MovieChat Forums > Fluke (1995) Discussion > Not bad, a Buddhist theme, worth seeing ...

Not bad, a Buddhist theme, worth seeing but WARNING - talking dogs ahead

posted 11 years ago by King_Of_Fuh
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The movie is at its worst when this embarrassing device is used, which is thankfully fairly infrequently. The Buddhism is mentioned in the subject line so far right-wing RepubliChristians can hide the kids and budding Islamo-terrorists have fair warning. The too-brief presence of the great, late Collin Wilcox is welcome in a cast obviously stocked with those who took the job after most had passed on it, although none are bad actors and Nancy Travis is beautiful. Talking animals in live-action were fortunately nearly non-existent in the golden great days of family-animal films/TV and were mostly confined to animation. Tragic elements give the film most of its merit, although when mixed with the sugary tinkly piano music score, come close to cinematic diabetes. This film should have been made in Europe by a Euro director and would have been ten times better, which goes for most dramatic movies about suffering and loss. I give Fluke one big thumb up a dog's ass. Speaking of, compared to the dogchit of the Homeward Bound crap, this movie almost belongs in the Top 250. If Walt could have had a say, neither of those would have had talking animals and would have made twice the money the Walt-less, soul-less versions did. Long live the original version.

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[–] PopSixSquish 11 years ago

I take it you loved The Incredible Journey and are displeased that it's not as well-known and beloved as the Homeward Bound films. (But really, how does ANYONE not LOVE those movies?!?) As for me...all three of those are among my all-time favorites, as is Fluke. I ADORE talking-animal (as well as animated animal) movies. It's something of a passion, really. x3 They can and have been done extremely well and extremely poorly, just like anything else. The best ones achieve amazing animal acting that looks as if they're truly speaking and experiencing everything the characters are supposed to be.
Fluke is one of the most beautiful, wonderful stories I've ever seen told, with one of the most haunting scores I've ever heard. I had to hunt that CD down and order it online; even used it for a high school English-class video project to great effect. I've also read the novel a few times; it too is awesome, but this might be one case in which I actually do prefer the movie.
It is a shame, however, that the original Incredible Journey film AND book (written by Sheila Burnford, whose surname is of course used in Homeward Bound) are now so obscure. That movie, with a narrator in place of individual animal voices, deserves a LOT more recognition and appreciation.

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