Normally when i see a movie after I've read the book, i'm usually disappointed because my imagination is usually bigger than what they can put on the screen with time limitations and budgets - but not this movie. The minute i started watching this movie i was hooked. I haven't read the book in years, but I've read the book at least two or three times, and this movie brought back some great memories, and certain parts of the movie was almost exactly like i imagined (especially the coon contest).Set in the Ozarks in the 1930's, this movie shows what kids did before computers, cell phones and video games. It also shows that life is very fragile, with Rubin Pritchard dying by simply trying to break up a dog fight and falling on his hatchet. But overall this is a feel good movie for the whole family, even though both dogs die in the end - it ends nicely with a nice montage of Billy Coleman and his dogs, and knowing that Dan and Lil' Ann will live for eternity through the book, this movie and where the red fern grows.

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.

To start, I am a huge Red Fern fan. I have the first one on DVD and video and also have read the book several times. I am from Tahlequah, OK where the movies were filmed and so it does strike a home chord for me. I finally purchased the remake today and I must say that I am so disappointed. Usually remakes kind of mix things up a little bit to make it a little more interesting than the first . . . this is exactly like the first, almost word for word and the acting leaves you wondering where they come up with these people at. Dave Matthews should stick with his singing gig and the boy that played Billy Coleman was awful. Also the movie was very unrealistic. I have been coon hunting several times and you let the dogs do the hunting and just wait until they bark treed. This poor kid is running all over the woods right behind the coon. UNREALISTIC. Also, I love how it is pouring down rain and they are fogging up dust. Poor special effects! Dust doesn't fog up in the rain! This movie was a good waste of $21 and also a good waste of Tahlequah's money since most of the bills were left unpaid here by the production crew! BAD MOVIE!

This is my favorite movie. It is well done and especially well put together. Since I have a dog, I can personally empathize with dogs dying. The part with Beatty and Mathews in it was great!! Dave Mathews should make more movies - He's very underrated (as an actor)! There were three or four parts to this movie that I thought were as good if not better than any movie I have ever seen. They should make a novelization of this movie - it has all of the elements of a good book for children of all ages. This movie blew my pants off. One of my friends started watching this movie with a hat on and ended the movie without a hat on! The best part of this movie though was the ending. When the movie ended, I cried.4 out of 5 stars