Harry hears the CALL OF THE WILD!!!
Hey
folks, Harry here... Like most everyone, I looked at the
trailers for Chris Sanders' THE CALL OF THE WILD for 20th Century
Studios and it looked laughably awful. That said, the most
famous version of this story shot was 1935's 20th Century Pictures'
version by William Wellman starring Clark Gable in the role.
That film was extremely loosely based on Jack London's novel which
centered upon Buck and a series of adventures that the St.
Bernard/Collie went on. That is not at all Wellman's film, nor
was it the 1972 version that starred Charlton Heston.
Now
if you're looking at the trailer for the new film, you'll see quite
cartoonish animation of BUCK - and realize... the cartoon of
this film does not stop there... The other animals, the
backgrounds for the film... a great deal of this film was born
of animation, and going into the theater on this one, I knew that
Chris Sanders' directing history was not live action at all, but
films like LILO & STITCH for Disney and the original HOW TO TRAIN
YOUR DRAGON for Dreamworks Animation, where he also made THE CROODS.
The
beginning of THE CALL OF THE WILD is completely from Buck's point of
view and he's a rambunctious lovable cartoon of a mutt - and it's
jarring. I mean, we've all seen the BEETHOVEN movies, right?
That big guy was lovable and real. Why go this route? Why
not go real St Bernard and just CG for the stunts and precision that
the dog couldn't do? As I watched, this question kept bothering
me. Buck had broad facial movements that just left one feeling
like you were being punk'd by the movie. Not just that, but
the acting by the human characters were all broad as hell.
Then
he becomes a Sled Dog... and the story gets going in earnest.
Jack London's story was Buck's story and the first time I've ever
seen Jack London's story done justice is actually here.
The
acting in the film by the human characters is grandiose and
cartoonish, and as the film plays... I realized, "Holy
shit, this is working!" Not just that, I realized this is
every bit a classic animated film as Sanders' LILO & STITCH or
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON - but with Live Action characters scattered
about - but even when you have someone like Harrison Ford on screen,
this is BUCK's movie. That lovable Mutt is the star and Ford
has Chewbacca's part this time.
Sometimes
it is impossible to lose those pre-judgement feelings you get when
you see something that visually makes you want to see something to
eviscerate it, but here's the thing. Since I saw STAR WARS as
a kid, I've watched every Harrison Ford film I could get my hands on.
And in this, like the novel, his character doesn't really come
into the light until later in the film... with a few cameo style
moments in the early parts of Buck's story. Not just that, but
Harrison is narrating Buck's story as though he were Jack London.
Harrison
Ford narration? Yeah, and I loved it in the original theatrical
cut of BLADE RUNNER too. I love Ford's voice... for me,
I'd know it in a microsecond and it makes me smile to hear. In
many ways this feels like the Western comedies that Disney made in
the Seventies. As well as a film like BEDKNOBS &
BROOMSTICKS where you get reality meeting cartoon. This is a
perfect film to take kids too.
One
they get a great rollicking Dog adventure story, one of the best
stories ever about pooches. They get old man Han Solo going on
a heckuva adventure with Buck and if they like it, give them the
book. Then introduce them to WHITE FANG and my fave THE SEA
WOLF, not a doggy story, but Holy Shit! Michael Curtiz's film
with Edward G Robinson, Ida Lupino and John Garfield is one of the
great Black & White movies - and the novel and it go great
together too!
If
you've been taking youngesters to the "Live-Action" JUNGLE
BOOK and LION KING films of Disney, this at least is an original
adaptation and not a remake. The film will capture you, just
as London's writing did. I was shocked in the theater in such
a pleasant manner. The film is far better than the Trailers
make it out to be. Give it a shot!
Keep
it cool,
Harry
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