I was really disappointed to see how Jodie Foster's latest movie The Brave One wasted the dog. So this is my list of dogs done right.
SPOILERS to follow, in case you haven't seen these movies (by the way, the Spoiler in most dog movies? THE DOG GETS IT)
1. Bad Moon- German Shepherds are great for movies, being highly trainable/photogenic as hell, and Thor from Bad Moon is as handsome and charismatic as the breed gets. unfortunately for the werewolf though, Thor is NOT a Streets of Fire fan. This is the ultimate movie for people who get that unique rush whenever a movie dog becomes badass action hero (see also Beast from The Hills Have Eyes who was very much the Charles Bronson of Shepherds, and Nanook from The Lost Boys, played by Cody the Malamute, who would later go on to star with acting peers Bart the Bear and Steven Seagal in On Deadly Ground)
2. My Dog Skip- the absolute king of sad dog endings (just to twist the knife that tiny bit more the fuckers give Skip arthritis)
3. The Call of the Wild- Rutger Hauer version. a story about a dog and his destiny, one of many filmed versions of the Jack London book. story itself is classic, and I like this particular version best because it has a Leonberger as the star (instead of taking the easy route and using a more common breed). also because it has Rutger Hauer.
4. Cujo- great tense stuff, and a genius move on King's part, turning an iconic life saver like the St Bernard into the iconic rabid killer Cujo. best dog as baddie film ever.
5. Shiloh and Shiloh 2- I count these movies as one, because you really need to see part 2 as soon as you've seen part 1. Ostensibly kids movies, but with some great acting courtesy of Scott Wilson. best scene is at the end of Shiloh 2, when Wilson's character breaks down and Shiloh just raises his little paw to touch him and forgive him. always messes me up.
6. White Dog- Raw Sam Fuller goodness. the only thing more tragic than this movie lacking a proper release is the fact that the Dog Whisperer wasn't around to help Winfield.
7. The Sandlot- I love how this movie builds James Earl Jones' mastiff up to be some huge scary monster... and then they actually meet the dog.
8. Turner and Hooch- a showcase for the gorgeous Dogue de Bordeaux (aka French Mastiff, also seen in Payback). I know there are few things funnier than Tom Hanks shouting or otherwise raising his voice but when Hooch dies, man... second best sad dog ending ever (or rather sad dog ending followed by uplifting his-spirit-lives-on-in-the-litter ending)
9. White Fang- starring Jed from Carpenter's The Thing and some truly gorgeous scenery. another great Jack London adaption.
10. Old Yeller- because there's no screwing with the classics.
Your faves, please?
SPOILERS to follow, in case you haven't seen these movies (by the way, the Spoiler in most dog movies? THE DOG GETS IT)
1. Bad Moon- German Shepherds are great for movies, being highly trainable/photogenic as hell, and Thor from Bad Moon is as handsome and charismatic as the breed gets. unfortunately for the werewolf though, Thor is NOT a Streets of Fire fan. This is the ultimate movie for people who get that unique rush whenever a movie dog becomes badass action hero (see also Beast from The Hills Have Eyes who was very much the Charles Bronson of Shepherds, and Nanook from The Lost Boys, played by Cody the Malamute, who would later go on to star with acting peers Bart the Bear and Steven Seagal in On Deadly Ground)
2. My Dog Skip- the absolute king of sad dog endings (just to twist the knife that tiny bit more the fuckers give Skip arthritis)
3. The Call of the Wild- Rutger Hauer version. a story about a dog and his destiny, one of many filmed versions of the Jack London book. story itself is classic, and I like this particular version best because it has a Leonberger as the star (instead of taking the easy route and using a more common breed). also because it has Rutger Hauer.
4. Cujo- great tense stuff, and a genius move on King's part, turning an iconic life saver like the St Bernard into the iconic rabid killer Cujo. best dog as baddie film ever.
5. Shiloh and Shiloh 2- I count these movies as one, because you really need to see part 2 as soon as you've seen part 1. Ostensibly kids movies, but with some great acting courtesy of Scott Wilson. best scene is at the end of Shiloh 2, when Wilson's character breaks down and Shiloh just raises his little paw to touch him and forgive him. always messes me up.
6. White Dog- Raw Sam Fuller goodness. the only thing more tragic than this movie lacking a proper release is the fact that the Dog Whisperer wasn't around to help Winfield.
7. The Sandlot- I love how this movie builds James Earl Jones' mastiff up to be some huge scary monster... and then they actually meet the dog.
8. Turner and Hooch- a showcase for the gorgeous Dogue de Bordeaux (aka French Mastiff, also seen in Payback). I know there are few things funnier than Tom Hanks shouting or otherwise raising his voice but when Hooch dies, man... second best sad dog ending ever (or rather sad dog ending followed by uplifting his-spirit-lives-on-in-the-litter ending)
9. White Fang- starring Jed from Carpenter's The Thing and some truly gorgeous scenery. another great Jack London adaption.
10. Old Yeller- because there's no screwing with the classics.
Your faves, please?
