Eight Below
By Mal Simons, Blockbuster.co.uk
“Those dogs are my family we can't just leave them out there.”
Starring Paul Walker, Jason Biggs and Bruce Greenwood, ‘Eight Below’ is an epic family adventure based on an extraordinary true story, guaranteed to pull on your heart strings and keep you on the edge of your seat.
‘The House of Mouse’ has always had a talent for making movies that both children and adults will enjoy and this film ticks all the right boxes. Paul Walker stars as Jack Shepherd, a man dedicated to his pack of working dogs. He works as an Exhibition Guide at a Research Station in Antarctica with his best friend Charles Cooper (Jason Biggs).
When scientist Davis McClaren (Bruce Greenwood) flies in to the encampment looking for the remains of a meteor; Jack is ordered to take the good doctor out to a remote area of the glacier by dog sleigh. With some effort, the two of them find the Meteor but also unknowingly put themselves in the path of an oncoming storm front. With the storm oncoming, the two are ordered to return by base camp however Dr. McClaren persuades Jack to stay a little longer.
Jack delays their return journey by a few hours and they do indeed find the meteor. Unfortunately the Doctor has an accident on the way back and they are unable to stay ahead of the storm. Jack’s dogs get them home and back to their base however the base is then evacuated and they are forced to leave Jack’s loyal dogs behind, Jack is reluctant but is promised that a plane will return for them. When he awakes in the hospital, he finds that the team did not return for his dogs – instead, America is evacuating from the Antarctic for the winter.
Needless to say, Jack is devastated and after being evacuated to the US, he tries to get back to the Antarctic and the research station to get his dogs. Jack travels across the country trying to drum up support for a trip back for his best friends.
The dogs are left alone for over 175 days, will Jack get back in time to take any dogs alive back to civilisation?
Paul Walker does a fine job in this film (no, I’m not kidding!), as does Greenwood and the other cast members – all the human cast members are perfect in their respective roles. The biggest stars of the show by far however are the dogs themselves and few could avoid being moved by their plight. The dogs fight to survive in the worst Antarctic winter in 25 years. Facing the weather, unstable glaciers and natural predators; not all the dogs survive but this is all handled in a tasteful and moving way.
A brilliant family movie that will remind you of good old Uncle Walt’s family adventures from yesteryear. This strikes an emotional chord more than most movies and is one of the greatest true stories of modern times. Add this to your list now. Highly recommended to rent.
Like most Disney DVDs, this DVD has extensive special features including three deleted scenes, a making-of featurette and director’s commentary.
Also Try:
Iron Will
March of the Penguins
Snow Dogs
All Dogs Go To Heaven