Eight_Below

On February17, 2006 one of the most amazing Disney movies hit the theaters in the U.S. called “Eight Below”. Written by David DiGilio and directed by Frank Marshall. Eight below was Disney’s first ever movie aired on HD Universals being released January 30, 2009. One source sited. Eight below was no average movie it was actually based upon a true story that took place in the 1958 Expedition of Japanese Scientists on there way to Antarctica. This was the last year that actual sled dogs were used in this event. During this event a Japanese scientist and his 15 sled dogs headed out to the South Pole for a research project. This didn’t turn out the way it was planned when a sudden storm begin to get closer and closer. Japanese scientists were forced to leave their 15 four footed friends to fend for themselves until they could return. Two years after the incident they returned to the very site where they found 6 of the huskies still chained up, and deceased, 7 were unaccounted for and to a great surprise two of those precious animals had survived. An earlier recorded movie by the name of “Nankyoku Monogatari” was also filmed in Japan in 1983 honoring the same incident. One Source sited. Taking place in 1993, Paul Walker starring as Jerry Shepherd is a guide in the Antarctic research base under contract with NSF. While at the base with his crazy buddy Cooper “ Jason Biggs”, a UCLA professor, by the name of Dr. Davis MccLaren, (Bruce Greenwood) arrives at the base begging and pressuring Jerry (Paul Walker) to take him to Mount Melbourne to find a rare Meteorite from Mercury. Jerry repeatedly explains to professor that it is too late in the season to attempt such a long journey. So many issues take place traveling in January from the snowmobiles falling through the thinning ice to falling into a crevasse. The only possible route is by dog sled. Packing up there dogs, and gear traveling to Mount Melbourne. Upon there arrival Shepherd and the Professor are ordered to return back to base immediately due a vicious storm heading there way. After Professor McClaren begs Jerry for a little longer Jerry grants him only a half of a day to find this Meteorite. After almost a half day later McClaren spots something out the boundaries that he insists is what he has been searching for. Jerry repeatedly calls out to the Professor to be careful he out of safe range. Professor McClaren doesn’t seem to even be listening to anything Jerry is saying considering he has just found the stone that will make him a millionaire. Heading back to the base Shepherd notices one of the lead dogs by the name of old Jacks foot is bleeding. Stopping to patch this wound up Mcclaren again begins to wonder not paying attention to his footsteps trying to find a good reception to the base. Sliding down an embankment after a soft ledge gives way. His landing cracks the thin ice and McClaren ends up breaking through the ice. Not being able to keep above water very well, freezing almost to death. Shepherd is able to get his lead dog “Maya” to bring a rope to McClaren while the dog team pulls him from the water safely. Battling Hypothermia, frostbite, and near whiteout conditions, it is up to the dogs keen sense to bring them back to the base safely. Arriving back to the base an emergency unit along with Shepherds co-workers are awaiting there arrival. Immediately Professor McClaren and the rest are boarded onto an emergency plane. There is only one problem though with all the gear, weight from the passages and other minor issues they are told the dogs can not go with them. Jerry is told he must leave the dogs for a small amount of time and the weather breaks they will return for the dogs. This is a very heart wrenching scene considering he must leave his best friends. One Source sited. Arriving back home Shepherd is a hurry to get back to the dogs as promised by Kate a pilot whom promised to return after a day but the weather gotten worse and was told they would be able to safely arrive until Spring. Feeling guilty Shepherd quits his job and moves. No sources sites. Meanwhile back in Antarctica eight dogs are left to fend themselves to stay alive. Will they be able to concur this until there human friend is able to save them' After four days of the dogs being left at the base, all except the oldest “Old Jack” breaks their leads. Maya attempts to help old Jack get free but he just simply too old to survive the journey. The rest go about their journey to find food and attempt to defeat the extreme temperatures. The dogs now begin hunting in order to keep from starving. However, one night whilst looking at the Southern Lights, one of the dogs, Dewey, falls off a steep slope and is fatally injured. The dogs show their affection for their teammate, but eventually have to move on. The youngest dog, Max, stays with Dewey a little longer and is separated from the rest. Max finds his way back to where McClaren fell into the ice earlier and spots a dead Orca. At first, he has a nibble until he realizes that nearby is a Leopard seal that fiercely guards its meal. The other dogs also find their way to the dead Orca and Max decides to get the leopard seal's attention so the rest can eat. But the leopard seal quickly sees what's happening, bites Maya on the leg and nearly kills her. Max and the other dogs fiercely chase him off. Maya manages to survive, but her leg is seriously injured. The rest of the pack continues to hunt for food. Maya refuses food brought for her, and gives pack leadership to Max, who has shown bravery, leadership and compassion. Back in LA Shepherd never gives up trying to find a way to get those dogs. After 5 months finally Shepherd decides to throw his all into rescuing the dogs. Before leaving for the trip, Shepherd patches things up with McClaren, and tells him about his intentions to rescue the dogs. McClaren learns that Shepherd does not have enough money to pay for the trip, but tells him that he cannot help him. Soon afterwards, McClaren sees a drawing of the dog team made by his young son, with the title: "My Hero is... THE DOGS WHO SAVED MY DADDY." McClaren realizes the magnitude of his ingratitude and uses the remaining balance of his grant money to finance a rescue mission. Arriving back to base with Kate, Professor and his old Cooper they see no signs of the dogs. Shepherd walks over to where the dogs were last seen, pulls the chain and finds out all but Old Jack had escaped the leads. Beginning to walk and yell for the missing dogs Max and the other two come running over the hill toward the base. Jerry, Cooper and Kate couldn’t believe their eyes. Attempting to load the three into the plane Max refuses to aboard and begins to bark and run over the hill. Shepherd follows then find Maya barely alive. Jerry carries her to the plane and heads back home. At the end of the movie a scene is shown of the tombstone of Old Jack and Dewy. One source sited. In conclusion, even though these 8 huskies were not humans. Jerry did whatever it took to make it back to his family. One should do whatever it takes to help an animal in need especially one that is part of the family. Work Sited MLA Sited: “The Internet movie Database. Imdb.com. 1990-2010 < http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397313/> “Wikipedia”. Wikipedia.org. 11 April 2010 < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eight_Below> “Epinions”. www.epinion.com. Jul 05 '09 (Updated Jul 06 '09) http://www.epinions.com/review/mvie_mu-1156078/content_476407303812 4.)”Search”. www.search.com. 2010. http://www.search.com/reference/Eight_Below "