Inspired by the satellite Sputnik 1, Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal) sets out to build a rocket. With his two friends Sherman and Roy, Homer builds a rocket which simply explodes and destroys a small segment of his family's new fence.
Determined to succeed, Homer enlists the help of Quentin, the school nerd. Together, the four boys manage to get a rocket into the air, but it flies haphazardly in the direction of the coal miners. Luckily, no one was hurt, but Homer's father John forbids him from firing anymore rockets on company grounds.
While slightly discouraged, the boys set their sights on making it to the national science fair where they can earn college scholarships. In particular, they make the effort to walk eight miles to a spot out of town and perfect for launching rockets.
20131229:
First, I enjoyed watching this film. Second, I find the story has a good balance to it. As a whole, it is heartfelt and inspiring. Third, the entire cast seemed to work well together.
I would recommend this film to anybody wishing to be inspired or in the mood to watch a feel-good movie.
[20140112]
Instant Comments:
Title mentioned at the two minute mark.
"Based on a true story"
Ha. "Let 'em have outer space. We got rock'n'roll."
Sputnik. October 4, 1957.
They watch Sputnik fly over the sky at about eight minutes and thirty seconds into the movie.
"I'm gonna build a rocket." [...] "Well, just don't blow yourself up."
Ha. "Should we get behind something?" The fence.
Haha. He surprises them with his knowledge about internal combustion engines.
"'Cause it was beautiful. I stood there and watched it streak across the sky. And anywhere in the world, someone could look up and see exactly what I saw. For once, it felt like Coalwood was part of the outside world." It's interesting to see a person so inspired by, for all he could see, a bright dot in the sky.
Holy shit. That rocket really flew.
::gasp:: He threw it in the trashcan!
"What are the chances a couple of kids from Coalwood are going to win the National Science Fair?" Homer jokingly replies, "A million to one O'Dell."
O'Dell sincerely answers, "That good? Well, why didn't you say so?"
Hahaha. "Thanks to the generosity of local businesses..." = stealing
That's a small, touching moment... (his dad shows a small amount of support)
Hahahaha. They dispose of chemicals down the drain and someone happens to also throw a match down their station...
Lol, I doubt its an abandoned railroad.
Yep. Haha. Now they have to scurry and put it back.
Oh snaps! Haha. That sure showed me.
Man, they're experiment is so dangerous.
Oh man, I was so afraid someone was gonna get hurt.
Haha. It's such a grave situation, yet her accent, possibly mixed with sarcasm, caused me to chuckle: "Your father always has to be the big hero. I swear to God, if he gets killed, I won't shed a tear."
126. That's 6300 feet. That means they were marking by 50 feet at a time.
Hehe. The second time he said "prodigiuos."
Haha. "Prodigenous [sic]."
His dad's an interesting person. He's a man with character.
That's messed up. (sabotaging someone else's science project)
"Myrtle Beach"
"Dad, I may not be the best, but I come to believe that I got it in me to be somebody in this world. And it's not because I'm so different from you either, it's because I'm the same. I mean, I can be just as hard-headed, and just as tough. I only hope I can be as good a man as you. Sure, Wernher von Braun is a great scientist, but he isn't my hero."
Rocket launch dedication.
Watched 20131229 (Netflix, Instant, HD)* (Streaming until 20140101)
*HD didn't buffer
October Sky (1999) Joe Johnston. 108 min [bot book Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam, Jr.]
Relevant Links:
October Sky (IMDb.com)
October Sky (Wikipedia.org)
Rocket Boys (Wikipedia.org)
October Sky (RottenTomatoes.com)
 |
| Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal) |
Determined to succeed, Homer enlists the help of Quentin, the school nerd. Together, the four boys manage to get a rocket into the air, but it flies haphazardly in the direction of the coal miners. Luckily, no one was hurt, but Homer's father John forbids him from firing anymore rockets on company grounds.
While slightly discouraged, the boys set their sights on making it to the national science fair where they can earn college scholarships. In particular, they make the effort to walk eight miles to a spot out of town and perfect for launching rockets.
20131229:
First, I enjoyed watching this film. Second, I find the story has a good balance to it. As a whole, it is heartfelt and inspiring. Third, the entire cast seemed to work well together.
 |
| Roy Lee, Sherman, Homer, and Quentin watch one of their rockets. |
I would recommend this film to anybody wishing to be inspired or in the mood to watch a feel-good movie.
[20140112]
Instant Comments:
Title mentioned at the two minute mark.
"Based on a true story"
Ha. "Let 'em have outer space. We got rock'n'roll."
Sputnik. October 4, 1957.
They watch Sputnik fly over the sky at about eight minutes and thirty seconds into the movie.
"I'm gonna build a rocket." [...] "Well, just don't blow yourself up."
 |
| Homer asks Quentin for help. |
Ha. "Should we get behind something?" The fence.
Haha. He surprises them with his knowledge about internal combustion engines.
"'Cause it was beautiful. I stood there and watched it streak across the sky. And anywhere in the world, someone could look up and see exactly what I saw. For once, it felt like Coalwood was part of the outside world." It's interesting to see a person so inspired by, for all he could see, a bright dot in the sky.
Holy shit. That rocket really flew.
::gasp:: He threw it in the trashcan!
"What are the chances a couple of kids from Coalwood are going to win the National Science Fair?" Homer jokingly replies, "A million to one O'Dell."
O'Dell sincerely answers, "That good? Well, why didn't you say so?"
Hahaha. "Thanks to the generosity of local businesses..." = stealing
 |
| Homer's father, John Hickam (Chris Cooper), is a good man. |
That's a small, touching moment... (his dad shows a small amount of support)
Hahahaha. They dispose of chemicals down the drain and someone happens to also throw a match down their station...
Lol, I doubt its an abandoned railroad.
Yep. Haha. Now they have to scurry and put it back.
Oh snaps! Haha. That sure showed me.
Man, they're experiment is so dangerous.
Oh man, I was so afraid someone was gonna get hurt.
Haha. It's such a grave situation, yet her accent, possibly mixed with sarcasm, caused me to chuckle: "Your father always has to be the big hero. I swear to God, if he gets killed, I won't shed a tear."
 |
| A bit of physics saves the day. |
126. That's 6300 feet. That means they were marking by 50 feet at a time.
Hehe. The second time he said "prodigiuos."
Haha. "Prodigenous [sic]."
His dad's an interesting person. He's a man with character.
That's messed up. (sabotaging someone else's science project)
"Myrtle Beach"
"Dad, I may not be the best, but I come to believe that I got it in me to be somebody in this world. And it's not because I'm so different from you either, it's because I'm the same. I mean, I can be just as hard-headed, and just as tough. I only hope I can be as good a man as you. Sure, Wernher von Braun is a great scientist, but he isn't my hero."
Rocket launch dedication.
 |
| Homer anxiously waits. |
Watched 20131229 (Netflix, Instant, HD)* (Streaming until 20140101)
*HD didn't buffer
October Sky (1999) Joe Johnston. 108 min [bot book Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam, Jr.]
Relevant Links:
October Sky (IMDb.com)
October Sky (Wikipedia.org)
Rocket Boys (Wikipedia.org)
October Sky (RottenTomatoes.com)
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