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Antarctica
review by Marty Mapes
*** 1/2

A Movie Habit micro review

This Japanese movie opens with a title reading “This is a true story.” It is the story, mostly, of a team of Japanese sled dogs on an Antarctic expedition in 1957. One expedition crew is going home, to be replaced by another crew. The first crew makes it out, but stormy conditions, damaged equipment, and the onset of the Antarctic winter keep the second crew from getting in. The sled dogs, left at the base for the second crew, are now alone and chained in the snow and wind. One by one they break their bonds, and the movie follows each one in its struggle to survive the Antarctic winter. Antarctica is mostly a dramatic re-creation, but occasionally a narrator or subtitle tells us what happened to the real dogs. This makes the movie a bit choppy, but the dogs’ stories make it utterly fascinating.
Chad: So what does happen to the dogs? Do they all live? Some live, some die? Do they get to go home?? 2005-12-22 07:22:00
Marty Mapes: You asked for it: spoiler warning ahead. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen this movie, but I seem to remember that some of the dogs made it and some didn’t. Many of them died nearly as soon as the people left. But yes, some made it. 2005-12-22 09:21:00
julie: anybody know where you get this movie??? Not Netflix or Amazon.com apparently. 2006-01-08 11:08:00
Marty Mapes: This is one of the more frequently asked questions on Movie Habit. I myself saw it at The Video Station in Boulder. They had one old VHS copy. I assume it’s still there. Perhaps if they know how valuable it is they will try to take good care of it. 2006-01-10 08:06:00
Marty Mapes: Just received word that Disney is releasing a movie based on this same story on Feb 17, 2006. Perhaps that means we can expect a new home video version of the original film!! 2006-01-23 13:08:00
sheryl48: IS there a BOOK written on this true story in 1957?????? I hope it has a happy ending as an animal lover I hate to see dogs suffer!! 2006-02-03 21:03:00
Bruce: Found another review of movie with details of what happened:

http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/moviereview/item_8863.html

Looks like only 2 made it. Not clear if 7 died or 13 died (started off with 15?) 2006-02-18 21:18:00
Linda Walkup: 8 Below is one of the best movies I have ever seen of course as an animal lover I cried in the movie all the way through. I give the move an A+ 2006-02-20 15:20:00
Marty Mapes: Thanks! I haven’t seen it yet, and cynical as I am about the remake, I’m thinking I may just have to see it. 2006-02-20 17:30:00
eric hollander: This movie was sad but definitely worth seeing.
It is Japan's second best grosing movie ever.
The soundtrack by Vangelis and the scenery
made a lasting impression for me from over 20yrs ago. 2006-02-23 12:23:00
Winnie: Some comments for Antarctica (Nankyoku monogatari) can be found on IMDB.COM, the link:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085991/usercomments

This website has the more detail of the true story. Scoll down till you see the topic: The true story behind "Eight Below"
http://www.babayaga.ca/

The picture of the 2 survived dogs (Taro & Jiro) of the true story:
http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php%3Fimage%3Dkarahutokenn204jj.jpg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DKarafuto-ken%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG

I cried when I was reading the true story. Will go to watch "Eight Below" soon and I'm sure I'm going to cry again. Anyway, thank God that at least 2 dogs survived from the true evident.

If anyone found the DVD of Antarctica, pls let me know! I would like to watch it too! 2006-02-28 14:28:00
L.S.: CBS/FOX video made this movie dubbed in English on 9/10/85. 2006-03-05 15:05:00
Debbie: Do you know where i can purchase the movie Antarctica director Koreyoshi Kurahara and how much it would cost.

Thanks,

Debbie 2006-03-08 12:08:00
tasha: you can find the movie on ebay. I looked for it today. 13.99 2006-07-01 01:01:00
Shanna: You can also find it at Amazon.com. They are always selling a used copy of the video there. If it's not there when you look, keep checking… It goes in and out. 2006-07-04 04:04:00
Cassie Haynes: Hello,

I was wonedering if you could tell me where I could get a copy of this movie???? I do have one but it is very old and the tracking has gone and it is virtually unwatchable.

Much appreciated,
Cassie Haynes 2006-09-06 19:06:00
Mandi Ketchum: Can you tell me if there was a book written about the true story? 2006-11-27 12:27:00
Cameron: Cassie, look up "Nankyoku Monogatari" (The original Title) on Amazon.com and you can find it.

I have a VHS copy (in prime condition) and had a DVD copy made, but then found the Japanese title and found a copy on Amazon.com 2006-12-29 12:29:00
Ricardo Hernandez Carillo: Hi!

Please, Can you tell me where I could buy this movie? I'm very interesting to see it, Eight Below is good, but I want to know the thrue history…. 2007-05-07 16:07:00
Dean: The original movie is available and it is great viewing on DVD. The Disney "Eight Below" was a…Disney movie and take it for what it's worth. Taro and Jiro did survive the winter. Jiro died in a different expedition to Antarctica. Taro relocated back to Japan and died in 1970 at the age of 15. The Movie is available from Yesasia.com [WARNING: the movie is Region 3. If you don't know about working with DVD of different regions, then best not to buy it unless you have a Region 0 player. Again, if your don't know about DVD regions…]
2008-11-15 16:15:00
Marty Mapes: Thanks for the link, Dean. I haven’t followed it yet, but people always ask how to find this movie. Best of luck. 2008-11-16 08:52:00

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