The Black Stallion Returns (1983)

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--his anti-Harry Potter normalcy--that finally takes hold of viewers. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

Enjoyable horse film!

I had no idea this movie had even been made until I was looking over some titles of horse movies and came across it. Having read the book to my daughter (one of her favorites of the Black Stallion series) I knew I had to get it. While it isn't as good as the original Black Stallion, it is interesting and exciting enough to keep your attention. It does differ a bit from the book, as most movies do, but it was similar enough to satisfy us and it was fun to have some faces to put with the names we'd come to know from reading the book. The book had peaked my daughter's interest in Saudi Arabia and so the scenery was quite interesting to her as well. I was wondering where it had been filmed and at the end it said it had been filmed in the Middle East (I forget the country!) so there was some authentic terrain.I would certainly recommend watching this for any horse lover as there are many fine horses in it with an exciting race scene at the end. Be sure to read the book also as it is a lot more detailed and more believable and exciting to read April 7, 2008

No, I don't think so-

The first Black stallion movie was spectacular- it really captured the magic of Walter farley's timeless classic.
When I saw that there was a second, I was very excited. But I was deeply disappointed.
The book was full of revenge, war, and the unbrakable love between our beloved The Black and Alec Ramsay.
But this movie didn't capture the true sense of evil in the desert. I mean, I know that it's meant for kids and that the climax of the book might be too much, but I really wanted something like the first movie again.
I was hoodwinked. It really wasn't that good. At least the young Kelly Reno is back- but WHERE IS MICKEY ROONY? No other guy can play Henry as well as him.
Well, I advise you to get it from the library instead of buying it.
See ya-
Moonwhisker February 24, 2008

I do Love Horses

I do enjoy this second one as much as the first, I can never get enough of watching horses. May 12, 2007

A dissapointed teen using kid form

This makes a good movie for some kid who just wants to see pretty horses and exciting drama, but fans of the original movie and, indeed, the books, will be bitterly disappointed. Reno's acting is pretty good, but everything else is cheesy. Alec sneaks a ride to Arabia, and after some dramatic close calls and fights in the desert and some interaction with a pretty girl, he decides...well, I won't give away the ending. Good for kids 10-13, but not anyone older or who knows horses or the book more. January 27, 2007

Could have been a lot better...

The first movie was saved by fantastically beautiful cinematography and Mickey Rooney's acting.

This movie deviates so far from Walter Farley's book and while it isn't horrible, it isn't in the same class as the first.

You really have to be horse crazy to love this one. October 7, 2005

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