 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
October Sky
- Review Date: May 7, 2003
- PG
- Genre: Drama
- 1999
Common Sense Media says
Inspiring tale for older tweens and up.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this moving drama based on a true story centers on a very difficult, tense father-son relationship. Ultimately, the movie is about following your dreams, no matter how unachievable they might feel. In one scene, a drunken stepfather beats up one of the main character's friends; there's also some surprisingly strong language for a PG-rated movie (including "s--t") and a few mild sexual references.
What's the story?
OCTOBER SKY is set in 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the first man-made orbiting satellite. Thanks to their teacher Miss Riley (Laura Dern), Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his high school friends peer up into the clear sky over their tiny West Virginia coal mining town to see its tiny spark drift across the stars. Homer dreams of being a rocket scientist. His father, John (Chris Cooper), the mine supervisor, does not understand Homer's longing for a wider horizons. But others do. Miss Riley roots for "the unlucky ones." Homer's mother who covers the kitchen wall with a mural of the seascape she longs to see. Homer's friends are glad to be a part of something new and important, and the community is proud to have a hero.
Is it any good?
This true story of a boy from a small town who dreams of becoming a rocket scientist is one the best films of the past year and one of the best family movies ever made. We know from the beginning where the story is going, just as we knew with Rocky. The triumph of the underdog is one of literature's most enduring themes. As long as it is done well, audiences are happy to go along. It is never done better than it is here. The script, the production design, and the acting are all superb.
Gyllenhaal's expressive eyes show his simultaneous longing for the stars and for his father's approval. Cooper makes a role that could have been a one-dimensional tyrant multi-layered and complex, even sympathetic. Plot twists that might seem heavy-handed or melodramatic work because we know they really happened, and because these characters make us believe. We care so deeply about them that when we see real home movie footage of the real-life Homer's experiments we feel as though they are a part of our family.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how Homer, not a great student and not especially strong in math, becomes so inspired by an idea that he begins to think in new ways. Has that ever happened to you?
Why it was hard for John to support Homer's ambitions? Why did his mother
see it differently?Do you think Homer made the right choice in going to
work in the mine -- and in leaving it?How does the movie portray the way that "nerds" are treated in school? Do you think people are evaluated differently in school than
they are once they get out?
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AGE
A definate must-see.
This is an inspiring movie that will move you and your children. It sends a powerful and good message about following your dreams. There is very little sexual content and some language, but nothing that should stop you from watching it...I highly reccomend it to everyone! Great for 11+
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AGE
Meh...
Am I the only one who didn't really like this movie? Well, I thought it was decent, wholesome family entertainment, but had a feeling of 'been there done that' to it. It's just another inspirational 'true story' kind of film, that's been done countless times before. But the main problem with 'October Sky' was the ending, which I found to be overly sentimental and rather corny, and caused some unintentional laughs from me.
Overall, I thought this was an okay movie-mildly entertaining, and has a good cast, but far too sentimental, and the whole thing is more unexciting than inspiring.
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AGE
A boring movie
I had to watch this in science class, and it was really boring! It had positive role models, too.
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AGE
Rockets up for October Sky
It was good. This movie had very good highlights in it! Homer didn't care on what his father said. He continued to build rockets. In the end, his dream came true. Also, everything works out in the end.
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AGE
Very inspiring
It's hard to find a family movie better than this. A talented boy whose father is reluctant to support his gifts persists in pursuing his dream of building a rocket. Lots of fun, great acting, and incredibly touching without gratuitous tugging on the heart strings. Superb!
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AGE
They showed us this movie at school and its a really interesting one about three boys who make rockets but the rockets blow up and there are lots of fights. Also they say "son of a b****" and "d*mn" a lot
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AGE
A great movie
This is an excellent movie, which is very inspiring. However, there are a few sexual references, and Homer and his girlfriend are shown in a steamed-up car. There is also some strong language for a PG.
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AGE
Best Movie I Ever Saw
I loved this movie, my 6th grade science teacher showed it to me just this year. We were doing a rocket unit was why, and I thought it was phenomenal.
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| Topics: | history, misfits and underdogs, science and nature |
| Studio: | Universal Pictures |
| Director: | Joe Johnston |
| Cast: | Chris Cooper, Jake Gyllenhaal, Laura Dern |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 108 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 21, 1999 |
| DVD release date: | July 27, 1999 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | language, brief teen sensuality and alcohol use, and for some thematic elements |
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