MovieChat Forums > Eight Below (2006) Discussion > He should've stayed with his dogs - no m...

He should've stayed with his dogs - no matter what.

posted 11 years ago by branstark
25 replies | jump to latest

As a dog owner, I was disgusted with the way Paul Walker's character left his dogs and I quote, "we tightened their collars so they couldn't escape". He was told the plane would return straight away so why wouldn't he stay for a few hours? Had he stayed, being human, returning to the base would've been a priority anyway regardless of the weather conditions.

This movie made me so angry.

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[–] tukai 11 years ago

I understand your point, but would you lose your fingers to frostbite? He truly believe they would be back and he was in bad shape also. He was tormented afterwards and did everything he could to get back

[–] branstark 11 years ago

When they eventually returned, their HQ was completely intact. I'm pretty sure he could've cured his frostbitten fingers himself at the base.

I know it's only a movie but it annoyed me slightly.

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Posting on IMDb since 1999
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[–] vicky_lc2001-1 11 years ago

If his frostbittenfingerscould easily have beencured with a 1st aidkit, they wouldn't have needed to rush to the hospital. Theproblem I had was leaving the dogs chained outside, they could've left them inside with some food & water, just in case.

Also, the shelter looked intact but theywouldneedfuel, generators,electricity, food & water to survive there for several months with no outside contact or additional provisions.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] first-things-first 10 years ago

Hi, I wondered if the dogs could have been left inside and still been adventuresome and brought food back? It seemed cruel to leave them with no chance. But then it would have been a different movie. I wonder what real dog teams do. How they decide the best care for their most prize possessions.

If we can save humanity, we become the caretakers of the world

[–] darthmetalhead1 10 years ago

Huskies and Malamutes are bred and have it in their instinct to live outdoors..I knew someone who had a husky and they just can't stay cooped up for very long

[–] FlyingSaucersAreReal 9 years ago

Leaving the base to get treated for frostbite was one of the few realistic things that happened in the movie.

Easy go, life is not real,
Life is only what you conjure. - Ray Davies

[–] msreader 9 years ago

I'd have stayed. Fingers falling off or not. You would be surprised at the lengths dogs go through for their Leader. That said, I believe he didn't have much of a choice. His relationship with Katie suffered tremendously. She was not very supportive of him initially. I realize there was a storm but if she flew into it, she could have unloaded and gone right back after him.

I'm not familiar with the true story, though. And I'm sure no meteorologist. Katie wasn't either and probably didn't know that she wouldn't be able to fly back immediately.

Sad situation all the way around. I wonder which 2 dogs survived IRL.

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[–] maxima128 8 years ago

Frostbitten fingers, toes, and flesh left untreated will become gangrenous, and then you'll eventually die from blood poisoning. Unless you amputate the dead fingers yourself. You think you could do that?

[–] branstark 10 years ago

Exactly ^^

[–] dirkfallows 10 years ago

While in the military I did some extreme cold weather training in Canada with the Canadian forces way up north. When you have a severe cold weather injury as depicted in the movie, it is imperative to get treatment as quickly as possible. The type of treatment that he couldn't get at their camp. Digits that have turned black is severe frostbite and it really is a medical emergency. Besides, the plan was for the plane to return for the dogs and it's not like he left them knowing they would not be rescued.

[–] Filmfanatic11 10 years ago

The movie irritated me with this, but it was really the decision most people would make.

[–] captainsteroid 10 years ago

It's a movie. You are getting angry about a movie script.
The actors and dogs, do what is in the script. If he stayed, you wouldn't have a movie, called "Eight Below." The story is about how the dogs survived on their own. THAT'S the story they wanted to film, and you to see. Otherwise, it's "Lassie Come Home," with snow.

[–] undomiel152003-1 10 years ago

If what is depicted in this movie disgusted you, then I have no idea what this real story would do to you...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/31/100-sled-dogs-slaughtered_n_816462.html

"Light Up, Light up, as if you had a choice"

[–] 10 years ago

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[–] branstark 10 years ago

He had no way to get back; there was no transportation or money for him to do so. Did you not watch it?

Ok let's start again:
. He was told they would be back straight away to rescue the dogs within a few hours.
. Since they were his dogs and his responsibility, he should have stayed. Since there was a human presence on location with him staying, it would have been a priority for a rescue to take place. The reason there wasn't a rescue in the film was because they were "only dogs" and no civilians were there.
. We see a year later that the research facility wasn't affected by the storm so there was shelter, basic food/medical supplies and heating. He could have treated his frostbitten hands inside. Holding out for a couple of extra hours for rescue would have been doable.

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[–] BelleCBelle 9 years ago

I think at the very least the dogs should have been left off of their chains. I found that to be thoughtless and cruel, regardless of the true nature of the events that inspired this factually-flawed movie.

Human Rights: Know Them, Demand Them, Defend Them

[–] benman46 9 years ago

He was told nothing of the sort. If he had he would have stayed.

[–] dennisvest30 9 years ago

He had to get treatment for the frostbite- period AND they really thought someone would return for the dogs. Perhaps they should left the dogs unchained and a door ajar or window open so the dogs could get inside out of the cold if necessary.

[–] General_Friday 9 years ago

I understand why you would think that, but his fingers and parts of his face were extremely frost bitten and needed immediate attention. Had he stayed, he would have lost his fingers. All of them. He was told they would sweep back. He made the rational decision.

- The General has spoken.

[–] aranier 9 years ago

They stated that the dogs had to be separated or the would fight and possibly kill each other. Jerry's condition was so severe he passed out on the plane. The main base was run by the military, the wouldn't let him go back and get the dogs.

[–] 8 years ago

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