Fire in the Sky

Infobox Film
name = Fire in the Sky


caption = Theatrical poster for "Fire in the Sky"
director = Robert Lieberman
producer = Todd Black
writer = Travis Walton (book)
Tracy Tormé (screenplay)
starring = D. B. Sweeney
Robert Patrick
Craig Sheffer
Peter Berg
James Garner
music = Mark Isham
cinematography = Bill Pope
editing = Steve Mirkovich
distributor = Paramount Pictures
released = March 12, 1993
runtime = 109 min.
country = USA
language = English
gross = $20,100,000
amg_id = 1:17400
imdb_id = 0106912

"Fire in the Sky" is a 1993 science fiction film, directed by Robert Lieberman, and written by Travis Walton (from his book "The Walton Experience") and Tracy Tormé (screenplay). The film stars D. B. Sweeney, Robert Patrick, Craig Sheffer, Peter Berg and James Garner.

The original music score was composed by Mark Isham and the cinematography was by Bill Pope. This film was shot in Oakland, Oregon, but is not connected to a 1978 telefilm of the same name, though coincidentally it is also set in Arizona.

Plot summary

On November 5, 1975, near Snowflake, Arizona, logger Travis Walton disappears mysteriously during an encounter with a flying saucer. Authorities treat with skepticism the outrageous story related by the only witnesses to the alleged event, including Walton's co-workers and his best friend and future brother-in-law, Mike Rogers. They are suspected of foul play despite no apparent motive or knowledge as to Walton's whereabouts.

A state lawman finds a tabloid newspaper in the crew's pickup truck and quickly concludes that tensions had arisen between Walton and surly co-worker Allan Dallis, leading the lawman to conclude that a murder cover-up is under way. However, all of the suspects pass lie-detector tests and the case becomes stalled. Five days later, and just as mysteriously as he disappeared, Walton reappears, claiming to have been abducted by extraterrestrials and taken aboard a UFO. There are shots of him being probed against his will. It shows the alien creatures sticking a needle in his eye, and doing all sorts of ghastly things to him.

The plot is unusual in that it does not focus primarily on the more fantastical elements of the story. Much screen time is spent on the considerable distress experienced by Rogers and friends, both by Walton's inexplicable disappearance, and the conundrum of Walton's reappearance in a seemingly disturbed emotional state. A major issue depicted in the film is Rogers' guilt about leaving his friend in the woods. The film culminates with a denouement between Walton and Rogers, with the UFO mystery essentially unresolved.

This film a true story, but nobody knows for sure what happened to Travis Wlaters that fateful night when he was abducted by what he said to be aliens. This movie is not for young people, it is definately one of the creepiest films out there.

Main cast

* D. B. Sweeney ... as Travis Walton
* Robert Patrick ... as Mike Rogers
* Craig Sheffer ... as Allan Dallis
* Peter Berg ... as David Whitlock
* Henry Thomas ... as Greg Hayes
* Bradley Gregg ... as Bobby Cogdill
* Noble Willingham ... as Sheriff Blake Davis
* Kathleen Wilhoite ... as Katie Rogers
* James Garner ... as Lieutenant Frank Watters

ources

The film is based on the book "The Walton Experience" by Travis Walton. In the book, Walton tells of how he was abducted by a UFO.

Walton's original book was later re-released as "Fire in the Sky" (ISBN 1-56924-710-2) to promote the book's connection to the film. The real Travis Walton made a cameo appearance in the film.

Audience and critical response

"Fire in the Sky" earned mixed reviews: upon its release, prominent critic Roger Ebert [ [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19930315/REVIEWS/303150301/1023 "Fire In The Sky"] reviewed by Roger Ebert for the Chicago Sun Times URL accessed 22 June 2007] gave the film two-and-a-half stars of a possible four, but thought the sequence depicting Walton in the custody of aliens was "really very good ... for once I did believe that I was seeing something truly alien, and not just a set decorator's daydreams." Ironically, this same sequence so praised by Ebert bears almost no resemblance to Walton's actual claims, and scriptwriter Tracy Tormé reported [Clark, Jerome, "The UFO Book", Detroit: Visible Ink Press, 1998] that executives thought Walton's actual story was boring, and insisted on the changes.

As of March 2008, "Fire In The Sky" is rated "rotten" by Rotten Tomatoes, with 38% of professional critics giving the movie mostly positive reviews. [ [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fire_in_the_sky/ Fire In The Sky] from Rottentomatoes.com URL accessed 2 March 2008]

References

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