The Brooke Ellison Story

This movie was too amazing to be down-sized by a couple of words. When I heard about this movie, I was very anxious to see it. I watched Brooke Ellison on Larry King a few days later, and I thought she was such an amazing person. The cast of this movie was outstanding. I forgot that I was watching a movie, I felt like it was the real thing. Christopher Reeve shone as a director, and no one will question his talent or work, the movie speaks for itself. I think this was just amazing and incredible. In the movie, Brooke Ellison's mother, Jean, told Brooke, "You can either contribute to this world or be paralyzed. The choice is yours." Brooke Ellison decided to contribute to this world, despite her disabilities, and I am sure she has inspired many people with spinal-cord injuries to make something of themselves. Brooke Ellison even inspires those of us without injuries to be the best we can be and Brooke's Story teaches us that we can't be paralyzed by the small things in life. We must keep going and enduring the pain while we continue on life's journey. Because, tragedy or triumph, pain or sadness, life is going to continue. Brooke Ellison is the type of person who proves how strong women are. The story also does a wonderful job of proving how strong a family can be. Brooke's accident could have easily torn her family apart, but they stayed together and grew closer than ever. With unconditional love and support from her family, and the undeniable love her mother, Brooke Ellison was able to go to Harvard and graduate summa cum laude from Harvard University, a huge challenge for anyone, disability or not. I wish Brooke Ellison the best of luck and I recommend that everyone watch The Brooke Ellison Story. *Christopher Reeve will be missed but he accomplished life's purpose, he spent live working to have something that would outlast it.*

I just caught this on A & E. The dedication is to Christopher Reeve, who directed it, so it makes me think it is the premiere of the movie but I don't know (I thought it had aired earlier this year).

The story is about Brooke Ellison, who was struck by a car at a very young age. Her family helped nurse her back to health and to get through the rest of school as well as university, her mother attended all classes with her and helped her physically. According to the movie, Brooke used a voice-activated computer system for her work and she controlled her chair by a retainer in her mouth.

It is amazing what she and her family went through to get her through school. As it turns out, she was/is very bright, thus getting accepted to Harvard.

A great story. If you have no disabilities, it shows how lucky some people are not to have them; but at the same time, some who do have them do not let it slow them down and are probably more determined to get on with a meaningful life.

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is always lovely to watch and Lacey Chabert, as Brooke, is wonderful. Highly recommend it!

I just got finished watching the Brooke Ellison Story and I have been so touched at the courage that she has. At every obstacle that she faced, she conquered. I just wish that everyone would have the ambition and courage to do so much more.

It also showed how much parents will give up to make sure that their children are happy. Her whole family is full of support for Brooke.

I very good movie, directed by a terrific man, who will be greatly missed by many. Lacey played an excellent part, really made you feel what Brooke felt. I hope that everyone will watch this movie and learn something.

Made by someone else, this could have been melodramatic and false. Chris

Reeve unflinchingly shows what life is like for someone with a spinal cord injury. Though the story is one of astonishing hope and triumph, all through it has

darker details that animate the story, and keep it from being an simple

glorification. The acting is at all times believable, and often deeply moving; the camera work is sure and effective; the locations are perfectly presented, and the whole tone is honest and respectful.

This is one of the best films of the year!

This TV movie about a quadriplegic who overcomes great obstacles to go on to college could be easily dismissed as just another cripple-of-the-week filler, even though it is based on a real person and true events. Two things keep that from happening: the extraordinary performance of Lacy Chabert as the quadriplegic, and the story's straightforward presentation, sometimes painful in its telling but never stooping to the saccharine (all credit is due here to the director, the late Chris Reeve, himself a quadriplegic). You would have to be made of stone not to feel tugged and ultimately uplifted by this story. A very young actress at the time this was made, Chabert is simply amazing as the protagonist and your heart will break for her as she struggles with an active, genius-level brain trapped in a ruined body. What a movie. It should be shown to every high school student. Hell, it should be shown to every family.