River's End

Well, here is yet another movie that is so obscure that there is little to no information about it. River's End is a 2005 film starring Sam Huntington who has starred in a few movies here and there. Everyone else that stars in this movie I have no clue who they are with the exception of Clint Howard (who has appeared in movies such as Leprechaun 2, Ice Cream Man, and Silent Night, Deadly Night 4). This film was directed by William Katt who also appeared in this film and is known for appearing in films like the original Carrie and all of that.

The film follows Clay, a troubled teenager who lost his father at a very young age. He gets apparantly gets into trouble and when he does, he takes up on an offer by his grandfather to go on a canoe trip down the river in hopes that Clay will learn some lessons.

This movie is not great. Film's like these are the types of films that have lessons to be told, but there are bigger and better films that I as the viewer could easily watch. Hell, I can watch Survivor (my favorite reality TV series of all time) and get more out of seeing people's lives change. This film starts off with same eerie transitions that signal a flashback and it does not help that this takes place in Texas if you know what I mean. It is sooooooo 2000's editing. This whole film in the beginning feels like a really dated 2000's film. From how our main character Clay dresses, to playing GameBoy, listening to CD's in the biggest CD player imaginable, to even the high school bully. But the thing is, that is only in the first half and none of this is in the last half of the film. Perhaps it is a clever way to show the difference between Clay's life then and his life afterwards. It kind of makes sense I suppose. Our main character Clay is introduced to us via him playing in a high school basketball game and he seems nice enough and I genuinely feel bad for him. Until we see how much of a jerk he is. I mean, the film did warn us which is something the film does sometimes where it tells us about something and then it happens which leaves us with no surprises at all. The characters overall are not very likeable with the only really likeable character being the grandfather who is the Sherrif. The story is a story that has some promise but there is also this other plot that involves drug dealers who kidnap a girl in Clay's grade and who just so happens to be the bully's girlfriend. Another thing that bothers me is at one point in the film, the bully decides to cause problems by going to his girlfriend's parents nd tell them that Clay kidnapped her (which is obviously false and just goes to show how much this bully is really a major jerk). The reason why I tell you this is because it adds up to nothing. Yes, the parents believe him, but nothing about it is ever mentioned again. Had the police been told it would have been a little better but even if they were told, the Sheriff would have known Clay wouldn't have done it. I do think that the lessons trying to be told in this film are important, but they are literally no brainers like holding open a door for people and all of that. Let's just say this, this is one of those teenage reformation films that the ending is literally obvious. So would it be called spoiling the film if I said that Clay reformed? Even with what could be called "tense scenes" I did not feel any bit of suspense whatsoever. Whether it was something going wrong with the canoe or the drug dealers. Nothing.

River's End was a bad film. I did not get anything out of this film. This is a type of family film that a parent would purposely show to their misbehaving kid to see if they get anything out of it and to be honest, I would rather go canoeing for miles and miles by myself and having to rescue a girl from drug dealers than watch this film because actually doing those things would be loads more fun than anything else in this film. Granted, it is not the worst film I have ever watched nor will this film be the worst film that I have or will ever review. It was just not my film. Even if I got something out of the lessons in this film, it would still be bad due to the mediocre acting and datedness and unlikeable characters.

Molding Clay has a very true story to tell young people. I thank everyone involved in making the movie.

I think we need more movies like Molding Clay.

The actors were real and you felt part of the movie.

We loved the characters and thought of how real the teenager attitude was.

The movie had some would landscape scenes that show Menard, Texas and it's beauty.

I am looking forward to the movie being in the theater.

Thank YOU! Chris

You can't go wrong watching River's End, a film set in modern Texas about a rural sheriff and his grandson who he's trying to set right on life's path. There's a missing generation here as Barry Corbin's son and Sam Huntington's grandson was killed some years earlier. Unlike that western from television the Guns Of Will Sonnett, Corbin hasn't been able to get through to Huntington.

After Huntington's lackadaisical attitude blew a high school basketball game Corbin decides that the kid needs some challenges. When he gets in a scrape it's either jail or a trip by canoe down the Pecos River by himself. That will show if Huntington has the right stuff.

As this is a family film do we need to ask if Huntington has the right stuff. He meets some challenges including some unexpected ones from a pair of fugitives who kidnapped young Amanda Brooks when they carjacked her parent's car.

Corbin gives Huntington a cassette tape and it was the most enjoyable part of the film as the sheriff/grandpa gives some good lessons in camping and for life.

A good one for family audiences.

I don't know why but the movie I watched was actually called river's end this one is called molding clay it's the same movie but they have two different names. I have this 10 movie adventure pack with a bunch of family movies on them. I seen a couple of previews for that Clint Howard ice cream man they look great I would love to see that movie. I didn't know Clint Howard was Richie Cunningham's brother in real life. Jow odd is that? Anyway that Clint Howard is plenty creepy and would do good on some scary movies. I hope I can see some in the future. Anyways this movie was pretty good. It showed how real life kids have to put up bullyism in school back in the '80s. Now people are too soft no bullyism is tolerated so kids don't learn much of anything about real life and school. The kids are really horrible it was tough to be a teenager. Reminds me of all that good stuff that I never want to go back to again. How mean the kids are to anyone who is different. Anyway the stories about a rebellious kid who this is in trouble with the sheriff (his grandfather) and the sheriff tells him to go down the river in a canoe to try to find himself. He ends up meeting some kidnappers of a same girl who he rescued some guys were trying to rape her the way it looked and they ended up putting a snake down his pants earlier in the movie. Very hard to believe what is the odds of the same girl being kidnapped in the kid finding her and rescuing her from the bad guys not very! Nevertheless it was pretty good movie but it got very unbelievable and predictable at times. However the kid turned out to learn a lot about life and better himself in the end.

This movie was a great family film! My boys, ages 8 & 12, were entertained and subjected to life lessons all at the same time. I especially loved the way the film bridged the gap between generations. There are still a few things that teenagers can learn from the older generation! It is amazing how much you can learn about your true self when faced with a challenge. There are not enough films produced anymore that are not violent and do not contain inappropriate language for children. I applaud the writers and cast for keeping family values first and foremost.

The scenery will make you want to grab your canoe and take your family out camping!

Thank you for providing a film that we can add to our library and proudly watch as a family!