To me, this movie is perfection.

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Learning about the real-life Black River Ranch made me wish I could like this movie better. The movie is lovely to look at; the scenery makes me long to visit this place myself. And I love horses, so anything from Seabiscuit to Secretariat will find me eagerly in front of the screen. But that's where I have to stop. Everyone else seems to find it flawed because of the acting, and it's true, you won't find any Oscar winners here; everyone else has already ripped the actors to shreds, so there's no need to go there now. But it's not just the acting. It's the writing. The main character, Sam, comes from a home where her mother is single and working too hard to ever associate with the girl; her main relationship is with her grandmother, whose sweetness and emphasis on friendship and teamwork makes it just not make sense that the girl is such a cold, standalone snot. It gives her a great character arc--but that isn't handled well either, as the girl spends most of her time on her own, and the only two friends she seems to make are with the counselors, not among her peers. Even at the end of the movie when she makes the video to save the camp (and the video was not her idea, regardless of what any other reviewer says; it was a counselor's idea and she went along with it).There's something that looks like a subplot in the middle of the movie when one of the counselors approaches a lonely little bespectacled girl and tells her not to feel bad for having a speech impediment, because she'll find something that she does really well instead. So one would expect to see this little girl at the end of the movie, having found her "thing"--but nope, she's back at the campfire with all the other non-stars, singing the usual silly songs.So the themes of the movie--friendship and teamwork--never are pulled off, and I blame this solely on the writers, who apparently were on the clock and anxious to get home to dinner. It's a shame, because it could have been a much better movie.

"The Horse Dancer" is based on a real summer camp for kids in Michigan. There is a great line spoken by the mean old businessman, who refuses to offer financial support to the failing camp: "I'm funding Obamacare!", proclaims the self-made man. Based on the results of Obamacare, his money would have been better spent on Black River Camp. Despite his lack of philanthropic motivation, the counselors and the kids at camp pool their resources to help save the camp.The best relationship in the film was that of the gymnast Samantha and her grandmother. It was only unclear why Sam was such a prima donna, other than it was a necessary plot device. With the good influence of the grandmother, Sam shouldn't have been so grumpy.The filming was beautiful with the farm, the animals, and the idyllic site for a summer camp. But the singing sessions were pretty bad. It wasn't no much the lousing singing, but the obnoxious lyrics that were grating. On the other hand, the silliness of the "flag" ritual and the jaw-dropping stupidity of the "announcements" were so bad that they eventually became endearing features of summer camp.It was refreshing to watch a film with some decent values. The theme of teamwork was heartfelt, and the lead performer was a terrific gymnast. There was great comaraderie among the counselors and campers that embodied a truly positive spirit of Black River Farm. Bravo!

Wow. I had low expectations for Horse Dancer, but this movie was much worse than I had expected.This film is like a cross between Hallmark TV Movies and Plan 9 from Outer Space.The acting in this movie was not at the level of most high school productions. Richard Karn (of Tool Time) and Rachel Sowers (who plays Lisa in this movie) can act but the rest of the cast is awful. From the credits it seems like the director simply recruited children in his church to be in the movie.The plot and action have many unrealistic elements to it - in particular a lengthy 'police search and rescue' scene that had my wife and I howling with laughter.In the first few minutes, the main character receives a letter -at her gym (huh?) - notifying her as to whether or not she made the US Olympic team. (Isn't that usually announced at the trials?) She doesn't open the letter, takes it home and tells her Mom she received the letter. Her Mom advises her to discuss the letter with Grandma and then leaves to go to work. (I mean, if the characters don't care about this life-changing letter then why should we?)At the climax of the movie, the stunt double has a body type that is so completely different than the actress she subs for, that it destroys the scene.There are scenes where kids sing campfire songs -without any point and without furthering the action. Just... campfire songs. Really compelling stuff, Not.And on and on. One of the worst movies of the century.

Samantha Wick (played by 17-year-old Sophie Bolen) is a talented and young, American gymnast. She's also standoffish with a defensive personality. After getting cut from the U.S. Olympic team, her ailing grandmother pays for her to go to a horseback riding camp. When said campsite falls into financial turmoil, Samantha uses her notoriety and equestrian vaulting skills to attract more students and save the entire program.That's the gist of The Horse Dancer, my latest review. Shot on location at Black River Farm & Ranch (in Cromwell, Michigan), it definitely has production values to boot. On the flip side, "Dancer" is also creepily childlike. And within its first forty-five minutes, you might see shades of the worst screen offering via 2017.With G rating and nearly two-hour running time intact, The Horse Dancer at times plays off like an inexpert student film. It contains novice, wooden acting by almost everyone involved and a Muzak soundtrack that may make you cringe indelibly. I suppose without troupers Jason London (Dazed and Confused) and Richard Karn (of TVs Home Improvement) in supporting roles, this flick wouldn't even have the chance to get green- lighted.Helmer Joel Paul Reisig does improve on "Dancer's" second half by settling in and giving it a more dramatic feel. And his direction although all over the place, still comes off as enthusiastic and somewhat authentic. Unfortunately, it's all too little, too late. And it can't compensate for what I mentioned in the last two paragraphs. Not by a long shot.Parents who are able to sit through most G-rated films, might find The Horse Dancer to be a little tasking with its cramped dialogue exchanges and its overly lily-white nature. As for the kiddies, well they may embrace it depending on their non-animated attention spans and their tolerance for a mostly unlikable main character (her antagonistic counselor rival is no prize either). Overall, a mixed review from me.