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Summary: Inspiring, incredible, and oustanding...a beautiful film!
Review: How could anyone snub this film? OCTOBER SKY is one of the best movies I've ever seen in my entire life. It's right up there on my Favorites' list with ALMOST FAMOUS (as being number 1), and THE SIXTH SENSE. This movie is based on the true-life story of Homer Hickman Jr.It's 1957 in Caolwood, West Virginia. Homer Hickman Jr. (Jake Gyllenhaal), thinks he's not good at anything and the only future he has is working in the coal mines like his father, John Hickman (Chris Cooper), who's one of the headworker's at the coal mines. He knows he can never get a scholarship like his big brother, Jim Hickman (Scott Miles), because only jocks can get scholarships and Jim plays football. So Homer, who can't play any sports, thinks he can never get a scholarship for college. Then, the small town is amazed when they see the Soviet Satellite Sputnik cross the sky one night and Homer is instantly hooked on Outer Space. Homer dreams up of someday creating a rocketship that will go into Outer Space. His father, on the other hand, thinks that is nonsense and the only kind of future he has set for his son is working in the coal mines. So Homer soons comes up with an idea on how to build a rocketship with the help of his three friends, and they somehow end up to overcome the impossible...with the help of Homer's inspiring teacher, Miss. Riley (Laura Dern), and many helpful people from their town. OCTOBER SKY is one truly amazing film with supurb acting by the entire cast and supporting cast. Never in a billion light years would you find a movie so inspiring and heartwarming than OCTOBER SKY. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a truly amazing performance as Homer (and also very cute, as well!). So does Laura Dern and Chris Cooper, as well as Homer's rocketship-building buddies. This is one excellent family classic that should be treasured for ages. And if you get the Special Edition version, that is even better because it gives a brief, but detailed and excellent footage of behind-the-sceens with the making of OCTOBER SKY as well as short interviews with some of the cast and crew. A definite must see and must own for your most treasured video collection!
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Summary: Tell your friends about this movie
Review: I'd seen the October Sky DVD at the local video store, but avoided it--I imagine because I didn't know much about it and because I'd read it was just a "family" movie and figured it wouldn't be very interesting. Well, I finally rented it, and now I see why so many of the reviewers here have raved about it. I won't go into the story--others here have. I'll just say that October Sky is simply a wonderful story, and it's very well told in this movie--script, direction, and cast are all first rate, the photography is beautiful, and the score evocative. It even captured our thirteen year old son's attention--not a small feat for a movie with a PG rating. My guess is you'll be thinking about Coalwood, West Virgina, and its people for a while after seeing this movie. (I should add I ended up buying both the DVD and Rocket Boys (also published as October Sky), the book on which the movie is based. The book is great, too.)
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Summary: Touching Tale of Productive Dreamers
Review: Everyone has experienced the awe at looking up into the clear night sky. The movie does an excellent job of conveying the range of emotions that the characters are going through. I love the setting: blue collar kids in a small coal mining town, which gives them the underdog feeling. When they take on a task that seems so unattainable, and so far beyond their capabilities, who wouldn't want to root for them? It is a tale of yankee ingenuity, and what hard work and motivation can accomplish. An all american story, it is like the engineering version of Rudy. Absolutely fantastic.
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Summary: THE best modern-made film ever set in 1957!
Review: "October Sky" is an inspirational story of a young high school student who tries to escape life below the ground in a coal-mining town in West Virginia. Seeing the Russian satellite "Sputnik" move across the sky one night, he's inspired to build rockets and create a dream and passion for himself. He, with the help of his three other friends, they launch rocket after rocket after so many unsucessful tries. Quinten, the brains of the group, figures out the sucess of the launch of these rockets. The publicity kicks in afterwards as the rockets being launched amaze the town people, and Homer goes on to Indianapolis to win the science fair and meet Dr. Werhner von Braun. Really touching when Homer's father realizes Homer's dream and launch the final rocket which is dubbed "Miss Riley" after their inspirational teacher. Amazement strikes the townspeople as they watch this rocket go high in the air. Just like Quinten says in amazement, "This one's going to go, Homer"
A realy beautiful sight is when the rocket is high in the air with this huge bright cloud in the background. A truly touching story and one you'll treasure forever! Great rock'n'roll music as well, too!
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Summary: How Many Stars are in the Heavens?
Review: This movie deserves LOTS more than five stars. Sad to say, I truly believe there's a conspiracy in Hollywood to pollute young minds with garbage. The way this OUTSTANDING movie was so poorly billed and sparsely advertised, you'd swear the entertainment executives are disappointed it was any kind of success at all. Hey folks: We need more of this goody-two-shoes feel-good material that happens to be based on REAL LIFE. Joe Johnston did a masterful job of producing this work. Jake Gyllenhaal and Laura Dern were priceless. Chris Cooper was perfect for the part of the stern albeit caring father you wanted to punch until the end of the film. My eleven year old daughter and I liked it so much, If it isn't released for home video by Christmas, I'm buying a DVD player just so I can own a reasonably priced copy. This one will go down in history similarly to Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life". Another diamond in the rough when it was released, but now a timeless classic.
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Summary: One of the best rocket movies ever
Review: As a rocket scientist from a top five university, I am astonished about how much this movie correlates with my own experiences. Not only is this movie a great representation of the glory of flight, it also encompasses the human spirit. This movie is not just for rocket enthusiasts. It is for anybody that has had a dream or a passion and let nothing get in the way of it. This movie is captivating and motivating.
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Summary: October Sky
Review: October Sky, based on the autobiographical memoirs of Homer Hickam Jr, is a film that undoubtedly, in my opinion at least, as one of the best films ever made. Director Joe Johnston has done a superb job. The casting is perfect, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, and Laura Dern. Gyllenhaal portrays young Homer Hickam Jr, who, after witnessing the success of Russia's Sputnik operation, determines to pursue the art of building rockets, and along with three of his friends, starts wholeheartedly into the hobby. His father (Chris Cooper) a Virginia coal miner, shows disdain toward his son's wholehearted pursuit of rocket science as he tries to persuade him to join the coalmining business, which Homer has no intention of joining at all. His schoolteacher (Laura Dern, who does a much better job at acting than in Jurassic Park) highly inspires Homer and his friends in their rocketeering. In the midst of both encouragement and heavy odds, the four friends overcome discouragement and doubt . . . After seeing this film, I have put the book on which it is based on my reading list, and is a film very well worth purchasing. The plot is simply excellent as is the character development. The actors are very convincing in their roles. This is easily Joe Johnston's best film credit. I can wholeheartedly reccomend it to anyone. 5 stars.
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Summary: whiz bang!
Review: Homer Hickam is a ordinary coalminer teen.His dad is head of the mine and he raises hell a lot.Homer has a tough time getting close.His biggest sore point is that he detests the mine.He doesn't want to end up under the earth forever.He trys football.Thats the only way any of his friends have gone to collage.He fails in that.He wishes a girl would notice him.He does have two loyal friends.Then everything changes with Sputnik.Seeing it flying over the stars above his head is the moment when he realizes his calling.Soon he starts thinking about rockets.Why not build one? He goes to the poor nerdy boy for help.Soon the four have become allies.Homers first attempt in the science of rockets goes flat(well,the fence goes flat).His dad is angry and tells him to quit this craze.Homer won't do it,so he goes off in the woods and starts testing rockets.Some go nutty,some explode.Nothing works.Finally,when the whole town is there to watch,it happens.The rocket soars high.His teacher tells him to enter his rocket designs in the science fair.It seems like sucess is at hand when Homer's dad gets hurt.Homer must go down in the mine and work to support the family.His dream is shattered.
Does Homer Hickum get a scolarship with his rocket? Watch and see.
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Summary: Great family movie
Review: This movie is one of our favorite feel good movies. Full of inspiration to always follow your dreams, no matter what. Interesting disfunctional family dynamics provide the opportunity to learn about that as well. For those who dream of following their own stars, this movie is a must.
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Summary: Teachable Moment
Review: I am a science teacher and this is the best movie to show to a 6th grade class. Every year they fall in love with the devotion these students have for science, and how they over-come peer pressure too. I love this movie for many reasons; my students love this movie, and so will yours!
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