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Printer-Friendly ModeEight Below heats up local theaters
February 20, 2006 —
Anyone who has had a loving relationship with an affectionate pet, especially someone who has had and lost one, should feel some rather strong emotions while watching Eight Below.
A powerful tale of loyalty and disunion, Eight Below causes one to think back upon the meaning and power of the relationship between man and animals, the sublime ways in which one develops a relationship with a being incapable of language, which nonetheless can contain the same intricacies and compassions that make relationships between people worthwhile.
Paul Walker plays Gerry Shepherd, a guide for researchers in Antarctica. He also is in charge of a team of dogs who help himself and clients travel in the arctic environment. The dogs are a better bet than snowmobiles because there is less of a hazard from falling through ice with them.
Paul Walker seems lately to be developing into a star who may soon be likened to Brad Pitt, albeit with a bit less talent, both when it comes to acting and to choosing movies to take part in. He may not have the best reputation due to some of his earlier film choices, but he has never been very offensive as far as acting ability goes. Here, he does a perfectly acceptable job. There are other actors who may have been able to pull off the role in better fashion, but certainly there are many who would not be as well-suited to it.
The premise of the story is that a researcher, played by Bruce Greenwood, is looking for pieces of a meteorite which has reportedly fallen from Mercury. This could be a pretty good setup for some sort of arctic zombie movie, where fallen meteorites from space cause researchers to turn into subzero man-eaters. All visions of Paul Walker hunting zombies in the tundra with his trusty dogs are banished though, as after an unfortunate accident out in the field, the base of operations is abandoned.
The dogs are left behind due to space constraints, but the plan is to go back for them immediately. This does not occur though, as a huge storm hits shortly thereafter, causing attempts to reach them impossible.
Walker's character wants to go back at all costs, but it isn't allowed. At this point, the movie divides into to separate story lines, one involving Walker's attempts to get people together to go on an expedition to search for the dogs, which understandably are like family to him. The other branch of the story is that of the dogs themselves, as they attempt to survive the inhospitable conditions and hazards they are subject to.
It was amazing at times how well-trained the dogs in the movie were. It seems unimaginable to choreograph some of the things that they do throughout the film, but they do it. Certainly the scenes in Eight Below are testament to the eerie intelligence of some animals. The scenes depicting the dogs are quite well done, with tear-jerking subtitles at each cut displaying just how long they have been alone in the terrible cold and desolation.
The human branch of the story is less successful, but never gets bad enough to prompt any real audience frustration. There is some clunky dialogue at times, but the performances are all mostly adequate. Also, the real name of one of the actresses in the film is Moon Bloodgood, which, although unrelated to the quality of the movie, is simply fantastic.
Eight Below generally succeeds at what it is trying to do, and it's good family entertainment. A couple scenes may actually be too frightening for younger children, though. Regardless, it is a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the importance of animals in people's lives, and will doubtlessly spark many conversations about beloved and devoted pets of the past.