Last night I was watching "Eight Below" again - probably for the eighth time in last two years. Paul Walker rightly summed up "Eight Below" by saying, "If you're a dog lover, you'll get it. If not, you won't."
Watching movies has always been a great a way for me to de-stress myself, it came extremely handy for past couple of months as my other choices of recreation became very limited because of some family constraints.
More so, I am way too distracted to read a serious book and enjoy it. I never thought in my life that "A Prisoner of Birth" by Jeffrey Archer would become my bedtime read!
So, I find my "movie-buff" me again!
Eight Below is one movie I will never be tired of watching because t is based on a true story, so it becomes even more touching and lively while watching it. I agree the dogs were trained to their highest level of competence, but they would remind those actual survivors of the 1957 Japanese expedition every moment who didn't have a trainer with them for support.
"Powerful" is an understatement as far as these canine-actors are concerned; they should get a "canine Oscar" for their performance.
Left behind in the middle of nowhere in Antarctica -- their fight for survival becomes more than a mere tale of eight incredible dogs, it shows the true essence of friendship, loyalty, hope and love.
"Eight Below" is actually the "Urban Semiotic" of teamwork. It teaches one the core values of morality and the drive to chase one's dream -- "you gotta take chance for the things you care about in life..."
Surprisingly, Paul Walker didn't disappoint me in this movie. I was rather skeptical to watch the "The fast and the Furious - Brian O'Conner" in such a modest role - but the credit should go to both the director and him, for his fine acting matched very well with the mood of the film.
I know I am recommending an older movie -- it was released in 2006 -- but for those who want a relief from the bloodshed, mass killing and brutal violence, "Eight Below" is a much-awaited breather.
Thanks for the wonderful review article, Katha!
Animals are amazing -- I worry about their use in film and television and "performers" -- and it is good to know that the dogs in the movie were cared for and taken care of during the filming.
Hi Katha!
What a great subject! I saw this movie just about a month back! i too remember that scene vividly, where the guy utters that line. Must make time to watch it again.
Hi David!
Thanks for publishing it!
Yes, that's one more thing that attracted me about this movie - the director made those gorgeous huskies do what they were meant to do, not some silly human acting.
They did what they would love to do – i.e. – run!
I just fell in love with those curios and intelligent eyes – and I fell so hard that I started researching only to find out that to have a husky I had to live close to Alaska.
Well, that was not much a problem but to top it all there came the final blow:
“To have them in your house is like having a two year old for an extended time…”
http://www.wayeh.com/aboutsleddogs/description.htm
I am still thinlking!
Hi Dananjay,
Thanks!
It is worth watching twice!
Yes, those lines somehow stuck with me, touched somewhere – may be because I would have felt the same way if I had to leave my dogs like that…
I believe it!
It's so excellent that they went with real dogs and didn't just make it into a silly animated film. That would have ruined it, I think. (Plus, imagine how bad the dog dialogue would have been - not to mention the showtunes...)
Hi Gordon,
You are right, Though I am a big animation fan but I don't think "animation" could do a justice to this subject - it is too intense for that.
Have you seen "Happy Feet"?
Tell me good things about it and I may do so. It looked so, what is the word, corny! :)
Hi Gordon,
It's like Paul Walker's summary of Eight Below: "If you are a dog lover".... :-)
I am a die hard fan of "Tom and Jerry", "Lion King", "Jungle Book", "Cinderella", etc. it is hard for me not to talk "good" about "Happy Feet".
The songs are too good, so is the animation -
choice is yours!