Lightning: Fire from the Sky

This film would be perfect. Even without commentary, it's so stupidly hillarious it's worth watching. Clearly directed by some kind of partially trained monkey and edited by his cousin. While it starts a bit slow, it quickly kicks in with various scenes of lightning mischief. Who ever know lighting could go so slow!? Highly recommended!

It's a B or C movie with an all star cast.

It reminds me of late 1960's or 1970's movies where actors only believe they are acting when they are yelling. There are plenty of issues with the story within the script. One instance, the hospital blames funding and budget issues on the mayor of the town. Another has Stacy Keach's character ordering his contractors to keep working despite a lightning storm.

Parts of the movie are decent enough to watch; Some moments are pretty "cringeworthy".

If any readers of this review know of any city mayors having budgetary controls over medical centers, please comment. Jesse Eisenberg is the typical genius teenager no one listens to and everyone regrets ignoring later.

The plot: Weather phenomena in a town causes unbelievable lightning storms. Jesse Eisenberg's character is a student obsessed with weather and lightning. Bo Duke, I mean John Schneider is his father who is also the police chief. Stacy Keach is the guy who builds big box stores called Fed-Mart, and ruins small town hardware stores. The Mayor drives an expensive car and lives in a big house.

A storm of the century is headed for their town.

Chaos ensues.

And Family Friendly wins. There are times some things have to become compromises when you make a movie, and sometimes you have to compromise on the theme to fit a market.

But unless you are setting up a pure fantasy you should not have to compromise on believability. In this feature, in an attempt pump up the dramatic side at the same time they tried to remain family friendly, lighting was made to "jump through hoops" (sorry about the pun) and things were happening that simply do not happen in the real world. This story had promise, this movie had potential. The direction was fitting, the photography was acceptable, the editing, acting, sound-- all made the grade. Unfortunately, like a wonderful house built on an inadequate foundation, it cracks and falls apart as it ages.

So much potential.

NOT the best acting, but the special effects were the highlight. Far above normal for these type of movies. John Schneider & Stacy Keach do well in their roles, but as far as acting goes I vote for Gary Sandy's (WKRP In Cincinnati) performance. I just fell in love with his character. His character fit the small town man that you would enjoy drinking coffee with. Science looks like it took a back seat here on logic, but I could be wrong. The ending just seemed too unbelievable and convenient. The stats are correct for the most part as well as advise on being in electric storms. You don't think they used FEDMART in place of WALMART, do you?

The "Little Wesley" character from Star Trek is renamed and played by a new actor in LIGHTNING: FIRE FROM THE SKY -- a 2001 made-for-TV movie.

Here, Little Wesley has superior knowledge about weather patterns and dangerous thunder clouds. LIGHTNING burdens our boy genius with an assortment of ignorant adults who will forever fail to grasp the fact that Wesley is always right.

The lead victims of LIGHTNING are veteran actors John Schneider and Stacy Keach who both deserve better treatment.

With camera point-of-view and editing, the director attempted to give the thunder clouds a "personality" (for lack of a better word). It is a stretch and ended up being a distraction to the viewer.

This made-for-TV movie has little going for it and is best avoided.