The Goal

This movie is a real inspiration. It's about the fears we all have when life doesn't go as expected. The acting is mostly good and the characters are believable. Considering The Goal was made for $50,000 the production values are very good including a helicopter and professional looking stunt.

The story is about 2 young men, both athletes, who suffer spinal cord injuries and are quadriplegics. Both men get back into their lives and sports by playing wheelchair rugby. The family of the main guy is very religious but this never feels like a movie about religion and it doesn't preach to the audience. It's more about how people/families respond to such severe accidents. The family was religious before the accident and they never lose their faith during the recovery process.

I took my sons (9 and 11) to see this movie. They didn't squirm or get bored. It held their attention for the whole time and afterward they insisted I buy the DVD. Now that's a great movie!

I liked the movie, really puts a story and faces to some of the guys who play this game. I am proud of Ryan Parker who plays of Steve George for his performance in this movie. Thank you to Darla Rae, the director she directed an excellent movie. The real athletes put a lot of guts in this sport and I wish them continued success. I wish the actors and the athletes tremendous luck on their continued film festival road from Denver. I know its heading to Milan and it will do great. I would have to say two thumbs up. I hope everyone to where the movie is heading goes and see's it and it does well. Excellent film photography and enjoyed meeting some of the actors and athletes after the movie ended. Thanks for filming in Denver.

as someone who became a C5/C6 quadriplegic just a little under one year ago, I appreciated this movie's theme (it is only under adverse circumstances, that one's true character shows). The portrayal of the struggle, both mental and physical, to overcome paralysis due to spinal injury (especially at higher, cervical levels) is pretty close to dead on as far as my own struggle is concerned. The actors do a good job at showing how a person with a cervical level spinal cord injury realistically would move. I do wish they could have done a better job of explaining the injuries. Often, people think that paralysis means lack of feeling, when in reality it really only means that the person has limited mobility and, or dexterity Along with mild two severe levels of nerve pain.

one thing that was interesting to me about this film was their choice to include the theme of depending on God for strength and courage to deal with the struggle of a spinal injury. Although there were obvious things, such as the pastor and his wife along with the church they work at, the movie really didn't delve very far into the topic of faith. This is not to criticize the filmmaker, only to say that I thought it was interesting that they included such a deep issue, and yet (by my perception) did not decide to go very far into it. This is just my opinion obviously, but I thought it would have been interesting to hear more of how the family and friends of the young men were depending on their faith to get through the challenges they were faced With.

The movie was very enjoyable and I gave it a 7/10 simply because some of the storytelling was confusing as far as the intertwining of the two young mens' lives, and each of their struggles with spinal cord injuries/parallelization. Although there are some typical low- budget movie clichés, including bad lighting, over acting, strange non sequitur dialogue or comments, uncomfortable camera angles, etc. I really thought those minor things did not matter, as the movie was over all incredibly uplifting, and not at all something that would make me feel uncomfortable to watch with my parents.

if you are dealing with a spinal cord injury, whether you your self are injured or someone around you has any injury, I highly recommend that you see this movie. It could really inspire you and perhaps change your perspective.

This film has a great premise, but suffers from a rambling story. It's a drama about a young man who loses the ability to walk, but through willpower and the support of his family learns the sport of wheelchair rugby. It's the kind of story that appeals to everyone, but sadly the film falls short.

The script is unfocused and cries out for a more critical edit. There are characters with no purpose, a bizarrely unfocused third act, and unrealistic dialogue.

The acting varies from mediocre to good, with a great effort by the lead and outstanding performances by a couple of the supporting actors. But the director didn't seem able to demonstrate the cast's true potential in the final product.

The audio was a bit amateurish at times, and the music was laughably overwrought. The film has something of the feel of an "after school special" TV show, and is probably best suited for a young audience. But in my opinion, it doesn't stand up to other "grown up" dramas on the indie festival circuit.

All that said, I give Darla Rae bonus points and a big congratulations for her first feature film!

In a time when it's all about the money, it is good to know that passion and stick-to-it can get you so far. Darla Rae has brought an incredible array of local talent and resources to bear to create a genuine, emotional and inspirational movie to life. It is something many people may not get, but those who are ready to realize their own lives, their own mortality and their own blessings will embrace and cherish. I hope more people will get to see how important every person's life is and see that this movie is truly about how each and every one of us has something we are struggling with. The movie takes an approach not often seen - that of the people who really struggle with an accident, not just the injured person, but all those that it affects. And finally, that even after such a tragedy, that their can be a new, albeit, a different life. Thank you Darla for your enduring perspiration to bring this to the world!