Outstanding cast and a fine story adapted from Clyde Edgerton's novel. The work translates well, but with an Oscar winner, Luke Skywalker, and JTT, shouldn't the production value be a little higher? These folks deserve to be shot on something higher than a Hallmark Channel budget. Guess that's why it was direct-to-video.
If you get the chance, track down the Feature Films For Families edition. Wesley's pottymouth is chastised by Mattie, but with the scrub-a-dub-dub magic of wholesome editing, he never actually says anything bad. There are also entertaining questions to discuss with your family printed on the back of the DVD case, and the topics are also read aloud with inspirational background music in the "Bonus Stuff" section accessible through the main menu. Joy!