Eight Below....review, spoiler and warning

[mrsv98]

Just got back from seeing Eight Below and it is a great movie. A bit long, 2ish hours and could have easily been 15-20 mins shorter. DD (5 1/2) got a bit antsy in spots and I can't blame her. The story is great, the dogs amazing and the scenery gorgeous. There are two things I thought parents of young children might appreciate so I will outline them below....

Spoiler Warning
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1. Two of the dogs, "Old Jack" and "Truman" die at separate times. Old Jack never makes it off the line and Truman dies in an accident. There are a couple of scenes of "grieving" that are sad. Additionally, "Maia" is badly hurt and it looks like she is dead, tho in the end, she is rescued.

2. There is a scene about 2/3 of the way thru where the dogs find a beached and dead orca. "Max" goes to start feeding on it when a HUGE, nasty leopard seal bursts out of the body cavity. It was pretty unexpected and scary. Not only did DD jump but so did I and my 19yo niece. The whale carcass is a bit nasty, but not too bad, it is really just the leopard seal that is scary. Then the dogs work together to get the carcass, there is an intense chase scene and Maia gets grabbed by the seal. They get away in the end, but it is defnately a hide your eyes scene if you are little.

 

[mrsv98]

Bumping for the Saturday movie crowd

 

[SillyMe]

I'm glad you posted this. I'm taking dd6 to see it tonight.

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

We saw it last night with out 16 DD. I really liked it although Mrsv8, your comments are very accurate.

Of course I cried and then went home and hugged my dog who is a Husky mox.

 

[Skywalker]

Thank you for that. I was just about to post and ask if any of the dogs actually die, because I know my son would not be able to handle that.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Thanks for posting! My DD10 wanted to see it, but DS8 is a sobber (not just crying--we're talking heart-wrenching sobs!). He even cried at the end of the "Wallace and Grommit" movie (felt bad for the were-rabbit!). But I don't need to deal with that, nor does the rest of the theater. He also cried during "Monsters, Inc.", when Sully and Boo had to say good-bye. What can I say, he's a sensitive little guy!

BTW, yesterday's Wall Street Journal said the movie is loosely based on a real story, where there were 16 dogs and only 2 survived.

 

[mrsv98]

Thanks for posting! My DD10 wanted to see it, but DS8 is a sobber (not just crying--we're talking heart-wrenching sobs!). He even cried at the end of the "Wallace and Grommit" movie (felt bad for the were-rabbit!). But I don't need to deal with that, nor does the rest of the theater. He also cried during "Monsters, Inc.", when Sully and Boo had to say good-bye. What can I say, he's a sensitive little guy!

BTW, yesterday's Wall Street Journal said the movie is loosely based on a real story, where there were 16 dogs and only 2 survived.

If your DS is a sobber, then this is NOT the movie for him. There are lots of sobbing moments and especially when Truman dies and the dogs are torn between staying with him or moving on and looking for food.

Don't get me wrong, it is a wonderful movie, but it is not light-hearted fare.

 

[Pixiedust34]

If dogs die, then it's not a good movie for my kids. They would be sobbing all over the theater. Thank you for the review.

We can't even watch Old Yeller. It's way too sad.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Thanks for the review. We're taking DS next Sunday. He'll be OK, I'll be the one crying. I just watched Homeward Bound , The Incredible Journey on the Family Channel. I've seen it at least 25 times, but everytime Shadow comes over the hillside I'm bawling. My DS said to me, Gees mom do you have to cry everytime you watch this movie?

 

[Sparx]

I think I might be seeing this tonight. I can probably handel it. Thanks for posting though. I'm a big baby when it comes to dog movies.

 

[Figment22]

DS12 has been begging me to go see this one. I had a feeling that all the dogs might not make it, and I would be upset! I think my son will be fine--I'll have a hard time with it.

 

[mrsv98]

Thanks for the review. We're taking DS next Sunday. He'll be OK, I'll be the one crying. I just watched Homeward Bound , The Incredible Journey on the Family Channel. I've seen it at least 25 times, but everytime Shadow comes over the hillside I'm bawling. My DS said to me, Gees mom do you have to cry everytime you watch this movie?

OK, I had to laugh at this. I have seen this movie a million times and I too start to cry when Shadow comes over the hill!!!!!!

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

Thanks for the review. We're taking DS next Sunday. He'll be OK, I'll be the one crying. I just watched Homeward Bound , The Incredible Journey on the Family Channel. I've seen it at least 25 times, but everytime Shadow comes over the hillside I'm bawling. My DS said to me, Gees mom do you have to cry everytime you watch this movie?

I'm another one who cries when Shadow comes over the hillside. The music they play when he comes over the hill does me in also.

 

[mrsv98]

I'm another one who cries when Shadow comes over the hillside. The music they play when he comes over the hill does me in also.

Maybe we should start a support group!

 

[MomofKatie]

OK, I had to laugh at this. I have seen this movie a million times and I too start to cry when Shadow comes over the hill!!!!!!

Me too!!! What always makes me start tearing up is when his boy says, "He was just too old to make it all that way", and looks so sad. Then, Shadow comes over that hill with his limp, and just says "Peter. Oh, Peter, I worried about you so!!" At that point, I'm a big mess, tears falling all over .

 

[heart4pooh]

I just got back. I took three boys, 5,7,and 9. I was the only one crying. They all liked it. We all jumped at the leopard seal scene, too. I was the only one of the four of us that cried during Nanny McPhee, too! I also hugged my boxer, Angel, when I got home!

 

[Dismom+two]

I work in a 5th grade class. We are going to see the movie as a field trip. We do a huge thing in school with the Iditarod and figured this will go right along with it. The teacher has already seen it and thinks its great.
I'm looking forward to seeing it.

 

[SillyMe]

I just got back from the movies. I told dd6 before we left about the sad parts and asked if she still wanted to see it and she said yes. They made her sad, but she didn't cry b/c she already knew what was going to happen. Thank you for posting this.

 

[dizagain]

Just got back with DD's 10 and 12. I didn't read your spoilers before seeing the movie...we loved the movie but I don't think they would have enjoyed it if they were younger than 8 or so. I thought it dragged a bit and while DD10 liked it, I could see her wiggling and playing with her popcorn alot! There were some crying young kids in there as well as some bored ones who were up and down during the movie. We sure loved on our dog when we got home!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I went today to see this with my little cousins (8 and 10)...i thought it was a bit long too, but i liked it, and so did my cousins..the youngest cousin, jess, curled up to me after the leopard seal--i jumped at that part too!!