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A Dog of FlandersRating:
Release Date: 06 May, 2003 Retail Price: $14.98 OUR Price: $7.47 You SAVE: $7.51! Cast: Complete Cast (7 total) |
A Dog of Flanders Reviews
Ugh! Sappy and cheesy!
I own the 1959 production of this film and like it. So with high hopes, I rented and watched the 1999 version last night. The production is better, as one would expect. But the interesting, multi-dimensional characters from the 1959 version have turned into flat, good or evil charicatures; the philosophy has taken a decidedly post-modern turn; and the plot has been altered from touching (1959) to sappy sentimentality (1999). It has transformed from a touching, interesting story to a flat fairy tale.
In 1959, the grandfather opposes Nello's desire to be a painter, saying that it is no way to earn a living. Likewise, Nello's artist mentor in Antwerp (one of the primary and most interesting characters) lives with his model and tries on several occasions to talk Nello out of being a painter. The miller is a reasonable but hard man who just wants the best for his daughter. The landlord is evil enough to serve the plot, but human enough to be believable: I know people like him <shiver>! The movie presents a consistent, optimistic existentialist point of view: virtue is having and making choices which shape your own destiny; while un-virtue is having or exercising no control over one's life. Also, virtue is focusing on the relational, human side of people, while un-virtue is treating people legalistically as objects. As the plot progresses, Nello, though persistent and determined in his pursuit of his dream, finds his choices slipping away until it looks like he has lost everything, even his life. But in the end, he, the miller, the legalistic priest, and the artist mentor all find existential redemption. The ending is rather contrived, but not so much that it ruins the movie. The production and acting are typical of the time; they were perfectly fine back then, but now we are used to much better and you may find them a bit jarring. For example, Nello is the only one in the movie with an American accent!
In 1999, the grandfather is a sappy dotard who fawns over Nello's art and spouts new age platitudes. The mentor also encourages Nello, treats him with kid gloves, and turns out to be Nello's father (jerk those tears!). The miller is a miserly fool who values his money above all else. The landlord is so evil he's funny, not scary; he should be in a Western melodrama. The worldview is a post-modern mish-mash of existentialism, nihilism, new-age spiritualism, Eastern monisim (expressed by the fortune teller), and Christianity. The story is pure good against pure evil, with every opportunity for cheap sentimentality liberally exploited. Visually, this film is much better than 1959; I especially liked the gypsy circus scene. But this is a technical element, and a movie stands or falls on its story and worldview, not its technique.
My recommendation: Skip the 1999 version and get the 1959 version.
No oscar for the dog!
I rented this movie today (will probably buy it if it comes out on DVD) because I appreciated the 1959 version with David Ladd so much. (It is still available on VHS.)
There are good things about both versions-- in the earlier, David Ladd at least attempts to sound native to Belgium, using their words for 'father' and 'Mrs.' if I remember correctly. Both have happy endings.
Much is added in Hollywood style for the 1999 version, however. In fact, about halfway into the story, it pretty much becomes a new story, compared to the earlier version. I did like the way the film touched on a belief in an afterlife and the good 'model' it displays about being honest for possible kid viewers today. Some have said the dog was cute. He looked like a big blob with two tiny eyes to me-- and he certainly couldn't 'act' much. If you want to see a dog really perform, then see "My Dog Skip"! Another good point-- the music score is excellent. I thought I had spotted a 'flaw' when the boy still had 'snow' on his hair after being in the church all night--- but then remembered how cold those old European cathedrals really are! All in all, a good movie for the whole family, and a an excellent way to see some great art and scenery from Flanders, the movie being done 'on location'.
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