The Black Stallion

Rating:
Summary: entralling tale of a boy's bond with a horse
Review: Moving and entralling tale of a boy who comes to terms with his loss and learns to survive with the comfort and love of a horse. Patience is required as it moves seemingly slow at times, but the drama of the story draws you in. Excellent children's movie for a thoughtful child.

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Summary: A must-have for any horse lover!
Review: If you've read the Walter Farley series, you MUST see the movie! Also a musical pleasure--the score will bring you goosebumps. Cinematography: excellent. This movie is absolutely beautiful. END

Rating:
Summary: Great flick, poor DVD
Review: The story and the cinematography were excellent. The transfer to DVD was very disappointing. It looked out of focus from time to time, the dark scenes were muddy, and there were film "remnants" in the transfer (scratches, film marks). And the sound, while Dolby, was 2.0 which was rather disappointing, too.
This isn't too recommend against it, just beware, it isn't the great audio/visual feast that it could be.

Rating:
Summary: If you're looking for magic in filmmaking this is it...
Review: This film is beautiful and like watching moving poetry. It's as if the entire project were choreographed like a dance. The relationship between the boy and horse is heart based and authentic. Horsemanship in recent times ennobles mankind and reminds us that harmony with creatures is not only possible but natural. The innocence of this boy reminds us of the innocence and kindness in ourselves. Highly recommended. One of the few films I own and cherish.

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Summary: Faithful to the original story!
Review: This story has been with me in one form or another since I was a toddler. I grew up reading Walter Farley's books. I began as a toddler with the Little Black Pony stories and The Big Black Horse, which is a scaled down version of The Black Stallion. The Big Black Horse deals with the portion of the story that takes place on the boat and then moves to the island that Alec and the Black were stranded on. It ends with their rescue. As a pre-teen and young teenager I read almost all the Black Stallion books that had been written up to that point at time, the late 70's and early 80's. When I heard that a film was being written I was so very excited. However when I first saw the film I was disappointed. It was no fault of the film makers but rather a fault of my own imagination. After having read so many of the Black Stallion books I had created my own ideas of what everyone, everyplace, and everything should look like. This is one of the great things about reading, each reader creates their own unique images. The movie in many ways was at a disadvantage, in no way could it satisfy the thousand of fans who had been reading the books for nearly four decades. Anyway, I thought the film moved a little slow and while sticking fairly close to the book failed to capture my interest like the books did.

Jump ahead 25 years and I have a new take. I recently purchased the DVD. I figured what the heck, it's reasonably priced and I did like the story. As I watched the film as an adult I found that I really enjoyed it in a way I hadn't as a child. The movie lets the images tell the story, no need for narration or long drawn out dialogue . The sets are really well done and I never sensed that any portion of the film was made on a studio back lot. The story moves at a good pace and is not drawn out too long. The casting was very well done. Micky Rooney was great as the old jockey turned trainer, Henry Dailey. African American screen legend Clarence Muse did well in the role of Snoe. Muse was 90 years old when the film was made and died just before the film was released. This was really a well put together movie. I would suggest that you watch it when you're not busy doing something else at the same time. If you are able to sit down and allow yourself to focus your attention on the film you'll find yourself really drawn into the story. I can pretty much guarantee you'll find yourself cheering during the race at the end of the movie. The final race and the part of the story that takes place on the island are my two favorite parts of the movie.

Lastly, as for the DVD, I don't know who the DVD manufacturers thought they were fooling when they called this a "widescreen release"? Instead of releasing the true widescreen version they simply stretched the pan & scan version and added black bars to the bottom and top of the picture. I would suggest you, for those who are able, shrink the image and watch it in normal pan & scan mode. It is better viewed in this aspect ratio than the stretched version the DVD manufacturers would have you watch.

Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: This movie was very slow and boring. I guess I'm just not the type for watching a movie with an hour of music in it while a boy rides around an island on a horse.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best -- a true classic
Review: When young Alec Ramsey (Kelly Reno) awakes upon the sandy shore of a deserted island after a tragic shipwreck, he soon discovers that he isn't the only survivor: A spirited, pure black Arabian stallion has survived the waves as well. Alec dubs him The Black (played by Cass Olé, a former champion show horse) and gradually wins the horse's trust, forging a relationship that will affect both of them forever. When Alec and The Black are finally rescued and go home together, they meet ex-jockey Henry Dailey (Mickey Rooney), who is convinced the pair should race. With the help of Henry and his aged white gelding, Napoleon (played by Junior, who had previously starred in National Lampoon's Animal House as Trooper, Niedermeyer's ill-fated horse), their training lands them in the winner's circle. This is one of the most beautifully filmed, emotionally honest horse movies out there - and it's pretty faithful to the book, too (a rarity).

Staci Layne Wilson
Author of Staci's Guide to Animal Movies


Rating:
Summary: Black horses are sweet animals
Review: White, Black and Palomino horses all are so sweet and gentle and this movie shows it.
Napolean-White(grey) gelding that is a friend of the black
The Black-Black horse that befriends a boy
I wouldn't put it against them to make all of the Black Stallion books into movies. I really hope they do because I am a really big fan.

Rating:
Summary: A story like Bucephalus and Alexander the Great
Review: Walter Farley's story of the Black Stallion was enchanting to me the first time I watched it.
THE BLACK STALLION is the story of a boy traveling on a boat with his father. Also on board the boat is a big black horse. The horse is wild, but young Alec Ramsay likes the stallion. One night the boat catches fire and capsizes, but Alec and the horse escape.
After helping the horse survive on a remote island, Alec gains the horse's trust and, after being discovered, he brings him back home.
Soon he meets Henry Dailey, a trainer, who agrees to help Alec race against two famous racehorses- Cyclone and Sun Raider (I'm pretty sure it's Sun Raider.)
Overall, this movie's perfect for anybody who loves horses. And for people of all ages.

Rating:
Summary: NOT AS GOOD AS THE BOOK BUT STILL A GOOD MOVIE
Review: i watched this movie first before i read the book and thought it was good. there are sme amazing bits in it-the horse is so beautiful and so is the way it is put together, with the wonderful sunsets and locations. The main storyline is all you get-this movie does not stay that true to the book-fans of the book will be disopointed, i know once i read it i was. It also gets a bit boring at times, However, i loved the ending and anybody should see it at least once.