| Nostalgia, perseverence and courage... |
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| written by HChang |
July 15, 2006 - 4:53 AM PDT |
I'm surprised I've never heard of this movie and am glad I rented it. The acting is great and the story wonderful.
Story starts out with an ordinary teen who is more interested in girls than math. This all changes with the launch of the Russian satellite, Sputnik, in 1957. Upon seeing the Sputnik glide across the night sky, Homer fantasizes about building a rocket, to the chagrin of his dad who is an old time coal miner and thinks his son's dream has gone too far. In a town like Coalwood, either you go to college on a football scholarship or be a coal miner like everyone else. Undeterred and to the horror of his two buddies, Homer befriends the school nerd, Quentin, to learn about rockets. Enduring the ridicules of almost the entire town, the boys set off to find the perfect combination that would make a rocket fly without exploding. Just when they think they've found the right formula, their hopes of entering the science fair are dashed when one of their stray test rockets is accused of starting a nearby fire. Things turn for the worst when Homer's dad is injured in a mine accident and Homer quits school to join the ranks of the miners so his brother could maintain the company-sponsored college scholarship.
I wasn't around in 1957 but watching the movie made me wish I were there. You don't have to be a science or rocket buff to enjoy this movie. It's one of those that makes you feel good in the end. |
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