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28 out of 38 people found the following comment useful :- Very Scary, 28 March 2005 Author: fallout92 from United States
After I watched this movie I took into perspective that aliens are freaking Scary. This movie probably has the best Alien abduction that I have ever seen.The aliens research on the man that got abducted was petrifying and the aliens themselves looked as scary as heck. I think this movie is Very underrated and should be seen by every true alien believer or anyone that is in for a good scare, besides after you see the movie i'm almost positive you will believe in them anyway. I think this movie is just as good as any alien movie i've ever seen and is sure as heck scarier.I definitely recommend this movie and if you like scary movies this is a must see.
20 out of 23 people found the following comment useful :- Powerful stuff, 24 July 2005 Author: ctomvelu from usa
FIRE IN THE SKY is a scary and involving sci-fi thriller about a missing logger and his coworkers' attempts to explain what happened. They claim a UFO abducted him. Law enforcer James Garner is just as convinced they injured or killed him and left him behind in the woods. Eventually the logger returns, naked as the day he was born and babbling about alien abductors. The next section of the film take us into the mind of the logger to recreate what he thinks happened to him. It ain't pretty, and at this point the film becomes far too intense for younger children. DB Sweeney plays the missing logger, and Peter Berg, Craig Sheffer, Robert Patrick and Henry Thomas are his terrified coworkers. Based on a popular book of the day that purported to be a true story. The movie, while clearly a thriller, nevertheless leaves things open to interpretation.
35 out of 54 people found the following comment useful :- Convincing story proving that aliens do exist., 20 August 1999 Author: Dan Grant (dan.grant@bell.ca) from Toronto, Ontario
This movie is a true eye opener. I remember seeing it with a few friends and we all had the same reaction to it. Especially in the scene where the guy is used in an experimental manner by the aliens. We were all scared and appalled. Could you imagine? We all wondered and winced at the mere thought of being used as an experiment, how awful and painful and traumatic an experience that would be. But take a closer look and when your eyes are opened, what you may see is like looking into a blurred reflection in a mirror. And the question has to be asked. What would we do if the same situation occurred here on Earth. What if we found an alien stranded here, or better yet what if we kidnapped one? Would we let it live a normal peaceful life? Or would we put it under the knife and do DNA testing, take blood samples, urine samples, semen samples? Would we do every possible experiment to this creature as we possibly could? You're damn right we would! And perhaps that wasn't the films intention ( to draw parallels to us and them ) but then again maybe it was. The problem though is that we only see what we want to see. But really, what separates us from them? Our humanity? HA! What is humanity? It is being human, and sometimes that can be more disgusting than being alien. We don't know their intentions or motivations, but we do know ours and that makes us inhumane for doing some of what we do. Fire In The Sky is a frightening movie. It is a frightening thought that this could happen to us, and it is disturbing to think that this may have happened to some people already. I had clouded thoughts and opinions about aliens before seeing this film. But after the movie I was compelled to do my own research about apparent alien abductions and such. And there is a lot of material that supports what this film has to say. And that makes it intriguing. If you are curious about aliens the way I was after this film, then spend some time on the net and look up some stuff, you'll be surprised, but back to the film.D.B. Sweeney did a great job especially when he had to show fear. He makes you feel that he was there and when you look into his eyes, you can feel his fear. And that was one of the great parts of the film. The actors from Peter Berg to Henry Thomas ( Elliot from E.T. ) do a credible job portraying his confused and interrogated-one-to-many-times friends. But what the real strength of the film is, is the story. It makes you open your eyes and ask some tough questions. The story seems plausible, the boys passed every lie detector test, and there is no proof to say that they were lying. So where does that leave you, the viewer? It sealed my opinion on the subject. And on that level it is a great film.The only complaint I have with the film is that it seemed to end too abruptly. There were so many questions I had that I wanted answered, but they just stopped. And that left me frustrated. I'm not sure if they did that on purpose or if was unintentional, but it left me yearning for more. But that is the only glitch I had with the film. If nothing else, it does make you question life. And any film that can pose moral questions to me and not have me lose interest in the process has accomplished something. Do aliens exist? I think so. Watch this film and perhaps decide for yourself.
20 out of 26 people found the following comment useful :- Try this if you like UFO movies., 27 January 1999 Author: andy-227 from Sterling Heights, Michigan
"Fire in the Sky" can be appreciated only if you are into UFO movies, and if you like scary alien abduction scenes. The film is based on the allegedly true story of Travis Walton's alien abduction. After seeing the film, and becoming extremely interested in the subject, I read the book by Travis. Reading it, I found out that the abduction scene was changed in the movie. Whether what happened in the book was real or not, the change in the film was good, because those ten minutes of abduction scene are, quite possibly, among the most frightening pieces of footage in film history! I couldn't go to sleep for a month after that. It was tough to deal with. I recommend it because I know that there are some of you out there who like UFOs, and like a good scare!
14 out of 18 people found the following comment useful :- (Supposedly) True Story Is Reasonably Entertaining., 1 July 2003 Author: Scott LeBrun from Winnipeg, Canada
Travis Walton (D. B. Sweeney), Mike Rogers (Robert Patrick), and others spend a busy day clearing away trees in the Arizona forest. When night comes, they spot a strange red light in the sky, and after a 'close encounter' with an object in the sky and a strange light that zaps Travis, he ends up disappearing. Not surprisingly, when the other guys return to town, nobody will believe their outlandish story.I liked this movie; I thought it was pretty good. I'm not sure that the movie really needed the scene where Travis (after mysteriously reappearing) flashes back to his experience on the alien ship; that scene ultimately turns out to be really cringe-inducing. What makes it work are the earthbound scenes, well-acted by the principal actors, who have a tough time going back to normal and living their lives when everybody else thinks they are nuts (the special detective overseeing the case, well played by veteran James Garner, thinks the men simply murdered poor Travis). All in all, it's an OK drama. The standout performance is by D. B. Sweeney, who really gives the impression that he has lived though something (whatever it really was) horrifying.Based on an allegedly true story told in Travis Walton's book "The Walton Experience".I voted to give it seven out of ten.
14 out of 18 people found the following comment useful :- New Review..., 22 January 2003 Author: andy-227 from Sterling Heights, MI
I posted sometime earlier a review of "Fire in the Sky", and now having reviewed in many years later, I have to revise my thoughts. "Fire in the Sky" is a very flawed Hollywood horror movie pretending to be a true story. Sure it's well done and has some good dramatic tension throughout the film, and most notably, an "abduction" sequence that is a standalone. But looking at the film as a whole, it's greatest problem is that it all seems to center around the "abduction" scene in the film, which isn't exactly to Travis Walton's descriptions anyway. It's studio meddling intended to try and spice up the picture into something really frightening. It works on that level, yes, but in the end, it's simply studio meddling and not the intriguing experience one will read about in "The Walton Experience" by Travis Walton himself.From a technical standpoint, "Fire in the Sky" is well made and acted. Performances are good all around, and D.B. Sweeney has earned recognition for portraying Travis Walton, notably due to the alien sequence. There is a good sense of drama all around, with townsfolk skepticism regarding Travis Walton's disappearance, the ordeal of Travis' co-workers enduring the skeptics, and of course, the ordeal of Walton himself. Still, when it all adds up in the end, what are we left with? In actuality, we are left with an alien sequence.This is where the film really comes alive, and the sad part is that it's pure dramatic license. Pure fear and horror is the primary intent on the part of the filmmaker's here, and through a triumph of set design and special effects as well as cinematography on the part of Bill Pope(who would later shoot "The Matrix"), we are set, with actor D.B. Sweeney, inside a domain unlike any we've ever been in before. The floating effect where the camera itself seems to float in zero gravity with such grace and smoothness is always one that will baffle the eye. The creatures themselves aren't really that well animated, but are so ugly that we can only shy away in fear. The 'examination' itself, though familiar to countless ufologists and 'abductees', is frightening and invasive. The scene is very well made and done for what it is. Still, with all of this, this is not without it's problems. I suppose my real problem with "Fire in the Sky" is trying to figure out what exactly the intent of this film was. What were the makers trying to do with it? It starts out as some sort of archetypical "true story" drama, then turns into a sci-fi horror show, intermingled with some bizarre humanoid metaphor about our inner evil, portrayed in the way the aliens treat Travis as a specimen, and in the end, forgotten completely with no real sense of closure. Weighing this all as a whole, what does it truly amount to? What is the point of all of it? A good scare? Telling a modified true story? Drama? If "Fire in the Sky" had nothing before or after the "alien" scene, no ties to it being a true story, and existed as a short film on it's own, it would be a great piece of work. Because there is such conflict within all the dramatic elements, and a lack of closure or greater character study, it fails. It is a popcorn horror show for people wanting to be scared and then forget about it. It makes no real effort to get inside Travis Walton as a character other than superficial cliche. It would have been more interesting if it spent more time with the character the film centered around, Travis Walton. It doesn't do that. He's merely a victim inside a frightening alien funhouse designed to scare people and sell tickets. I guess "Fire in the Sky" can be appreciated for what it is, but sadly, instead of an interesting and informative document on a man allegedly abducted by aliens, which it could have been and had the potential to be, it is a guilty pleasure.
11 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :- Surprisingly good, 9 February 2006 Author: siderite from Romania
This movie has a good plot, a good cast and a good feel to it. It is obviously a low budget movie, but one done well. The story is about an alien abduction, but instead of focusing on the aliens and what they did, the focus is on the people involved and how do they react "under fire".You can call it a "TV psychological thriller" more than a sci-fi. I expected something dumb, instead I found not a masterpiece, but a good movie, one that was worth the watch.James Garner had a really weird role, but he is old, so he gets what they throw at him; Robert Patrick does a good role and, even if he did play in some silly movies in his time, I think he is a good actor, one that can surprise if properly cast.
7 out of 9 people found the following comment useful :- A glorified X-files episode with a memorable final act, 5 March 2008 Author: tieman64 from United Kingdom
*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
A group of lumberjacks go out into the woods. A UFO appears. They run away. One man (Travis Walton) is left behind. He is sucked up into the UFO. His friends run to the police station. Police comb the woods. Friends and family grow worried. The police accuse the lumberjacks of murdering Travis. They deny it. They take lie detector tests. They pass.Several days later, Travis appears at the edge of town, naked, bruised and battered. He is taken home. He recounts the story of his abduction. The film ends with a 20 minute set piece in which Travis is abducted by aliens, wanders about their space craft and is subjected to torture."Fire in the Sky" is a pretty simple movie. It's quiet and unassuming and apparently based on a true story. For the first hour, it unfolds like an X files episode, capitalising or exploiting the "UFO" and "gray alien" craze of the early 90s. What makes the film special, though, is the final 20 minute set piece. It's a sadistic and imaginatively shot sequence, which resonates because of D. B. Sweeny's sympathetic performance.We spend an hour with this quiet and unassuming man and so when the carnage finally does come, it's shocking. It's shocking, not so much because it's graphic, but because it's a complete contrast to everything we've seen before. The film goes from a quiet, low budget character study, to big budget SFX horror flick in the blink of an eye.In this respect, it's a unique film. What also makes it memorable is the SFX work during the final sequence. This set piece was conceived and designed by the same SFX team behind the Matrix movies. The wire-work, alien cocoons and gooey hibernation sacks would be reused a decade later in the first 2 Matrix films.7/10- a quiet and well acted film, made memorable by a single great set piece. As far as alien abduction movies go, it's better than Christopher Walken's "Communion". Both films are inspired by the Whitley Strieber and Bob Hoskin alien books of the mid 80s.
12 out of 20 people found the following comment useful :- ONE of THE BEST movies ever!!!, 18 September 2004 Author: myke reyk (contact@mykill.net) from texas
This film will "grab you" and never let go ! I have watched my VHS of it over and over, each time sitting paralyzed with awe of what I am seeing!!!! I am looking for the DVD, sooner or later the tape will be worn out, at this rate of use!! This movie is amazing for it's subject matter, and that it's subject matter is based on actual events. Those men that were on that mountain are extremely lucky and cursed at the same time. I can not imagine the horror they felt. We all want "proof" that we are not alone. But to imagine the horror of getting what we think we want? I don't know. It would most certainly be an excellent experience to sit down with ANY of them and hear first hand of this event. Travis Walton especially. The movie does have some elements that are dramatized, and some of the events in the book are much different. Either way, FIRE IN THE SKY is on my fav list, no doubt!
5 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :- Terrifying Climax, 12 June 2006 Author: jonathon_naylor from Manitoba, Canada
A terrifying climax highlights this portrayal of the alleged 1975 alien abduction of logger Travis Walton. Walton and fellow loggers were driving one night when, the story goes, they spotted a mysterious spacecraft hovering over head. When Walton is beamed aboard and declared missing for several days, nobody believes his friends, providing an interesting angle on the story. This element of the film is particularly effective in building up suspense. Where is Walton and what did he experience? A cast that includes D.B. Sweeney, Robert Patrick and Henry Thomas (Elliot from E.T.) deliver quality performances. It doesn't have the look or feel of a blockbuster (it wasn't one), but this is a classic example of an overlooked gem.
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