Film Review: ‘Eight Below’ (2005)

by Laura Lai/Review

There are some movies that I watched several times and every time with the same pleasure. I guess the reason why I want to see a movie again is the joy that a story on screen offers its viewers, and to me.

‘Eight Below’ (2005) is one of those movies, because I am an animal lover (although I don’t own any pets), particularly dogs and particularly husky. Then I love snow, but only on cinema screen, on TV, on postcards and in cartoons. It’s when I find snow sparkling and truly beautiful! In reality, I find it cold and wet. Last, but not least, it’s the actor in the main role, Paul Walker. Whoever brought him from modeling into the movie world was, from my point of view, an inspired person, because modeling relies on makeup – brought to an art level – but not Paul Walker.

            ‘Eight Below’ is inspired by a true story – another reason why I watch this movie. This Walt Disney movie tells the story of Max, Maya, Old Jack, Shadow, Buck, Truman, Dewey, Shorty, eight dogs who were left at the National Research Center in Antarctica and who fought to survive more than 150 days. In all this time, their master, Jerry Shepard (Paul Walker), was trying to find the resources to return to Antarctica, in order to recuperate the dogs or, at least, to know what happened to them. But a trip from California to the South Pole is not cheap. Then not everybody can understand the bound between a human being and his dogs. This aspect is clearly emphasized in this movie by the scene in which Jerry does not find support at Dr. Andy Harrison (Gerard Plunkett) – once saved by these particular dogs.

I cannot imagine a better choice for the main actor role than Paul Walker, with whose look in the eyes to suggest the internal human sufferance, while thinking of his dogs and refused financial aid to return to Antarctica for his dogs. His heart breaking torment, his dogs’ long fight for survival and the great end make this winter adventure movie such a joy to watch again. Enjoy!