Summer of the Monkeys

The book is so amazing as Wilson Rawls writes his magical story just as he did with Where the Red Fern Grows. The movie "Where the Red Fern Grows" does not disappoint and is 99% just like the book. Summer of the Monkeys was lazily done. They didn't follow the book and may as well not referred to The Wilson Rawls version. So disappointing I wouldn't let my children watch it , because the writings of Wilson Rawls should be respected as "Where the Red Fern Grows " director and producer respected his writing.

I was 11 when this movie 1st came out. I've been a movie person since I was 2 yrs old. Movies over toys! I got this movie for Christmas 1998. Yes it's a silly Disney movie but it is beautiful. The entire movie. If you haven't watched it yet, you should. Like I said above, 25 yrs later & this movie still brings tears to my eyes. & if your wondering why about my 5/10 rating since I like it so much, my rating system is different from other people's. I never ever rate anything 9 or 10/10 (no movies perfect.) I've rated over 1,600 movies & half of them are 4/10 which means I enjoyed the movie & will watch it again someday. Now a 5/10 means I really really liked it. Movies like Star Wars, Terminators, Indiana Jones, Top Guns, Mission Impossibles, etc, I rated those 1/10... Sorry not sorry, those horrible "box office" hits sucked!

In the tradition of "Old Yeller", "the Waltons", "Monkey Trouble" and "Dunston Checks In". This heartwarming unforgotten family/animal film will delight both young and old and those who have or haven't read the book that was based off and written by the Author who also wrote "Where the Fern Grows". Director Michael Anderson (the Oscar Winning Director of Around the World in 80 Days and Logan's Run) does a very good job directing this family film, the Cinematography is Magnificent and so out the Costumes, and the acting is very nice and delighted and Screenwriter Jim Strain (the writer for Bingo (1991)) and Greg Taylor (Prancer, Jumanji, Harriet the Spy) did a good job writing and changing the setting to the Canadian Plains in 1910, plus this family film deals with with many issues common to adolescents such as peer relationships, bullies, sibling relationships, conflict with parents, role in the family, accepting responsibility, sharing, caring,and maturing. It also deals with seeing things from another's point of view. It is pertinent to children and bittersweet nostalgic for adults and there are some scenes that will make you laugh, make you cry and put a smile on your face and the whole family will enjoy it as well.

Plus i first saw this movie on videocassette before i read the book and i recommand checking this out for those who read this book and "Where the Red Fern Grows" at local Public Libraries and Public Schools as well, and despite that this was Independent Movie and being released straight to video and distributed by Walt Disney Home Video back in the Holiday Season of 1998.

I watched this with another adult and nine children. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the movie. The monkeys were very entertaining and there were plenty of laughs. However, the movie is mainly quite serious. It deals with many issues common to adolescents such as peer relationships, bullies, sibling relationships, conflict with parents, role in the family, accepting responsibility, sharing, caring,and maturing. It also deals with seeing things from another's point of view. it is pertinent to children and bittersweet nostalgic for adults.

The story line was original, the acting very good, the cinematography outstanding and the costuming was authentic. I would give this movie very high marks and recommend it to both adults and children. There should be more movies of this quality and thoughtfulness generated for the enjoyment of families and movie buffs.

Being one of the founding fathers of my regions monkey movie club(this also includes apes/chimps and orangutans) I am reviewing this film from a monkey movie standpoint. Afterall it is a whole summer of monkeys, 100+ days for monkeys to do what they do best, cause mischief, shenanigans, hyjinx, solve human problems and teach us about ourselves.

The story is simple enough. In short poor boy needs money for stuff he wants. Luckily there's a few monkeys(chimpanzees) that have a bounty on their head that would get Boba Fett or Dog's(Duane Chapman) blood flowing. As the boy tries to catch the monkeys he learns about himself, his family, his grandpa, the local weirdo, flirts with a girl twice his age and learns the beast way to deal with bullies is to have someone point a shotgun at them.

There within lies the problem. So much focus is put on the boy that the chimps just don't get the screen time they deserve. The chimps are not as talented as the chimp(s) that play Jack from the M_P trilogy or the legendary orangutans that play Dunstin or Clyde(1 or 2). So don't watch this movie expecting to find the next big thing in the Chimp genre. The chimps hit some sweet flips which is what the film needed more of. There is an epic scene of the chimps breaking into the poor families house and destroys all the things they worked so hard for. Serious monkey movie enthusiasts will want to rent the film for this scene alone.

So in closing this movie is not for the serious monkey movie enthusiast. I wouldn't recommend this movie to families as it encourages a childs rebellion against their parents. I can only recommend this film as a rental for hardcore monkey loving adults and well supervised children.