I wanted to but couldn't!

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

I haven't read the book but I've seen the film several times.A group of teenage boys get inspired to build rockets with the backing of their science teacher.You'll feel like you've lived with the family after seeing this movie. The over working Dad with responsibilities for family and the entire mining community. The mum who's set aside her own dreams to raise her children. Two sons with aspirations to get to college and away from the certainty of mining work.It doesn't stretch your emotions very far but it does make you think and will keep you entertained throughout.

In the fall of 1957 when I was 14 (like the book) I and the late Mike Falkenhain experimented with building and launching rockets in his backyard at Trevose, PA. I became a chemist and he an engineer. I loved the movie, but the errors got in the way of enjoying the film. The cars were all wrong for the time period of 1957-58. The 1952 Fords and the 1953 Chevys had wrap around windshields, ending the split windshield era. With the exception of a quick passing tail of what I think was a 57 Chevy, every car was 1952 or older. People like my Dad with union jobs traded in their cars every three to five years. In a coal town in W. VA half might have been split windshields, but 100%, I don't think so.Dieselization began in earnest in the 1940's, and was largely complete by 1958 (1953 for the Southern), although there were a few steam locos around on some lines. No std gauge train lines in the US ran exclusively steam engines in 1958. I rode on the Pennsylvania Railroad to school everyday from 1955 - 1959, and was fascinated with trains. One in the movie would have been nice, but exclusively steam in 1958 on a major line - impossible.

October Sky clearly shows how you can take a film based off a true story and make it inspirational to others.It's rare to have a film like that and lucky the film does well to help bring this inspirational story. The film just goes many the hope they need to never give up on what you believe in even if no one else does. Believing in yourself changing everything. Plus with great performances by Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper and Laura Dern who each brought their game to the film considering the important to the fact the film is based off a true story.The music is very well done along with old classic songs that are played in the film. October Sky shouldn't be miss by anyone who enjoy a great story and strong acting it is a must watchI give October Sky an 8 out of 10

What a wonderful film. Inspiration and feel-good done right. Jake Gyllenhaal was really impressive, like, shockingly so. Infuses so much into his character in ways sometimes he didn't later on in his career. All of the supporting turns were quite good. I watched it for Dern (who was great in her role, so much warmth and compassion despite playing it so broadly) but got a really great cast all around. I strongly recommend it, especially because it really does feel like it comes from a lot of undeniable passion, a lot of true inspiration and a true interest in the subject, in a way that doesn't ring false or comes across as contrived or trying to garner emotion or sympathy that isn't warranted at all. There are films like that, but this isn't one of them and needs kudos for that.