Eight Below (Full Screen)

 

 

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Eight Below is an absolutely fantastic film, but those who, like me, are hypersensitive animal lovers should know up front that this is a tear-jerker. You've got the veritable wringer going both ways here; I cried out of grief, I cried out of joy, and -- well, I'm just glad I watched this movie by myself. The twelve minutes of ending credits actually make sense -- theatre goers might have needed that much time to get themselves settled so they could get up and leave. (And don't go thinking twelve minutes of credits means the movie is short, as it runs close to two hours before it gets to those end credits.) The whole cast and crew really are fantastic -- this couldn't have been an easy film to make. They didn't actually film in Antarctica, of course, but all these guys still endured some incredibly harsh conditions (in Norway, Greenland, and Canada) during the shoot. Of course, as good as the human actors are, the dogs -- six Siberian Huskeys and two malamutes -- are the heart and soul of this movie. De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Al Pacino -- these are all great actors, but there's no greater actor than a truly talented canine actor. I was extremely happy to see the canine actors' actual names appear in the credits -- but they really should have earned top billing (although, admittedly, it's hard to fit 16 names -- two dogs portrayed each canine character) in a marquee. In this film, you'll witness some of the most incredibly selfless acts imaginable, not to mention ample proof that dogs absolutely know, feel, and understand a vast variety of emotions.

Here's the deal. Thanks to a bad early winter storm and a scientist who just had to find his precious little Mercury rock, guide Jerry Shepherd (Paul Walker) is forced to abandon his team of beloved sled dogs as his Antarctic research station is evacuated post-haste. His friend and potential love interest Katie (Moon Bloodgood) promises to fly right back and get them, so Jerry secures their collars, leaving them securely bound to a chain out in the snow. When Katie is unable to return, the dogs are basically left to die a sure and awful death. Jerry, as you would expect, is in anguish over the dogs' fate, blaming himself (when he should have been blaming Katie) for the tragedy. Desperate to get back to them, he tries to raise money from anyone and everyone, including the scientist who would be perpetually frozen under the Antarctic ice were it not for those dogs.

Months pass as we watch the dogs struggle to survive on their own in the most inhospitable of conditions. Freeing themselves from their chains is just the first of many obstacles the dogs face. As you can imagine, finding food and staying warm are also extremely difficult ' and they face some external threats, as well. There are some incredibly tragic moments the sensitive viewer will have to endure, one of which is going to haunt me for some time, but the bond between these dogs is phenomenal, and it is fascinating to watch the hierarchy of this group change over time. These poor creatures go through so much together, and I'm telling you that you will just melt in the baby blue eyes of young Max as he epitomizes the kind of humanity that we humans can no longer call our own.

Obviously, I think this is a terrific film, and an especially touching family film, but I also think parents should consider whether or not they want their youngsters to watch it. There are some real tragedies in this film, scenes that had me crying like a baby, and this film might be somewhat traumatic in spots to the sensitive child. These scenes aren't strung out or sensationalized, but they are there. Any good parent, though, should know his/her child well enough to know how he/she might react to this kind of thing. I hope legions of people will watch Eight Below, though, as it is an exceedingly touching film.

Excellent movie for those who love dogs and animals. Paul Walker is excellent in his role, in fact very convincing. I love him as an actor and since he's also an animal lover, I appreciate him more. This movie moved me a lot and the dogs are so incredibly stunning. This is certainly a film you can watch around holliday season and it's for all the family. Love it!!!

This is one of my favorite movies and I have been looking for it for years. My daughter told me to try Amazon.ca and search for it. I am so very glad I took her advice. There it was! I have watched it almost everyday since I received it. Thankyou so very much for making it available for sale. I am searching for a few more movies that I have been unable to purchase anywhere else. I have found them on your site for sale and will order them in a few days. Sure hope this mail strike is over soon so I can order them. Amazon.ca is the best site that I have come across in a very long while. Thankyou so very much.

~ Diana Wakeham

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5.0 out of 5 stars gorgeous blu-ray uncompressed audio
Eight Below is a great visual film that deserves to be seen on blu-ray. The Antarctic setting (actually BC filmed locations) is gorgeous, and the story of survival for its... Read more

Published 18 months ago by Cheryl

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful Movie
Reminds me of classics like "Call of the Wild" and "The Black Stallion". A powerful movie for the family to enjoy.

Published on Aug 28 2007 by XOARSOX

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