October Sky (Special Edition) | 
| Director: Joe Johnston
Actors: Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern, Chris Owen, William Lee Scott
Studio: Universal Studios
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.99
Buy New: $3.64
You Save: $6.35 (64%)
New (53) Used (28) Collectible (1) from $3.61
Rating:  307 reviews
Sales Rank: 838
Format: Ac-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dts Surround Sound, Dubbed, Dvd, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 108 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.5 x 0.6
MPN: D25544D
UPC: 025192554421
EAN: 0025192554421
ASIN: B0006FYOTC
Theatrical Release Date: February 19, 1999
Release Date: January 25, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
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 ol' 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) epitomizes 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
Product Description
The true story of Homer Hickam, a young boy trapped in a close-minded coal-mining town in the 1950's. When Sputnik is successfully launched, Homer becomes obsessed with the concept of rocket launching. To the dismay and disgust of the townspeople, as well as Homer's father, he and his friends try to launch a rocket themselves. With the inspiration of a school teacher, they persevere and never lose hope in the dreams. An uplifting, hopeful story that the whole family can enjoy.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 302 more reviews...
October Sky May 25, 2009
Barbara Croxton (Longview, TX USA)
I am not pleased with the size of the picture on the screen. It does not cover the full screen and I am disappointed. I would like to return the two widescreen DVD's that I purchased and exchange them for full-screen ones. Is that possible? I really like the movie, but cannot enjoy viewing it on this widescreen image. Please let me know about returning the widescreen DVD's. I tried to show it to my Jr. High students and it was too small for a classroom of students to see. Thanks for your help. Barbara Croxton
 Based on a true story May 11, 2009
Ruth J. Bernardo (Newton, New Jersey United States)
A beautiful and inspiring story of a 17-year-old boy who dreams of sending a rocket into space in the West Virginia coal mining town of Coalwood. The year is 1957 and Sputnik has just been launched. Its orbit through the night sky is seen by many but touches one teenager's imagination - despite his coalminer father's grim prediction that he will soon follow him into the mines.
Undaunted, he and three other classmates labor day and night to build a rocket that will soar into the sky. After many failed trials and setbacks, they succeed with the encouragement of a dedicated teacher played by Laura Dern. Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this family-friendly movie that also provides a nostalgic trip down memory lane for those old enough to remember the 50s and the exhilarating songs of early Rock and Roll.
 October Sky DVDs April 24, 2009
P. Edison (St. Louis, MO)
Three of the four DVDs were fine. The fourth keeps stopping when it is played. Very unfortunate as 25 people were watching.
Takes One Back To A Childhood In The '50 March 30, 2009
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
This is a fine drama and a nice change of pace from today's more hectic and loud films. It is another solid based-on-a-true store, which still means much of it could be made up for dramatic purposes. Frankly, I don't know, but I liked the story.
The story is about a young man back in the Fifties who gets interested in rocketry and wants to enter that field instead of working in the coal mines as everyone else does in this West Virginia town, , including his father. The big problem is the conflict it causes between the boy and his dad, which I think was overdone. I would like to have a little less tension between the two.
The young man, still a boy, is played by Jake Gyllenhaal, one of his first staring assignments, I think. He's likable, as are his school buddies in here. It's nice to see nice kids in a modern-day film. The two other key actors in the movie are Chris Cooper (the dad) and Laura Dern (the kid's teacher who encourages him all the time.)
The cinematography is decent the 1950s soundtrack is fun to hear. Once again: I wish there more of these kind of films made today.
1 star raters are just haters March 29, 2009
S. Velasquez (Kiss, Fl USA)
fiction or non-fiction I loved this movie. Its a movie of hope. A movie of thought. an inspirational movie. A great kids movie also.
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