Fantastic!

Absolutely amazing

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Years ago I read the novel of this film in school and hated it beyond belief, almost as much as I hate the Hunger Games series. The plot follows a redneck boy with his equally hick family and the boy acquires two dogs, Old Dan and Little Anne, hunting dogs, no less. Still think it is heartwarming? Well, at the end of the movie...SPOILER ALERT!!! The two dogs die in a pretty nasty way. The novel is indeed more graphic but the film is still pretty bad. The soundtrack is horrible, the acting is bad and the plot is pathetic. I'm not some animal rights activist and there is no animal cruelty in the film save for hunting, but the death of the two dogs was disgusting and could be very frightening to many children, I imagine.

I read the book when I was in the fifth grade and I am in my third year of college now. I remember the book as if I just read it yesterday because I loved it so much, I am a huge fan of dogs. Now, I just finally found the movie and just finished watching it just five minutes ago. I am currently crying my eyes out because I too lost my dogs and it just breaks my heart to see two beautiful Red Coon Dogs go when their owner loved them so much. Just as much as I loved my dog, Princess..Great movie, very accurate to the book. Not line by line, but the story all together, the details... Dave Matthews is the father, I knew I recognized him from somewhere...But it's amazing, to all those who disagree, I will never understand you.

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.

I had the privilege of being at the World Premiere of "Where The Red Fern Grows" May 3, 2003 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. I have worked for three years to help bring the film out of the financial problems that has kept it from being finished and released. There were many others who dedicated so much of their time doing the same thing, one of which was not fortunate enough to make the credits, Julie Davis. We owe her great gratitude. There were so many who did all they could to see the film come to fruition. All believed in this film and the final product speaks for itself.Joseph Ashton, who played the lead role Billy Coleman, did a fantastic job. I spoke with him at the premiere and, not only is he a great actor, but he is an extremely nice young man. Joseph definitely has a great future in the film business. Also the rest of the cast gave great performances. Dave Mathews was perfect in his role and showed that he too has a great future as an actor in the film biz if he so desires. A damned good job for the first time out.Lyman Dayton, who was the producer on the 1974 version of "The Red Fern" was the beginning director/producer/screenplay writer of the new version. He was with it when it fell into financial troubles and tried constantly to save the film. I presented the film to a fine producer/businessman Bob Yari, and after a couple of years of various negotiations, he brought in Crusader Entertainment(who had tried to make a deal before) and the film was brought out of financial problems and made ready to finish. Sam Pillsbury, a well respected director, was brought in to finish "The Red Fern". Sam did a fantastic job finishing the film and taking it to the silver screen. The extraordinary contribution of these two great directors, that led to the finished product, can be seen and felt throughout the film.At the premiere, everyone was struck by the emotions, humor, suspense, and the heart felt feelings experienced from this film. And at the end I will guarantee you that there was not a dry eye in the audience. Yes, "Where The Red Fern Grows" will finally be on the big screen, and is destined to be a Classic Family Film for many years to come. I am extremely proud to have the credit as one of the executive producers.Wayne Mooneyhan Executive Producer