sparks_john

When it comes to great heartfelt films, nobody recalls the magic better than animals and people. Both actors start the film with a long draw to a meeting place amidst a sea of people readied for equestrian horse competition. This appears to be the moment where they really shine. Two opposites about to cross paths.

We are left as an audience with little, to no, girl and horse relationship, so don't expect any off that.

Where they are ready to make their career in films is nestled in this vibrant setting. If I Could Ride's biggest star really is not the two of them but the gritty story beautifully shot on a canvas of brilliant yellow and orange fall leaves. It is funny, yes, but mostly a punch in the gut film about trading places and there is so much more.

The story, the acting, the directing and the economical plots in the film add to its greatness. One of the best strengths is that the glue between these two girls is a chiseled, older brother, archetype named Jimmy (Tom Vera).

More of a young Harrison Ford stuck between a bright future and a haunting past than a golden boy to the rescue. This is a true nod to excellent floating camera work in a sea of morning fog with sunlight playing in the pallet of perfect Vermont fall foliage. Performances are excellent. A wonderful and somewhat good family film. If you're that kind of family that is.

For me, '"Mission From Outer Space"' doesn't come close to its hype in the trailer.

In short, the reason for this is the lack of atmosphere. The first part shone through the certainty of the unknown. Sure, you didn't know what you were dealing with, but the whole way the eerie setup from a foreign world was staged and introduced to the viewer was brilliant. Just not a brilliant as the trailer.

The problem with some knowledge about the alien, means that the story has to be approached "differently".

The first point that bothers me are the multiple characters brought into the game. There I was actually disappointed, because I had hoped the gloomy mood from the first part is continued. But then I knew the movie would probably be a completely different one.

In the second section, aliens drift into the scene delightfully and then drift out never to be seen again which consists to a large extent only of shooting interludes.

I had a revealing experience watching this. I heard "Aliens" without considering this is not an alien film, more of a coming of age. And the script is quite good. I mean so far as the use of language, with the authentic backwoods drawl of the table talk of the abduction, the natural gruff of the Sherriff to the Russian's apparent more than real agent and play on cross over. The sister's tweaky voice against the older rebellious sister's rasp created a nice pitch against a well resolved music score.

All acting a near perfect 10.

The events really boil down to a series of missteps, and even though this band of sisters is made of tough "secret agents" sure enough, they can't seem to get along with their idea of God, but can get things done. The missteps pan out wonderfully in a collaboration of multiple endings that tie together with a common theme. I am not sure what that theme is but I was so visually taken that I am willing to go back for a second watch, when possible, to discover more.

I find this film more about life lessons and relationships and not so much on end of world entanglement.

Worth a second watch to find more about something.