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October Sky

October Sky

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $11.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good but not great
Review: I like this movie, but I can't see why everyone is giving it 5 star reviews...it's good but not THAT good. I had heard that it was a good movie but pretty sappy. Now that I've seen it, I agree with that statement. Worth buying but not worth watching every week or something...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Gyllenhaal is magical...a true star of tomorrow
Review: October Sky is a fantastic film...it has all the elements of a great movie, but more importantly is a true "emotional experience." In the era of teen flicks such as Scream and Cruel Intentions, it is refreshing to see a movie based in a school and with teenagers that actually look and act like teenagers.

But the most striking thing about this movie is the young man playing the lead role of Homer Hickham. Jake Gyllenhaal deserves all the accolades for how great this movie is. He is the rare actor who looks through the camera instead of into it. His eyes are piercing and earnest, and you really believe he's just a boy from West Virginia trying to make something of his life. (And his southern West Virginia accent is very convincing).

He is the "good" future of young Hollywood. It is clear he wants to study and become a better actor--not rest on the laurels of one good performance.

Chris Cooper is wonderful as a father who simply doesn't understand his son's dream, while Natalie Cannerday brings just enough spunk to make Mrs. Hickham interesting. Other notable performances include Laura Dern and relative unknown William Scott.

But make no mistake...Gyllenhaal steals the show.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Our Favorite Family Movie
Review: My husband took our 7 year old to this film and came home raving about it. We bought the DVD and "October Sky" has become our favorite family movie. That's saying a lot when our family ranges in age from 4 to 40 years old. The story is compelling and realistic, full of ethos and honor. The cinematography is wonderful, the music great and the West Virginia accents are pretty accurate. My son has decided that he is going to "design stuff for NASA" primarily on the basis of this movie. It's a wonderful film and a great addition to our home DVD library.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Masterpiece
Review: Simly stated: you MUST add this movie to your collection. This movie will make you laugh, cheer, and cry--and make you feel great to be alive.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Way more than only 5 stars deserved!
Review: When this movie came to my town, it passed silently out in a week with no advertisement at all, and I never saw the likes of this movie till we watched it in my high school AP Biology class 6 months later. I was dumbstruck, I had never seen such an amazing story of dreams and hopes mixed with an oustanding cast and characters that took your breath away!

Homer Hickam lived in a small coal-mining town in West Virginia at the time he heard the first sounds Sputnik, a Russian satellite, made in his science class. He became inspired to build his own rickets, for his own interests, and the interests he felt the whole country had. Along with his 3 best friends, he achieves his goal, winning over his town, but always under the strct criticism of his hard father, who eventually helps him to his goal, as a NASA employee, even though he'd prefer he be in the coal mining field.

The movie was a true inspiration, and I wanted to share with you how much it meant to me, and helped me see that people, even children, out there can be strong, without relying on the adults that surround them, and reach any goal you feel you can attain. Definitely see this movie!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: terrific family film, inspiring and delightful
Review: In this true story of aspirations, dreams and determination, Homer Hickam's life is forever changed when he witnesses the 1957 launch of Sputnik. His bright and forward-thinking teacher encourages him to meet his potential instead of languishing in the mines like his father and his father before him. In a mining town in the middle of nowhere, a son staying on to continue in the family business was a given. Homer's dreams of flying his own rockets will not die and he overcomes setbacks by determination and the loyalty of his friends. A story filled with adventure, inginuity and self-sacrifice, this is a stupendous film and can serve as a tremendous tool for encouraging and inspiring children to achieve their dreams. I highly recommend this movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Inspirational
Review: This movie tells about an aspect of American history which I'd never seen described until I saw this. Specifically, it talks about the impact of the beginning of the space race on some young people. The protagonist in this film is an example of the type, but is not unique.

This film strikes me as well acted, well thought-out, and over-all well done. I think it really adds to the presentation that we find out what happened to the people represented by the characters. That's not an extra for the DVD. It was part of the original movie.

The story starts out with the immediate impact of the launch of Sputnik, and tells the story of Homer and his friends as they try to invent model rocketry on their own, with some help from a teacher, but no support from Homer's dad. It gives a good idea of what they tried, what went wrong, what went right, and what happened on the way.

I've read the book this film is based on. There are a few shortcuts made in the film apparently for reasons of flow. For instance, the real Homer never worked the mine in reality. That bit was done by his father, who went into the mine as a young man to support his family.

I saw the film in the theater after hearing about it from space activists, and was very glad I did. Got my parents to see it, and they got friends of theirs to see it later, one of whom did the same kinds of things as Homer. It's that good: I'll tell two friends, and they'll tell two friends, and so on...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the best movie I have seen in years!
Review: This has got to be one of the best feel good movies of the 20th century. The first time I saw this movie, it just made me feel wonderful for quite a while, it was just superbly done. If I could give one reason for anyone to buy this movie, it is to watch the struggle of Homer to do what he thinks he should and what he believes in rather than go with what his father thinks is best for him. But it all pays off in the end, course I won't ruin the ending for those relying on my review to see if you want to buy it. Also, the friendship of the Rocket Boys through all of their struggles really pulls at your heartstrings. I highly recommend this movie!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Hidden treasure
Review: Lovely little film about one boy's attempts to get out of a coal mining town and to please his father through his interest in rocketry. I don't recall even seeing anything about this movie which is a shame. The themes are quite standard - trying to get a father's approval, not letting people stop you from being your best, etc. But the movie is very well done and you can't help but get a little choked up knowing the story is based in reality. Check it out.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: October Sky
Review: I think that this is a great movie for all ages, and I think that everyone should take the time to see it. I loved this movie because here was this kid who would not give up no matter what was going to happen. And beat all odds. It will change the outlook of life, and the way we deal with things. Go and see it today


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