tats81 @ MindSay

" Inspired by a true story, this film about a team of sled dogs abandoned in the Antarctic for six months is a must-see. It has classic Disney animal-adventure charm that will linger long after you leave the theater. Think Where the Red Fern Grows meets The Bear. There are no cutesy voiceovers, no fancy special effects. Just old-school storytelling that is so noble, you'll tear up multiple times throughout the film. More if you're a dog lover. Paul Walker plays Gerry Shepherd, an artic guide who reluctantly takes his team of beloved huskies out for the proverbial "last" excursion. His assignment is to aid an ambitious, clumsy geologist (Bruce Greenwood) searching for a rare rock. But their plan falters when a huge storm hits. They are injured and forced to flee - without the dogs. What's supposed to be a day's delay turns into six months of a grueling survival game for the pooches as Shepherd struggles to find funding to retrieve them. advertisement Walker, who's stiffer than a chew toy here, lends little emotion to his character's plight. He doesn't make our bottom lips tremble, the dogs do. Director Frank Marshall does a superb job of distinguishing each canine with a story line that is equal parts tragic and triumphant. At the top of the food chain is Maya, leader of the pack, and so loyal that she sacrifices her needs for those of her companions. The other dogs' acting skills are impressive as well, surpassing even Lassie and Old Yeller. Through facial expressions and body language, they're able to relay feelings of anguish, dread and delight. Eight Below is a film for the entire family to enjoy, although there are several sorrowful images that may be too much for younger children. The setting is subzero weather, but these dogs do their part to warm our hearts.