Where the Red Fern Grows

Well, in all truth, I rented this because of Dave Matthews, because I love his music. I didn't know what to expect. And while he was OK, and this is a star filled cast, I did not like the movie. Very cheesy, very boring. And everyone looked way too clean for an old Oklahoma farm family setting. Definitely not my cup of tea.

Its not better. It's not worse; it's just different enough to make it as enjoyable and powerful as the original. Dave Matthews impresses with his believable portrayal; as does the rest of the cast. Dabney Coleman, who's characters are usually sleazy, did excellent and likable work. More "historically " accurate than the original movie, it seems. From the costumes to sets, to the acting. Only reason i gave it an 8 is so many tiny details overlooked that could have been included with little trouble.

The problem with this movie is the pacing. I was, perhaps foolishly, anticipating something grand when I rented the DVD, since I love the book and quite liked the original 1974 film. I had been told that the 2003 remake was accurate to Wilson Rawls' novel. Strictly speaking, this is true, but therein lies it's downfall.

Movies adapted from books often have to have sections removed or characters cut because, unlike films, no book is designed to be enjoyed in a single sitting. In this movie the acting is beyond hurried as people race through their lines, desperate to include every utterance of the novel in less than two hours. The results are dismal. The only time I've seen worse butchery of a good novel was the atrocious movie version of "The Hotel New Hampshire" by John Irving.

If you love the book, read the book; or maybe get nostalgic and rent the original. Don't rent this version unless you just need something, anything, to sit some kids in front of for an afternoon while you balance your checkbook.

They should be making more films like these perfect for the whole family to watch. Great movie!, was watching it with my nephews and nieces and they all loved it. Im still trying to find some more films like these.They should be making more films like these perfect for the whole family to watch. Great movie!, was watching it with my nephews and nieces and they all loved it. Im still trying to find some more films like these.They should be making more films like these perfect for the whole family to watch. Great movie!, was watching it with my nephews and nieces and they all loved it. Im still trying to find some more films like these.They should be making more films like these perfect for the whole family to watch. Great movie!, was watching it with my nephews and nieces and they all loved it. Im still trying to find some more films like these.

This movie was a very good adaptation of the book, and this coming from someone who is very critical. I have, like most, read the book many times, which I think makes it harder to like any film adaptation. However, the movie follows the book very well, omitting small things that really didn't have a lot to do with the plot-line. I would say the movie had a little more of a religious slant than the book did. The acting was nice. I would say the major criticism would be they didn't really get into the dog's personalities much. The book did a great job of showing Dan as a clutz with a big heart and Ann as the smart one. However, I would recommend this and it was a million times better than the original movie adaptation.