From: neo...@webtv.net   
      
   National Velvet: remarkably dull film in every aspect. Mickey Rooney totally   
   flat as vagabond horse person, Elizabeth Taylor phony and gushing as horse   
   lover, tepid conclusion 4/10 horse collars   
   50 to 1 : based on actual story . Of interest to see older William Devane in a   
   group of New Mexico group that has a chance to run in Kentucky Derby. Has   
   enough heart to make story work after a slow start. Good finale. 7+/10   
   winner's circles   
   The Black Stallion : Typical European flacid feel to early section  really   
   hurts story of bond between boy and horse. Long middle section picks up with   
   an older Mickey  Rooney strong as retired horse trainer. Young boy/jockey is   
   suitable for the spirit    
   on the pairing of boy and horse. Last segment is the best of its kind in film    
   with the intensity of purpose shinning through and for that an 8-/10 mystery   
   horses.   
   Spoilers : took a long time to finally view National Velvet and The Black   
   Stallion. Black Stallion might seem staged to those unfamiliar with horse   
   racing and its requirements to pace a horse to gey best results. The Black   
   made up the huge distance by    
   running full out for two miles, something the other horses could not begin to   
   do even in much shorter stakes races. The race was not a standard   
   stakes/purse/betting contest but a match race between a few horses to see who   
   is best over a longer distance    
   than the standard course. The cinematography wand sound was able to capture   
   the purpose, emotions, strength and speed of the action better than anything   
   I've seen  n the screen in any kind of race. The Black could never be a   
   standard race horse due his    
   background but he proved to have fortitude and speed beyond measure.   
   Especially liked one f the jocks on the champion horse looking back over his   
   shoulder which The Mick has told Black's boy never to do. Truly memorable.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)