The Pennsylvania Miners' Story (2002) Reviews

• close to home

  trevorsomerset2007-01-22

  This story is something like what actually happened, I live in somerset pa. The mine in which the coal miners were trapped in is exactly 2 miles from my house. I personally know the guys who were trapped in the mine. As compared to a lot of other "based on a true story" movies this one is actually pretty close to the actual happenings. The mine is still running and still has all the publicity signs up. This whole catastrophe could have been prevented if the maps would've been updated before they began digging. On a personal note, the 9 men trapped in the mine hesitated and didn't want a movie to be made of this. They claim "I was just doing my job" which I respect greatly because they represent a life long traditional job that has been a "way of life" for many generations.

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• well done, scary, inspiring

  vchimpanzee2003-08-06

  I don't know what it's like to be a miner, but this movie certainly showed that miners are 'a different breed'. They were shown to be capable of handling much more than the average person, and probably more than they thought. The scenes of the danger, especially the rising water, inside the mine appeared very realistic and quite scary. While at times the miners appeared on the verge of giving up, who wouldn't be? But they didn't just give up, and this real-life event had to be nothing more than a miracle. Some of the miners had a strong faith, and those who didn't had to develop one fast. When they all said "The Lord's Prayer", it was clear all of them knew what it would take to get them out of the situation. The one weakness, for me, was the cliched performances of some of the family members who were desperate for information or good news. But as one cast member said, these people were just saying what everyone wanted to. I also thought some of the bad language was unnecessary, especially when the miners were not yet in danger (though you have to believe the real miners said much worse). One source referred to the movie as family-oriented, and except for the language and some scary moments, it surely was.

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• excellent

  billsue52003-07-21

  I thought that the movie was terrific. The special effects were amazing. The mine scene was very realistic. I am originally from that area of Pennsylvania and I thought the actors did a great job portraying the coal miners.

• Very realistic for a TV movie

  musicmallcs2002-11-25

  At the Quecreek Mine, nine miners were doing their jobs when their ordinary lives were suddenly changed and their race for survival was as dramatic as the emotions that were being portrayed at the fire hall. By now, we have heard about the famous miracle that happened in Somerset, PA, and in this made-for-TV movie, the story was told with great care, with such authenticity that it felt like you were with the families and the miners. The movie was filmed at the actual mine, the fire hall, and at one of the miner's homes, and contains real footage from Pittsburgh's Channel 4 News. Because it was too dangerous to film in the real mine, a set was built in Los Angeles, and the special effects were so realistic that it was more like a motion picture than a made-for-TV movie. The actors were also very good in their roles and the miners themselves added emotion to the story.

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• Better than average TV movie

  krdst22002-11-24

  Typical made for TV movie. Over-dramatic at times, but got the job done. The actor who played the character who kept the families of the victims updated, did an excellent job with his pittsburgh accent. Although it was a small part, the man who played Gov. Schweiker portrayed him perfectly. Very touching story. Better than average TV movie, especially since these events just took place a few months ago.

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