The Black Stallion Returns

The Black Stallion Returns (1983)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Anyone who knows me knows one rather obvious piece of information: I love horses. This has been true for as long as I can remember and doesn't show any signs of changing. As such, series like the Black Stallion are almost immediate hits with me. Proven even more so as I can recall memories of grade school recesses sequestered away in the library as I devoured the books for this same great series. It's little wonder than that I love the movies as well.

A rare sequel that can stand alone, 1983's The Black Stallion Returns is both a fun follow-up to the 1979 Carroll Ballard/Francis Ford Coppola film and a fine adventure in its own right. Kelly Reno returns as the now adolescent, deceptively ordinary Alec Ramsay, who stows away on a plane for Casablanca after the titular horse is kidnapped by Arabs. Getting him back pitches Alec into the middle of tribal rivalries and all sorts of complicated, dangerous intrigue. The cast includes Teri Garr, Vincent Spano, and Woody Strode, but the real star here may be cinematographer Carlo Di Palma, a veteran of several Woody Allen films and a master of color, light, and framing. Director Robert Dalva edited the previous film and happily executes countless ideas he appears to have stored up from his first stallion outing. But it's Reno's resourceful hero that finally takes hold of viewers.

- source: listal

Return of the Black Stallion

Return of the Black Stallion (2005)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


This is actually a collection of episodes from the TV series, starting just when they get registration for The Black so he can be licensed to race in the U.S. after having been transported to France in a botched horse-napping. Get the full seasons on DVD instead if you like the series as you won't want to miss out on the rest of the story!

The New Adventures of the Black Stallion

The New Adventures of the Black Stallion (1990)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Having grown up a fan of the Black Stallion books, I was thrilled to find this old TV series which gave me even more goodies for the series. The few movies out are good entertainment, but I still wish they'd continued this show. Every episode is something a little different with a whole lot of horse.

Young Black Stallion

Young Black Stallion (2003)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Part of the reason I like this film may have something to do with real people riding real horses and not obvious blue screen work. The added short story on the DVD as to the legend behind the Black Stallion as well as the story behind the casting of his young soul mate/rider are extra gems that make the film enjoyable. Definitely one to add to the series and any horse collection.

Young Black Stallion tells the story of a wild colt who befriends a young girl in the Arabian desert, eventually becoming her equine soul mate and champion racehorse. Set in 1946 North Africa, the story begins as Neera gets separated from her desert caravan by an ambush of soldiers. Alone and lost, she discovers a colt among the drifts and, in time, they forge a friendship of interdependence. The spirited horse and child ride like the wind, yet when they arrive home, the colt bolts, leaving Neera to convince her grandfather that the legendary stallion is more than a mirage. Ultimately, she proves this in a climatic action sequence brimming with girl power. The cinematography dazzles with its large-format visuals and sweeping panoramas, yet the 50-minute length truncates the story into a seemingly abridged version. An extra hour of plot and character development would have allowed it to venture closer to the magnificence of the original Stallion installment.

- source: listal

The Black Stallion

The Black Stallion (1979)

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


I'm sensing a theme as I go through my movies here. Apparently it's the horse film kick at the moment. This is another story that has been re-told in so many different forms by different medias that most people seem to have some idea about it even if they aren't necessarily into the genre. For those of us who love horses however, this series has always been a big hit. I have very fond memories of hiding in the library during recess and reading the books rather than hitting the playground like the other kids. Of course this had to be an early addition to my movie collection that is watched time and time again. Something about a beautiful horse that I just never get enough of.