October Sky Essay Example

October Sky Essay Example October Sky Essay October Sky Essay Stephanie October 22nd, 2013 Hour 3 The Perfect Rocket Actress Audrey Hepburn once said l tried always to do better: saw always a little further. I tried to stretch myself. In the movie October Sky, Homer Hickam is a young boy who has dreams outside of his mining town of Coalwood, West Virginia. He stretched his dreams and pushed himself until he launched his rocket to turn everyone into believers. He saw a little further and wanted opportunities outside of Coalwood . Throughout the movie Homer encounters many obstacles from learning how to build rockets, the constant disapproval from his father, and negative remarks rom his school. One of the main conflicts of October Sky is Homer and his friends learning how to build and work rockets. At school, Homer confronts Quentin, the geek of the school. Homer tells him about his idea for rockets. After the conversation, Homer, his two friends, and Quentin begin their adventure. They figured out the basics of rocket building through books and Quentin. Homer and his friend encounter many problems. They have problems with the nozzle and the chemicals. Their first rocket was called the AUC I and, of course, it wasnt a success. They nearly exploded the ines, but their first try wasnt going to be perfect. Neither was the second, or third, or fourth. After all of their failing, they talk to a mine worker about. Leon Bolden, an African American shop worker, offers to order it nozzle to make it a success. The nozzle isnt cheap to order though. The Rocket Boys talk a part of the railroad tracks and sell it for quick money. Homer and his friends encounter many exploding rockets before they can build the perfect one. They test out many chemicals before they figure out 100% alcohol is all they needed for the perfect rocket. Building a perfect rocket would impress any parent but Homers father, John Hickem, is not anywhere near proud. Throughout the movie Homer tries to get his fathers approval. He tells Homer numerous times to stop with the rocket building. He wants him to grow up and be a mine worker. He told Homer he was proud to see him in the mines when Homer had to work there. Homers father seems to care about two things, the mines and Jims football. The mines are Johns pride and Joy. Homer even says that his dad cares more about the mines than his family. Homer nearly set the mines on fire with his first rocket and his dad was furious. He told Homer to stop with the rockets and then threw his first rocket in the trash. Homer still keeps trying though. One night, when Homer comes home he finds thats his rocket equipment is missing. He goes and asks his dad where it is and he responds by saying its where it belongs. Homer then runs outside to retrieve his rocket equipment his dad threw away. When Homer invites his father to see his last rocket launch his father says that he is busy and has things to do. Homer is saddened, but angry. He tells his father Homers father eventually goes to see Homers last rocket launch and launches it imself. By the ending launch everyone in Coalwood supports the Rocket Boys. It wasnt always like that. At the beginning of the movie their school, Big Creek High School, and the principal Mr. Turner was not supportive. He tells their teacher to stop giving the boys false hope. He thinks that the Rocket Boys will never make it out of Coalwood. One day the police arrest Homer because the police claim he started a forest fire with his rocket. Mr. Turner is glad to see him go, not missing him at all. Home comes back and proves to Mr. Turner that he didnt start the forest fire. When Mr. Turner walks into the classroom, he is not pleased to find Homer on school property. Homer then does the calculations to prove he didnt start the forest fire. Mr. Turner Just teases him saying he became a math genius while he was away, but he was never good in math at school. Mr. Turner eventually allows Homer back into the school and he actually seems happy about it. Homer never gave up his dreams. He knew he could do it even if everyone laughed and thought his dream was foolish. The Rocket Boys proved all of them wrong. Their perseverance kept them going through it all.