Arthur The King
I'm a sap for dog movies, especially those that show triumph in the face of adversity. Arthur The King is based on a true story of a dog that tags along with a group of athletes attempting to win an intense athletic event. Throughout the movie, we are privy to some of the challenges, both physical and mental, that the four (five with Arthur) must face.
This is a great story, truly inspirational, and full of the power of family. However, it doesn't translate very well to the big screen. Don't get me wrong, I teared up every time the dog did something heroic, or kept strong through injuries that are apparent at the first meeting. But the human component, while true, wasn't entirely interesting. Each of the four athletes have reasons to be there, and three of them are selfish. Bonding as a team takes time, and the short amount of time given just doesn't make sense.
I understand that movies have a limited amount of time, but the creators needed to take that into account when deciding to make the film. I wonder if a tv mini-series would have been a better medium to allow the characters to flesh out a little bit.
I enjoyed this mostly for any time the dog was on the screen, and the sappy ending was even better because it is a well known true story. Families with children may find this film a good idea because of the dog, but this is not a kid's movie. There are many moments of peril, adult language and adult motivations that aren't very positive. It's worth a watch, but maybe wait for streaming.
I'm a sap for dog movies, especially those that show triumph in the face of adversity. Arthur The King is based on a true story of a dog that tags along with a group of athletes attempting to win an intense athletic event. Throughout the movie, we are privy to some of the challenges, both physical and mental, that the four (five with Arthur) must face.
This is a great story, truly inspirational, and full of the power of family. However, it doesn't translate very well to the big screen. Don't get me wrong, I teared up every time the dog did something heroic, or kept strong through injuries that are apparent at the first meeting. But the human component, while true, wasn't entirely interesting. Each of the four athletes have reasons to be there, and three of them are selfish. Bonding as a team takes time, and the short amount of time given just doesn't make sense.
I understand that movies have a limited amount of time, but the creators needed to take that into account when deciding to make the film. I wonder if a tv mini-series would have been a better medium to allow the characters to flesh out a little bit.
I enjoyed this mostly for any time the dog was on the screen, and the sappy ending was even better because it is a well known true story. Families with children may find this film a good idea because of the dog, but this is not a kid's movie. There are many moments of peril, adult language and adult motivations that aren't very positive. It's worth a watch, but maybe wait for streaming.