Customer Reviews

The Ride

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My son really loved this movie,I love it too...it is one of the family film genre that I will actually watch again and again...Michael Biehn...(Terminator,Aliens,Navy Seals) is fabulous as the "What is your definition of bottom...?" down and busted rodeo rider. He gives a right on the money performance without pulling punches from his nasty side,and neither does the rest of the cast get in to the too sickly sweet family film goo that we adults are want to avoid. You will recognise a number of faces (Jennifer O'Neill for one)and feel the filmm rates an "A" even though it was made in 25 days on a B budget...it doesn't show...give it a try...you'll love it too...

Not often have I come across such an outstanding film. First of all Michael Biehn is my favorite actor & this film is one reason. His flawless portrayel of a washed up rodeo star trying to set his life straight is reason enough but this film also carries with it an important message of love. With it's Christian overtone it brings such a great feeling to heart & the scenery is breath taking. The dvd also contains a great behind the scenes documentary. It's one of those great movies that you laugh, cry, & cheer over and over again throughout the movie. A movie that just gets better with each viewing. Give it a chance, even if you're not religious, not into rodeos--it doesn't matter. It's so thoroughly enjoyable for everyone.

While much of cineamotography leaves out reality, or even worse highlights the very worse and dispicalble of mankind, this film produced by Billy Graham Ministries is the opposite.

It shows a man who is without God, and when his whole world crumbles in a declining profession, the bottom in inevitable. As God so often does, he takes this individual to a place where as Gomer of Hosea fame, the choice becomes obvious: back to the first love, God, or else.

I show this to my confirmation kids (age 13-14) and they just love it, and get so much out of it.

I believe you will to, and will profit much from this well done and touching story.

When watching a film like "The Ride" the viewer has to keep in mind that the movie was made not only to entertain but also to present the gospel of Jesus Christ. While some people may believe that the inclusion of the gospel message intrudes upon or interrupts the flow of the story, I appreciate the fact that the movies which Billy Graham's organization (BGEA) releases are so uncompromising about their purpose. And the fact is that discussing the gospel disrupts nothing; after all, people discuss it all the time in real life and it makes a huge (and eternal) difference in the lives of those who accept it.

That being said, I also find this movie to be quite entertaining. Michael Biehn does an excellent job of portraying a completely self-absorbed rodeo cowboy who was once a star but is now living off of the memories of his glory days. His dilemma is a common one for unbelievers: he can't go back into the past, he doesn't like the present, and he sees no real future for himself. In spite of all the trouble he gets into, he still does not see his need for the Savior. Fortunately, he gets a second chance by being sentenced to serve jail time at a boy's ranch for troubled youths; this leads him to find the One who will truly give him a second chance.

Brock Pierce, as Danny O'Neil, also does a fine job as a cancer-stricken teen who admires Biehn's character, Smokey Banks, and is willing to forgive him for repeated transgressions. Danny is not the type of boy who is usually housed at the ranch; he is there through a Make-a-Wish type organization because he wants to learn how to be a cowboy. Smokey Banks's assignment is to teach Danny how to ride a bull.

In order to break up some of the heavy drama surrounding Banks's lostness and Danny's cancer, there are also several hilarious scenes at the ranch. Some of these scenes involve the pranks that the boys and Smokey play on each other, though a couple of these scenes also teach a valuable lesson about good and bad pranks and the meaning of "going too far". A priceless scene involves a bull named Lorenzo that, in rodeo terms, appears to be as over-the-hill as Smokey. The scenery in the movie is absolutely gorgeous and gives the movie a true Western feel.

It's true that the movie does tug at the viewer's heartstrings; however, in this case, it's not manipulative - as some movies are - it's just realistic. This is a movie that shows us a boy who won't have any second chances in this life due to his cancer, but who knows that he will have eternal life because of his faith in Christ. It also shows us a man who can have both a second chance in this life and have eternal life if he will simply come to faith in Christ. There's nothing unrealistic about either scenario. Additionally, Make-a-Wish and other foundations exist; boy's ranches, such as the one in this movie, do exist and do help many troubled youths; cowboy churchs are proliferating these days; and Christians, while not perfect, are growing in their faith and becoming more and more like Jesus.

This is a wonderful family movie with many positive messages, including - first and foremost - the gospel of Jesus Christ. I highly recommend this film and other movies from BGEA; three of my other favorites are "The Climb", "Last Flight Out", and "Something to Sing About".

I really enjoyed this film and all of my kids (ages 6-10)can watch it without any censorship.If you are looking for a gritty movie, this is not for you.People who are not Christian usually think it is silly.Who cares.It's a great film.Watch it with your kids.

This is one of our favorite movies. Michael Biehn stars as Smokey Banks, a washed up former pro bull rider. The only place he scores now is in the bars telling all his rodeo stories to old men and buckle bunnies. He gets himself into trouble with the law and ends up doing community service at a Boys Ranch. There he meets Danny, a boy who all but idolizes Smokey. Smokey is assigned to help Danny fulfill his life's dream: to ride a bull. I'll stop there because I don't want to give too much away. This is a very touching movie. It will stay with you after you watch it.

i really liked this one, i had watched it once before on tv but they took out all of the sub-plot with smokey and the loan sharks, that sub-plot made the movie a lot more enjoyable. buy it! you(more likely then not) will not regret it

This movie spoke so loudly to me. I have purchased it to show the Youth at our church. Beautiful. Touched my heart.

This is one of the better evangelistic movies. It is done well and holds young people's attention. I look for movies that clearly speak the requirements for salvation and this one does that well through Franklin Graham. It is well acted and shows in terms young people can relate to what Jesus' crucifixion did for them and why. It is an oldie, but not dated or trite.

Very good family movie that teaches values of repentance and hope. I love that you can learn alot about bad character and good character by watching this movie. I would recommend this movie and the seller of it.