October Sky: My First School Movie Review!!!

Okay, so, in homeroom, we watched the movie, "October Sky." It was about a boy named Homer, is a total "jock." But, when watching the Soviet shuttle , Sputnik, fly over the sky of his hometown, the rockets orbit inspires Homer to start Rocketry. So, he does, and him and his friends, Roy Lee, and Odell, and the school math geek, Quentin. They begin experimenting and researching, and makes a rocket, which blows up his mothers new fence. They hike and build a base in a field of rocks, and, continue to test out their, "exploding rockets." Then, when a neighborhood steel man comes to watch their rocket, he tells them that the rockets explode from air bubbles, and, the base metal is too weak to stand the heat. So, the boys take metal from a nearby railroad track...But, they run into more obstacles. If you want more, you need to watch the movie!!
This movie has many Science/Math connections. First off, these boys study physics and engineering to create a rocket that actually flies. Secondly, the towns main business, the coal mine, is serious work. They cut and slay coal to be burned, and even turned into electricity and cement. Next, there is a science fair. Homer presents his knowledge on rockets, and his discovery, and, wins the national science fair. The Russians satellite, Sputnik, also plays an important role in the movie. First, it inspires the boys to start their, "mission." But, later, Homer drops out of school because his father was hurt coaling. He becomes a coal miner. As he goes down the elevator, he sees Sputnik flying, and is heartbroken that he had to give up his education and his dream. Next, these boys prove their innocence using math. Homer and his friends are arrested at school for starting a forest fire with their rockets. After, Homer drops out of school, but, is given a book by his teacher and inspiration, Mrs. Reilly. When Homer is free, he studies Rockets angles and locations. He goes with Quentin, and, find his rocket close to where they predicted it would land. He shows this formula to the authorities, and they predict a flare from a nearby airport started the blaze. Homer shows his invention to the science fair afterwards, and gets back in school. Also, there are health dangers. In the end, there are vignettes on what happens later. You learn that Mrs. Reilly dies of Hodgkin's Disease, a type of white blood cell cancer. She dies shortly after the boys launch their last rocket, the Mrs. Reilly. Another Vignette is about the father, John Hickman, the father who strongly disapproves of Homers beliefs and loves his mine. He dies of Black Lung Disease, which is from inhaling too much coal dust. Its effects are the same as tobacco chewing or smoking cigarettes.
At our school, we use CARES. This stands for cooperation, assertion, respect, empathy, and self-control. CARES is used through this movie. C, for Cooperation, is used with the four boys. Homer, Quentin, Roy Lee, and Odell all worked together to create a successful rocket, and, their invention won them the national science fair. A, for assertion, is used when Homer is with his dad. His dad strongly disapproves what Homer does, and, Homer relaxes himself and ignores it. R, for respect, is used with the peers. The steel man helps the young ones with their rocket. He treats them like grown men, and doesn't look down on them. E, for empathy, is used when Homer drops out of school. Homer's dad gets in an accident, and, is unable to work. So, Homer drops out of school and goes to the coal mine, in empathy of his family and father. And, lastly, S is for Self Control. This is used when Homer is arrested. The authorities arrest him, and, Homer and his friends relax themselves and stay calm, although they are in handcuffs. CARES is really expressed through this movie, and is a good example for Students.
All in all, this movie is AMAZING! It is a must see for others school, or with your family. It is the most wonderful hearwrencher, and is really a half and half. This movie is fantastic.

Cast List:
Jake Gyllenhaal Homer Hickam
Chris Cooper John Hickam
Laura Dern Miss Frieda Riley
Chris Owen Quentin Wilson
William Lee Scott Roy Lee Cooke
Chad Lindberg Sherman O'Dell
Natalie Canerday Elsie Hickam


Directed by Charles Gordon
Created in 1999
Read the book by Homer Hickam