Peaceful Warrior is another movie in the line of sport films that has been inspired by true events which stars Scott Mechlowicz as the lead role in this film as a cocky young gymnatist who is preparing for the next Olympic games. Despite his popularity on campus and his clear athletic talents, something is missing in his life, and he is haunted by recurring dreams of disaster and failure.

One night, after a particularly vivid nightmare, he takes a 3am jog to a convenience store at a nearby service station and meets a soft-spoken and cryptic old man (Nick Nolte) who performs an act that seems to defy the laws of physics. Intrigued by how the strange man accomplished this feat, Dan returns each night to learn life lessons and wisdom from the man he jokingly calls "Socrates".

Over the course of many months, the two engage in philosophical discussion as Socrates tries to teach the young gymnast to stop lamenting the past and obsessing about the future and simply live in the now. When an accident threatens to destroy Dan's career, he turns to his mentor for guidance in hopes of one day competing again.

The unfortunate aspect of Peaceful Warrior is that it is too clichéd and feels forced and contrived and not even Scott Mechlowicz cannot truly save this film. Much of the movie seems to be disjointed as characters come and go with little or no explanation was to why. Unfortunately Victor Salva fails to recapture the majestic beauty of the original novel.