Well, I just got through watching this much-anticipated film (by me) and it didn't disappoint except for one thing: I thought it was a true story. I didn't play close enough attention to the word "inspired" in the title because, unlike the story of Seabiscuit, this isn't what really happened.

It's based on a nice comeback story a real racehorse, Mariah's Storm, which did make a great comeback from a serious injury but not to the extent of what happens here in this movie. This was exaggerated to the hilt for dramatic purposes, but that's okay once you know that because the story is, indeed, "inspirational."

Most important, this is about as nice a modern-day film as you will ever find. There's nary a swear word, hardly even a raised voice. There are nice characters and a sweet, family-friendly tone to it with a tear-in-your-eyes Seabiscuit-type tale and ending.

Dakota Fanning once again demonstrates why she is the greatest child actor of her generation. Kurt Russell is excellent, too. Ole Kurt must be mellowing these days playing subdued nice guys like this. It's good to see. The same goes for Elisabeth Shue. This is a far cry from her role in Leaving Las Vegas. Even Kris Kristofferson holds his tongue in this film! Amazing.

Like Seabiscuit, this also is beautifully filmed. I wonder if any sport is filmed and is just surrounded by all this beauty in real-life, too, like horse racing? It IS "the sport of kings." There is some spectacular scenery in here, much of it in Kentucky and where better to be when filming a horse racing story?

So, if you and your kids - or just you - want to settle in for nice film, and you're looking for a pleasing, nice-looking, feel-good story you absolutely cannot miss with this film. Very highly recommended.

My wife and I saw this movie today, and were very happy to have spent the time and the emotion.

This is a heartwarming experience for virtually any viewer with a soul. Far beyond a simple story about a horse, this film delves in to multi-generational relationships and human frailty. In its relatively short time duration, the film depicted a great deal of real life.

Dakota Fanning is a remarkable actor. It is almost frightening to see someone of her tender years with such screen presence and ability to deliver a range of emotion so convincingly. If only the film industry will refrain from corrupting her - and her support group helps to keep her "real" - she will undoubtedly evolve into an excellent adult performer.

Kurt Russell is a perennial favorite of ours. We both commented on the joy of watching the growth of his career and ability from his child roles of Disney films through his present "mature" stage of career. Whether a husband and father in "Dreamer" or a dysfunctional husband and brother in "Backdraft, he is enjoyable to watch.

Kris Kristofferson as a crusty old horse person with a huge, warm heart, was a nice addition to the film. We have long acknowledge that his acting talent far exceeds his musical prowess.

Last, but not least, there is Elisabeth Shue. Since "Adventures in Babysitting," we have enjoyed her performances. She is beautiful, charming, adept, versatile and willing to take professional risks. It is unfortunate that the film industry does not provide her more good roles for someone of her abilities.

It is pleasing that "Dreamer" - and films of its style - are made. Such entertainment vehicles support a means to keep families bonded. "Dreamer" is a great way for families to spend a couple of hours together.

Don't hesitate to see this film. Open your heart, connect your soul to your brain, and enjoy yourself!

As a long time horse racing fan and a former horse loving little girl, this movie had to go on my must see list. I would definitely recommend it for all families - and the adults may be surprised how much they enjoy it also. There is one scary scene for some young kids when the filly breaks down early in the movie - but this scene is part of the commercials that already have been on TV, so it should not be too much of a shock. As a racing fan, I found a few points that stretched credibility, but this is a "dream" after all, and they do point out that putting a filly or mare in the Breeder's Cup Classic has hardly ever been done, much less expecting she can win enough of the purse to justify the high entry fee needed. Even Azeri, who was a horse of the year, ran 5th when she took on male horses in the Classic. Sonador could have run in the Breeder's Cup Distaff instead, paid less for the entry fees, and still have astounded everyone with a win (when Mariah's Storm, the "inspired by" horse ran in the Breeder's Cup Distaff after her injury she did not win). Over all the movie does a pretty good job of representing the factual background (children can't generally be licensed as race horse owners, but the plot certainly works much better this way!).

I do think that if they are going to make "Inspired by a true story" part of the title, they should have provided information about this some where - perhaps as a post script at the end - but they do not. You have to find interviews with the screen writer to learn that it was inspired by Mariah's Storm who broke her leg as a 2 year old when she was expected to be a favorite in the 1993 Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies, but later returned to racing and won several graded stakes races. She has gone on to be the dam of several stakes winners, including Giants Causeway, who is one of the studs they admire at Ashmore Stud when looking for a horse to breed Sonadore to. Mariah's Storm is 14 years old now and is still having babies. I suspect that on their trip to the breeding farm we may be seeing the actual retired race horses, as the studs shown (Fusaichi Pegasus, Giant's Causeway, Johannesburg, Grand Slam) are all actually owned by Coolmore Lexington (formerly Ashmore Stud) in Kentucky. While inspired by Mariah's Storm, the movie is not really based on her. In fact, at one point, the characters talk about Mariah's Storm, when saying it may be possible for Sonador to race again after her broken leg, just like Mariah's Storm had. Grand Slam (the horse they considered breeding Sonador to) also made a comeback from an injury he suffered running in the 1997 Breeder's Cup Juvenile.

The premise of this movie is so similar to 2003's Seabiscuit, you'd think you're watching yet another biography of a real horse in some extraordinary, inspiring film that might just make you want to head down to the nearest race course and observe a real race.

But Dreamer (or Sonador as the horse is named) takes a slightly different angle in this tale about second chances and comebacks. If compared to Seabiscuit, yes, we have a horse with great potential faced with the troubles of breaking a leg during a competitive race. As with all race horses, this means instant death, as they have no future value, and are bred for the sole purpose of racing.

We also have a superb trainer, Ben Crane, played by Kurt Russell, and the doctor (Holmes Osborne), the written-off jockey (Freddy Rodriguez), the stable-hand (Luis Guzman), etc. But here's where the similarities end. Dreamer is a more personal film, with family friendly characters, like the daughter (Dakota Fanning), the wife (Elizabeth Shue), and the grandfather (Kris Kristofferson). Nursing the horse back to health had actually brought the family closer together, and that in itself makes this film quite cliché in its many "been-there-done-that" before moments to touch.

Dakota Fanning has held her own against "father-figure" heavyweights like Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington, and Tom Cruise, though many would have pointed out that she had rivaled Naomi Watts for the 2005 Scream Queen honors with her performance in War of the Worlds. Here, Fanning has returned to more credible acting, albeit in a safer role.

Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story, is a heartwarming tale about believing in oneself, having dreams, believing that you can achieve, and take action to achieve those dreams. While watching the movie, I can't help but chuckle at the parallels in seeing how my team and I are sticking together, just like those characters, in wanting to see our dream of making a short film, and entering it into competitions (in this case, the Breeder's Cup) come to a reality.

It's that kind of film, an inspiring one. It might be clichéd, the premise might be too good to be true, but hey, success might come to those who dare to dream, believe, and more importantly, do.

My wife dragged me to this movie and I kinda thought I might enjoy it, so, I didn't fight it too much. Once the movie started and I got into the plot, I was hooked. My wife started crying within the first 15 minutes and she didn't stop until we walked out of the theater!!! It was the good kind of crying... not bad!!! Take the WHOLE family to the classic Disney type story!!! If you have any ability to follow how these types of movies go, then you will know the outcome long before it happens... it doesn't matter because you'll be wanting that outcome and you'll embrace it when it happens!!! Good acting, as always, from Kurt Russell and even Kris Kristofferson showed some range. Young Dakota Fanning has to be one of the most talented actresses of our time!! I could never see her as a 'child actor'... she an actress that just happens to be a child!!! GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!! You won't be sorry!!

I was lucky enough to be able to preview this film on October 6, in Greenville, SC with my wife. While I had seen the previews several months ago for this film and thought it looked pretty good, I went in thinking it would be just another "chick flick". I was wrong. The story-telling was superb and very rarely dragged along, holding the attention well (I never looked at my watch). The acting was very good from all involved and Dakota is cute as ever. The drama was riveting without being over done or heavy-handed. All in all this film is a winner (no puns intended) and great for people of all ages (and genders).

I must admit that the real reason that I went to see Dreamer was because large parts of the film were filmed in and around Lexington, KY, my hometown. While I am a HUGE horse-racing fan, I cringe a little at sappy, feel-good, cheesy stories involving 11-year-old girls. And so, I almost passed on Dreamer because of the trailers with Dakota Fanning.

I was pleasantly surprised though. In fact, Dreamer had far, far fewer moments that could be considered sappy or cloying than the much more publicized and well-regarded Seabiscuit.

Dakota Fanning is a fantastic actor, and she plays the part of Cale Crane beautifully, only once (when Dreamer is reclaimed by her father as a surprise) striking a false note of over-enthusiastic cheesiness. The rest of the time, Fanning plays the horse-crazy, idealistic, and yet surprisingly level-headed Cale to a tee.

Although it is true that the story follows a fairly predictable story arc, it is plainly clear that the writers and director are horse-racing fans. Despite the very economical story-telling (the movie almost felt too short and rushed from one scene to another), the story captured many of the fabulous quirks of horse-racing in Kentucky (not least the reference to the Saudi prince who flies his private 737 to Lexington to see his horse run against his brother's horse--the *real* sheik of Dubai has flown his 737 into Lexington for years, where he parks it on the tarmac at the airport across Versailles road from Keeneland...everyone *knows* when the sheik is in town to see or buy his horses).

The cinematography captures the horse country around Lexington and Keeneland superbly--they look far better (and more realistic) here, unfussed with and pure, than they did in their limited exposure in Seabiscuit.

The best testimony to the film's success as a crowd pleaser was its reception on a Saturday night, several weeks after the movie's release (mid-November), in a North Carolina theater. The majority of the audience were NOT horse-crazy adolescent girls, but rather adult couples, who spontaneously broke into applause at Sonya's triumph in the Breeder's Cup Classic, and who lingered at the end credits, clearly hoping for even more. (Actually, an infertile 3-year-old mare has got little ahead of her except to continue racing... How about a sequel where Sonador's earnings allow the Crane's to attempt to restore the family farm to its mysterious and mythical former glory?) All in all, a movie that promises a story about a horse overcoming the odds and a family coming together which delivers resoundingly and convincingly on both counts.

(There are a handful of minor goofs in the movie in terms of accuracy, but they do not detract from the overall film. More amusing than anything else is the scene in the pasture where Sonador, who is supposed to be a filly, is very, VERY clearly played by a gelding.)

I saw this film on September 13th in Indianapolis. I am one of the judges for the Heartland Film Festival that screens films for their Truly Moving Picture Award. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life." Heartland gave that award to this film.

The setting is the beautiful horse country around Lexington, KY. A dysfunctional horse family falls on hard times. The family includes a grandfather (Kris Kristofferson), a son (Kurt Russell), his wife (Elisabeth Shue), and their daughter (Dakota Fanning). The son is a horse trainer and loses his job abruptly and takes with him a badly injured horse to his shrunken, empty, rundown horse farm.

Just as the horse, Sonador, which is Spanish for Dreamer, struggles to become healthy, the family also struggles to become a caring, loving unit again. The indomitable spirit of the daughter as she cares for the horse forces the family to confront their problems. And ultimately they do face their problems with courage, spirit and even heroism.

The acting in this movie by the family members was superb. But Dakota Fanning deserves a special mention. It seems once a generation there is an outstanding child actor that is believable. She is this generation's child actor.

The cinematography and music score are outstanding. The horse country comes alive and you begin to understand why "…the sport of kings…" becomes many people's profession.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past winners going back 70 years.

An uplifting, heartwarming movie...inspires one to dream and dream big. It's a must see, especially for the lovers of horses. Rivals the Horse Whisperer as my favorite movie revolving around horses. Kurt Russell is great, as always. Dakota Fanning is a very special young actress, perhaps a greater talent at her age than Drew Barrymore. Kris Kristofferson play his usual gritty character. And last but not least, it's great to see Elisabeth Shue on the silver screen again. She is a natural beauty and a great actress. The movie is very timely in that it involves the Breeder's Cup, which, at the time of this writing, is coming up this weekend. It's a movie for all ages, and if it comes out on DVD before Christmas, it'll make a wonderful gift.

Wow, I saw this movie last night and it was amazing! I have always had a love for horses and have been around them for over seven years, but that's not the only reason why I loved "Dreamer" as much as I did.

All the actors and actresses did such a great job in this movie. I have been a fan of Dakota Fanning for a while now, and I think she does well in almost everything she does, but I don't think it would be possible for her to do any better than she did in this movie. She played her character Cale Crane, perfectly. It was obvious throughout the movie that she loved her horse, Sonador, with all of her heart. She would even sneak out at night to feed her Popsicles! In real life, Dakota has her own horse named Goldie, so she was already used to being around horses before she started filming this movie.

Kurt Russel also did an amazing job in this movie. Honestly, I don't think there is any other actor out there that deserved that part more than he did. I've seen Elisabeth Shue (Lily Crane) in another one of her most recent movies, "Hide and Seek," which is a completely different genre of movie, but I thought she did a great job in it, and "Dreamer" as well. Dakota Fanning was also in "Hide and Seek," and did a great job too, as usual.

I didn't even notice one single thing in this movie that I would have changed. It was just so good, and I think there should be more movies like this to be made in the future. Everyone in the theater clapped and cheered when Cale's horse Sonador, crossed the finish line in first place at the Breeder's Cup. "Dreamer" is a movie that anyone can enjoy, so if you are looking for a really, really good, inspirational movie, I highly suggest you go see this one. 10/10.

Much has been made in these pages about this film, as far as not being a true story. This inspired account about an injured horse the Crane family bring back to life, is one of the most engaging films about the racing sport in memory. Of course, this is no "Seabiscuit", but the film makers are not claiming it to be.

John Gantins, the director and writer of this picture, knows what to give the public. Aside from the heart warming feeling in the film, he was blessed with a cast that does justice to the material. The love of a young girl for a horse, that by all accounts should have been shot because of the injured it suffered during an accident, is the stuff that makes good family movies.

"Dreamer, Inspired by a True Story" is totally dominated by Dakota Fanning's presence in the film. Miss Fanning, is a luminous young actress the camera adores. She is a natural, as she shows in this film. Dakota Fanning has the uncanny ability of being real at all times. Her love for Sonador and her determination to take the horse to the Breeders' race consumes her, as well as her family.

Kurt Russell is also good as Cale's father. He is a man of principle who loves what he does best, bringing horses to their full potential. Kris Kristofferson plays the grandfather who wants Cale to succeed and in the process he is reunited with his son. Elizabeth Shue is seen as a mother who has to work to help meet ends when her husband loses his job. David Morse, one of the best character actors around doesn't have much to do, and the same goes for the wonderful Luis Guzman, playing one of the stable men.

The film is recommended for families with children. Mr. Gantins created an excellent entertainment that will satisfy young and old because it shows a young girl with a firm resolution to do the right thing for the horse she loves.

I screened Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story on August 23rd in Washington DC. This beautiful film, a Truly Moving Picture, teaches children that they can achieve their goals despite any obstacles that may stand in their way.

Set in Lexington, Kentucky, this is a story about perseverance and empowerment in the face of hardship. Cale Crane (Dakota Fanning) dreams of having a race horse on her father's farm again. Although the family does not have enough money to purchase a new horse, Cale's father Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) acquires an injured racehorse named Sonador, the Spanish word for "dreamer."

The story that ensues encourages all children to reach high. Despite their economic setbacks, everyone on the Crane farm believes that they can nurse Sonador back to health. Although there are age and cultural differences among the family members and farm workers, they all find inspiration in Cale's unwavering determination. While working towards the goal of healing their injured horse, broken relationships within the family are healed.

In addition to providing an inspirational message, this film also succeeds in vividly depicting a rural lifestyle in which horses and people are closely connected. Children who view this movie can learn about the deep bonds between animals and humans.

Because of the positive messages this film exudes, it has been chosen as the upcoming featured film for a new joint project between the National Collaboration for Youth and Heartland Truly Moving Pictures. The exciting project, F.I.L.M. (an acronym for "Finding Inspiration in Movies and Literature") includes a three step process in which children screen select films, use activity guides for each film, and then partake in service learning projects.

In Lexington, Kentucky, the horse barn of the family Crane has been empty for years, without any horses, due to the financial difficulties of the family. When the female horse Sonya, a.k.a. Sonador (Dreamer, in Spanish) breaks one foreleg in a race, the owner Palmer (David Morse) decides to sacrifice the animal, but the trainer Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) accepts the injured horse as part of three months salaries owed by Palmer. His daughter Cale (Dakota Fanning) becomes very connected with Sonya, and while the horse is rehabilitated, the wounds in the ties of the Crane family are also healed.

"Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story" is one of those beautiful, positive, optimistic movies, with a magnificent message for families. First, you must never give up your dream; following your dream, no matter how impossible it seems to be, magic may happen. The other one is that families shall always stay united, no matter how difficult the situation seems to be: the union makes the strength. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Sonhadora" ("Dreamer")

Dreamer is a fantastic film for all ages. It has humour and also has the amazing ability to make you cry - you can really feel yourself becoming one with the film. It's storyline is amazing and the quality is amazing. I really recommend this film to everybody, especially horse lovers for it gives you an even stronger love for these creatures. Dreamer is highly inspirational and the feeling you have once the film is over is unique. Its almost as if you can achieve your wildest dreams. This is by far one of my favourite movies. The actors in this film play their parts beautifully, you can really bond with the story as each line is said with extreme emotion. It has everything that one person can ask for. However, a warning, this film WILL make you cry! Glorious, happy ending.

Dreamer was a heart warming and wonderful movie.... My Daughter and left the theater with a "Great" Feeling. During the movie you find yourself cheering for the good guys to prevail. The whole cast did a wonderful job.....my daughter was so inspired by the moral of the story. You have to believe in yourself and others. The Characters in the movie were so believable and it looked like they truly enjoyed making this movie.

It's about time we start seeing more inspiring movies..... I really hope this movie does well at the box office and DVD. We will buy the DVD when it comes out.

I hope Hollywood will take heed and start making more movies that will inspire us to believe and be better people.

I fell in-love with this movie from beginning to end,the first time i watched it i closed my eyes in the beginning when i saw the horse "Sonador" fall,i cried through this whole movie and at the same time,had a wonderful smile on my face..Dakota fanning is just wonderful, all of my favorite actors in this movie, i wish it could have been longer and shown more of "Sonador's" recovery etc,,but the last 10minutes,the last part of the race i could feel the uplifting experience of "Sonador"across the finishing line,a baby could watch this it is just that compatible for families.this movie deserves an academy..so needless to say whenever it comes on,and i have also taped it, i have to watch it again and again.just to see the bad guys in it,if there are such things in this,loose...I fell in-love with the sheik when he spoke to Dakota about her horse winning,i would have loved to have seen them all sitting together tho at the races.the sheik the cranes and the wonderful Spanish horsey handler..it did my heart so good to see the Prince,stand up and acknowledge "Cale" and "sonador" in the winners circle...thanks for letting me express these feelings..god bless to all. "Irene"

My wife loves horses, so it was inevitable this movie would eventually come home with her from the rental place. She insisted I watch it, and I am glad she did. The story is simple and predictable, but still fun and very entertaining. Kurt Russell does a great job of making horse trainer and father Ben Crane real and believable, and Dakota Fanning is incredible. The kid must have been born in a theater. Add Elizabeth Shue as the mom, Kris Kristofferson as the grand-dad, and David Morse as the bad guy and you have a pretty impressive cast for a family oriented film. If I have a grand-daughter some day, I will get this DVD and watch it again with her.

Quality goreless movies are hard to find. How often can we watch people who are cut open, shot, guts spewing...? This movie has none of that. It is a precious story of realities dramatic in their own right, and inspiring without the gore of other films. I think movies should be inspiring... and Dreamer does just that. Inspire. Dakota Fanning is phenomenal. That child is far too skilled for her own good. She takes on the depth of the character and brings a reality to the screen rarely found by child actors. Kurt Russell for any 80's child is a classic and has wonderful chemistry on screen with his on screen daughter. Chris Christopherson, although shockingly older than he was with Barbara Streisand plays a role untouchable by other actors. The on screen relationships have depth, the plot stirs the audience, and for anyone interested in "good film" - this movie is a must see.

Dakota Fanning shines as usual. This move was amazing. A must see for the whole family, young and old. Tells the true story of how a horse brought together a family that had been broken for a long time... Truly unbelievable until you see it.

The chemistry on the screen is amazing.

Dakota's emotion shine on the screen... she just lights it up.

The horse is also an amazing actor... the looks he gives the camera... breathtaking *watch the rolling credits and you will know what I am talking about...

Caution: may inspire you to become a rider...

What are you still doing in your seats reading this?! get out there and see it!

I saw this in Toronto and it will not disappoint. Simple, linear and uplifting. Dakota fans will be the happiest as they were in Toronto. It will have a USA premiere in Indianapolis. Mr. Gatins chose a smart strategy for his first film: let the pros do their thing and lead without dictating. It really is Dakotas' film and all the cast seems to accept this. Some humor, some tears, as the trailers show, but there is so much more. It would be nice to see Elizabeth Shue do more, but there is a lot of story to cover. Photography is excellent in both sweeping shots and action closeups. The mood of the film is appropriate for the narrative with just the right amount of action and conversation. It would be great to see a follow-up film in five years to see how "Cale" develops as a character. I wish the film had been 4 hours long!

I was privy to see and advance screening of this film, schedule to open in the US October 21, 2005. It's in the same genre as SEABISCUIT -but it's not all about the horse or the race, it's about a family rekindling their love for each other, and it's about believing in oneself no matter what the odds. Kurt Russell offers a warm performance, well photographed....this is sure to be an enjoyable film the family can all enjoy.It is also nice to see that the entire project was filmed on location in the US. Good support work by Kris Kristoferson and Elizabeth Shue...and there's the darling Dakota Fanning - what will we do when she grows up?

***** From the coming attractions / TV ads, I had no plans to see this movie, but my daughter got us tickets to see an early screening of "Dreamer". I went in not expecting much, but was I surprised. From the opening credits the musical score drew me in. I cried happy and sad tears ... almost every minute. The cast was incredible, each actor filled his part wonderfully (there not enough good things to say) Great performances by Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning and Kris Kristopherson. Robert Morse is an excellent "bad guy." And Elizabeth Shue gives a lovely performance. I'm recommending this movie to everyone, except "EXCEPTIONALLY SENSITIVE" children, who in spite of a very, happy ending may not be able to handle the trauma of the extreme sadness which precedes it. The cinematography was beautiful. The story was predictable, but very well written and followed through without deviating. I've never cared enough to submit a written a comment on a movie, but this movie moved me and I hope its a great hit!

This movie is exactly what you're expecting it to be. Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story is a nice family film about a father and daughter who nurse an injured horse back to health. Then, against all odds, the horse goes on to win a major horse race championship. I'm sorry if I don't sound too enthusiastic about it, but I'm not. It's a good, solid cast, and Dakota Fanning can do no wrong (because Fanning was involved, it turned out, was the only reason why a major Hollywood Studio agreed to make this movie). But the actual story didn't seem remarkable or original. Yes, I'm glad an injured horse was able to recover and go on to win a major race, but I know I've heard this story before. I honestly don't ever need to hear it again, even if it is Miss Fanning telling the story.

I was lucky to see an advance screening of Dreamer last night. I had never heard of it before, but when I heard Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning were in it, I jumped at the chance. I must say, I was not disappointed! The story was really sweet and the cast was great. This was simply one of those heartwarming, feel good movies that makes you leave the theater smiling and crying at the same time. (I had a strange urge to move to Kentucky and buy a race horse as well!) I will definitely be purchasing this movie when it comes out on DVD. So if you want to see a great movie or you're just a dreamer at heart, I recommend you go and see Dreamer.

I saw this film last week when it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and I must admit that, having seen the trailers for it, I expected a great deal of schmaltz and a tiny bit of story. This film SO exceeded my expectations, that I just cannot say enough about it. I laughed, I cried, and when the credits rolled at the end, I literally stood to my feet and cheered. This movie made me feel great. (I saw three films while I was there and this was undoubtedly, the best one.) The story is essentially about a down and out horse farmer who is not only having trouble making ends meet but who also has difficulty relating to his daughter and his father. The horse in the story is named "Dreamer", but the name could just as easily apply to Cale, the character played by Dakota Fanning, who in my opinion is the real dreamer in the story. She dreams of what her father could be, of what her farm could be, of what her family could be . . . and you can see this little girl's dreams in Dakota Fanning's expressive young eyes.

Every actor in this film is outstanding. Kurt Russell was the best I've seen him. It is a triumph for everyone associated with it, but particularly for Dakota Fanning. This young actress is really something special. She has the ability to convey emotions with a range that actors and actresses several times her age have yet to master. One can only hope that she continues to blossom and not burn out because she promises to give us viewers our money's worth for many years to come! She is a gift to her audience in this picture.

This is a film for all ages, for anyone that wants not only to be entertained, but to feel exultation, to have your emotions go on a ride and come out feeling fantastic. It's a "feel good" movie, and as soon as it comes to the regular theatre I'm going to go and feel good about seeing it again!