I checked this movie out over the weekend, and found it quite moving.
It tells the story of scientists on an expedition down in Antarctica who, due to bad weather, have to leave their dogs behind (chained to the ground, no less). I gotta admit I was mad at the guy who loved the dogs, since he went back, though in the movie he did need medical attention. Though, if I had frost-bite, I'd just sit there and stick my fingers in water. What are a few fingers in exchange for the life of my doggies? Well, in the story, he left the dogs there (I guess he really had to) and the weather dudes wouldn't let them go back just to get "some dogs." So it takes him half a year to get back to them... most of the dogs manage to break free of their chains, luckily, but not all of them...
Anyway, after watching the movie, which is based on a true story, my wife had to look up the "true story" behind it. Turns out some Japanese explorers left their dogs in Antarctica in the 50's, and there was a lot of screaming in Japan about it. When they went back to retrieve the dogs 6 months later, all but 2 were dead (out of 15). Honestly, it's amazing the 2 managed to survive as long as they did!
Eight Below is a Disney movie, so it's not quite so horrible. More dogs survive... but it was very moving. I was in tears by the end.
I was wondering how much they 'altered' the original true story. Thanks for sharing that, Grant. I really want to see this movie (I love Paul Walker), and it just seems like it would be a great movie, with laughter, and tears.
Lots of tears, and a bit of laughter. It's a very nice movie, with some lightly amusing moments. Jason Bigg's character provides most of them.
Part of the movie doesn't make sense to me, though. I mean... the dogs are left there in Winter... in Antarctica... and, uh, the sun rises every day... I'm no expert, but I thought it was dark 24/7 during winter.
