kevin Bernhardt , an usual actor and art martial fighter . Good main cast as Nick Nolte as the rare trainer Socrates , furthermore a beautiful Amy Smart . Secondary appearance of young actors as Agnes Bruckner , Paul Wesley and the coach , well played by Tim DeKay . Director Salva frequently works with 'Ray Wise' who as usual plays a brief acting as a doctor . And the author of the book on which the film is based, Dan Millman , can be glimpsed for a brief moment as the driver of the car at the gas station when Dan exercises for the first time after his motorcycle crash.

The motion picture was professionally directed by Victor Salva , he tries for profundity at the end and blow it. Salva is an expert on suspense's creator of atmospheres, such as he proved in : ¨The nature of the beast (1995)¨, which Salva wrote and directed, starred Lance Henriksen and Eric Roberts and quickly became New Line Cinema's biggest direct-to-video title of that year, ¨Powder¨, ¨Rites of passage¨ and ¨Clownhouse¨. His next film, this ¨The peaceful Warrior¨ (2006) , was very significant to him because of the year he spent in prison , he credits the original story as "a story that changed my life". Rating : acceptable and passable , but especially appointed to gymnasts .