The Black Stallion Returns

_**Not as aesthetically pleasing as the first film, but more adventurous**_ Berbers come to New York to get their prize stallion back and Alec (Kelly Reno) pursues them to the desert wilderness of Morocco and possibly Algeria. Vincent Spano plays his Moroccan companion. I like "The Black Stallion Returns" (1983) slightly more than the first one. It’s not as artistic, but it’s dramatically compelling and definitely more adventurous. It’s like “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962), but with a boy & his horse and faster-paced. No, it’s not epic or refined like “Lawrence” but, if you’re in the mood for a youth-oriented Saharan adventure, it fills the bill. The stowaway part is well done and I appreciated the inclusion of raven-haired beauty Jodi Thelen. Some viewers complain about the ending, but it fits. Think about it. The film runs 1 hour, 43 minutes, and was shot in New York City, Djanet, Morocco, Algeria, Abiquiu, New Mexico, Italy, Santa Clarita & Los Angeles. GRADE: B-