Search Results for: blog balto 1995

The Pebble and the Penguin (1995)

With a musical score by Barry Manilow, this animated film is, in my opinion, one of the best by Don Bluth, although due to disagreements in the production process, Bluth takes no credit for his work on the project. Renowned actor Martin Short voices Hubie, a shy Adelie penguin. It’s mating season, and all the male penguins are on a special quest – to find a beautiful pebble to present to their sweethearts to signify their engagement. I guess that’s somewhat akin to the giving of a rock to wear on one’s finger, a strange custom practiced by humans. Anyway, … Continue reading →

Balto III: Wings of Change (2004)

I hate to say this, but yes, there is a third Balto. I was just fine with one Balto, but the more installments they add, the more they’re drifting from the true story, and that just bugs me. But, moving on . . . In “Balto III: Wings of Change,” Balto and Jenna’s children are all grown up, and Kodiak (voiced by Sean Astin) once a puppy, is now a sled dog. He gets to help bring the mail into Nome, and feels a lot of pride in his job. His ambition is to some day, be lead dog. (But … Continue reading →

Balto II: Wolf Quest (2000)

Rather than leaving you in suspense as to my feelings about this movie, I’ll just tell you upfront that I didn’t care for it. It’s supposedly the sequel to “Balto.” However, “Balto” was supposedly based on a true story, and “Balto II” is a sequel to the fictional parts of the story. You see, the real Balto was not part wolf, and the entire plot surrounding “Balto II” focuses on Balto coming to grips with his wolfy heritage. Balto and Jenna are now parents. All the puppies but one look like Jenna, and the other one, Aleu, looks like Balto, … Continue reading →

Balto (1995)

When I first picked up “Balto” for my kids, I didn’t know it was based on a true story. I was fascinated to learn the history behind the film, and I’d like to share a little bit of that with you before we leap into the film itself. Back in 1925, a huge outbreak of diphtheria swept through Nome, Alaska, leaving many children on the brink of death. The people badly needed diphtheria antitoxin, but the closest source was in Anchorage, nearly a thousand miles away. Another team brought the medicine as far as they could, then it was passed … Continue reading →

The 2008 Iditarod

The latest Iditarod winner is no stranger to the race — or the victory. Lance Mackey followed his 2007 Iditarod win with another victory this year. The Iditarod (for those who aren’t familiar) is an eleven hundred mile dogsled race. It commemorates a 1925 sled dog run that brought diphtheria medication to Nome, Alaska. The 2008 race was the thirty-sixth year of the grueling competition. New to the race this year: a tracking system that allows fans to follow the progress of the top eighteen mushers online. Future races may include the ability to track ALL competitors — a bonus … Continue reading →

Anastasia (1997)

I’ve been fascinated by Russia all my life and have loved the story of Anastasia Romanov, the daughter of Nicholas and Alexandra who supposedly survived the assassination and came back to claim her throne. This Don Bluth film examines her story and conjectures an animated fairy tale about the things that might have happened to her. I do put forth right at the beginning that very little of the movie is actually historically correct, but if you take the movie for what it is, it’s very enjoyable. Meg Ryan stars as Anya, a girl who has lived in an orphanage … Continue reading →

The Secret of NIMH (1982)

In this animated movie, called by critics “Don Bluth’s best work,” we meet a little mouse named Mrs. Brisbee. Her husband, Jonathan, was recently killed, and with four small children, she feels overwhelmed. This is made worse when one of her sons, Timmy, comes down with pneumonia and she doesn’t know how to cure him. Going to see a wise mouse named Mr. Ages, she obtains an envelope of medicine powder. He also tells her not to take Timmy outside for three weeks, but there’s a problem with that. The mice live in a field belonging to Farmer Fitzgibbons. The … Continue reading →

All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 (1996)

In “All Dogs Go to Heaven 2,” Charlie the Dog (Charlie Sheen) has been in Heaven for a little while. It’s a pretty nice place, but he’s bored. There’s no excitement – everyone behaves themselves all the time. When his good friend Itchy (Dom DeLuise) finally kicks the bucket, Charlie is so glad to see him. Maybe now there will be something to do. But Itchy’s a rule keeper and doesn’t want to stir up any trouble. How dull. Carface (Ernest Borgnine) is in Heaven too, and he’s been a very good angel. In fact, he’s just received the award … Continue reading →

Chestnut: Hero of Central Park (2004)

Sal and Rae are two young sisters who live in a Catholic orphanage. After watching many of their friends get adopted, they wonder if they’ll ever get the chance to have a family of their very own. They’ve never known what it’s like to have a mom and a dad – their mom was single before she died, and the idea of having two parents seems a little odd. But when the Tomleys adopt the girls, they begin to learn what it means to have both mother and father. There’s just one secret they are keeping – they found a … Continue reading →