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October Sky [DVD] [1999]
 
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October Sky [DVD] [1999]

DVD ~ Jake Gyllenhaal
4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)

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October Sky [DVD] [1999]
63% buy the item featured on this page:
October Sky [DVD] [1999] 4.6 out of 5 stars (10)
October Sky [DVD] [1999]
37% buy
October Sky [DVD] [1999] 4.7 out of 5 stars (3)
£5.98
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Product details

  • Actors: Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern, Chris Owen, William Lee Scott
  • Directors: Joe Johnston
  • Writers: Homer H. Hickam Jr., Lewis Colick
  • Producers: Charles Gordon, Larry J. Franco, Marc Sternberg, Peter Cramer
  • Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
  • Language English
  • Subtitles: Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Greek, Hebrew, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: Universal Pictures UK
  • DVD Release Date: 21 Jul 2003
  • Run Time: 103 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00004T8TU
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 12,761 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Based on the memoir Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam Jr, October Sky emerged as one of the most delightful sleepers of 1999--a small miracle of good ole fashioned movie-making in the cynical, often numbingly trendy Hollywood of the late 20th century. Hickam's true story begins in 1957 with Russia's historic launch of the Sputnik satellite, and while Homer (played with smart idealism by Jake Gyllenhaal) sees Sputnik as his cue to pursue a fascination with rocketry, his father (Chris Cooper) epitomises the admirable yet sternly stubborn working-man's ethic of the West Virginia coal miner, casting fear and disdain on Homer's pursuit of science while urging his "errant" son to carry on the family business--a spirit-killing profession that Homer has no intention of joining.

As directed by Joe Johnston (The Rocketeer), this wonderful movie is occasionally guilty of overstating its case and sacrificing subtlety for predictable melodrama. But more often the film's tone is just right, and the spirit of adventure and invention is infectiously conveyed through Gyllenhaal and his well-cast fellow rocketeers, whose many failures gradually lead to triumph on their makeshift backwoods launching pad. Capturing time and place with impeccable detail and superbly developed characters (including Laura Dern as an inspiring schoolteacher), October Sky is a family film for the ages, encouraging the highest potential of the human spirit while giving viewers a clear view of a bygone era when "the final frontier" beckoned to the explorer in all of us. --Jeff Shannon

Special Features
2.35 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
German
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround English German
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
Original Theatrical Trailer
Weblink
Production Notes
Cast And Film Makers Biographies
Spotlight On Location
Czech\Danish\Dutch\English\Finnish\German\Greek\Hebrew\Norwegian\Polish\Swedish


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Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars October Sky high, 4 Sep 2003
By Steve "---steve---" (Littlehampton) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This is a delightful film that can be watched again and again. Based on a true story of a group of friends destined to work the mine in a small, grim, late 1950s Virginian town who, lead by a space race inspired lad called Homer, they design and build small rockects. Going against everyones wishes (except their supportive school teacher) they learn the science and engineering skills bit by bit (when confronted by a problem, they learn how to solve it), craft their rockets and walk the 8 miles to their remote launch area they have built. Test after test reveals small progress and new problems until they finally build viable rockets. Along the way they have to endure various domestic, school and law enforcement problems (being arrested for a fire they didn't cause), but ultimately, the boys skill and determination is recognised and they are gratifiyingly rewarded. Homer goes on to work at NASA designing space rockets.
Set against a back drop of domestic drama and pressure this film reveals some excellent characters and determined spirit.
It could all have been spoiled by standard American slush tactics, but it wasn't. Well directed, produced and acted this film is a gem. Buy it, watch it, enjoy it.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazingly memorable film!, 3 Mar 2003
By Sarah (England) - See all my reviews
October sky is fast becoming one of my favorite movies of all time, every time I watch it, it brings home a little of what Homer and the rocket boys experienced back in 1957. It is such a beautiful movie, with such an amazing story, and everything you could hope for in a good, honest drama. And what makes it even better is that it is all true. The story runs through 17 year old Homer Hickams aspirations and journey to the stars. Being inspired by Sputnik, he and three of his friends decide to take a chance at rockets, as a way to get out of the same life that everyone in their small town has, of working down in the mines. The movie documents their faliures and triumphs, whilst looking at the relationships between family members and friends, and gives you a truly memorable viewing experience. Watch this movie!!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A film to base your life upon., 11 Jul 2000
By paul.emmerson@themail.co.uk (Middlesbrough,Cleveland) - See all my reviews
After reading 'Rocket Boys' by Homer H Hickam, I was over the moon to discover that a film of this masterpiece had already been made. The book was a real inspiration and although excited by the prospect of the film, I knew that there was no way it could compete.

I was wrong, this film is absolutely wonderful. I laughed, cried and even though I knew the story, got generally excited. When I finally stepped away from my television as the end credits rolled, I could see where my whole life had gone wrong.

October Sky is a true story of a group of four boys who live in the small mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia and after seeing the worlds first satellite 'Sputnik' fly over their town in 1957, they decide to build their rocket to compete with the Russians.

It becomes an obsession, and against all the odds with help from certain members of the Coalwood community they strive and then strive a little bit more to achieve their dream.

Homer H Hickam the author of the book, is what you could call the leading member of these four boys and the driving force behind the whole project. He is without doubt an amazing human being and a person to set your standards against.

This is a beautiful film which you should watch it at least once, it may change your life.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Early morning look into the October Sky
October sky would probably be a film that I would never have watched hadit not been for a 5.30am wake up call by my 18 month old son. Read more
Published on 30 April 2004 by Mr. Andrew R. Hardy

5.0 out of 5 stars October sky- boy & rocket, father and son- YOU MUST SEE THIS
The movie is a really good mixture of teenage boy's attraction to explosive fun with rockets aganist a backdrop of grim coalmining in W. Virginia. Read more
Published on 3 Sep 2003 by Cliff Leach

5.0 out of 5 stars Great film, emotions ride high and the film grabs you firmly
This film stands out above others as one for people who were youngsters of the fifties to relate to. Read more
Published on 26 Oct 2001 by howard90nine@aol.com

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Very Good
This is a breath-taking, beutiful film. Set in the 1950s around a coal mining village it has a amazing story line. You will not belive it is TRUE. Buy It Now!!!
Published on 12 Jun 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Truely Great Story
I picked this up as nothing else looked interesting on the shelf. It turned out to be one of the best films I've every seen, a truely great story. Read more
Published on 10 Dec 2000 by S. C. Hall

4.0 out of 5 stars A family film about the dreams of boys that become reality.
After reading "Rocket Boys" by Homer Hadley Hickham, I knew that I just had to see the film based on the true story. Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2000

3.0 out of 5 stars A good family film
I have read the book "Rocket Boys" by Homer H Hickham a true story of a mining town boy's dream to send rockets into space. Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2000 by jeffc@bluesteel.u-net.com

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