Free Willy 3: The Rescue

I am going to start off by saying I really like the first two Free Willy movies. I would hardly call them the best movies ever, but they are very nice movies and I think underrated. This sequel is a worthy one. While there is a predictable story, some weak spots in the script and a lacklustre ending Free Willy 3:The Rescue is a nice and worthy sequel, that could have been so much worse.

Flaws aside, Free Willy 3 does have some stunning cinematography, and I loved the scene when Randolph throws the oranges in the water. I also loved the scenes between Nikki and Willy, and the one when Nikki gives birth which was brilliantly done. The score is absolutely beautiful, the pacing is brisk and the direction is amiable. And the characters are appealing especially Willy and Nikki, while Jesse and Max are great characters and the father is a sympathetic figure even for the villain of the piece, except I don't see him as a proper villain, just someone who means well but doesn't know exactly what he wants. The acting is good too, Jason James Richter and Vincent Berry are very likable, August Schellenberg makes a welcome return as Randolph and Patrick Kalpatrick does a great job with his character.

All in all, a pleasant family film. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Sam Pillsbury (who, incidently, was born in the US but raised in NZ despite what this database says) left these shores to direct the excellent "Eerie, Indiana" series and a number of thrillers. I don't think this film will feature prominently on his CV. Basically the script keeps to a format and the format has become so stale everyone performs in a by-the-numbers fashion. I get the feeling this movie was made for profit rather than love of the characters. It focuses on a simplistic "message" rather than the more complex problem of looking at "issues".

Free Willy 3 is primarily about Max, an intelligent, inquisitive ten-year-old who accompanies his father on a whaling expedition. His conscience bothers him about his father's career, but instead of taking the usual route of performing a string of silly pranks (like you would see in a lot of children's shows), he tries reasoning with his dad. He also asks question after question -- not just about the technical aspects of whaling, but he also delves deeper into the more important questions of life ("Do you always have to do the right thing, even if it hurts?").

One of the things I liked best about Free Willy 3 was the realistic and sympathetic portrayal of the father, even though he was the "villain" of the story. He was a man doing a job that has been in his family for years, and without it he wasn't sure who he was. Despite having a career others disagreed with, he was a caring, compassionate person who loved his son. Other characters are drawn out nicely as well -- Jesse and Randolph, from the first two films, and their new co-workers on the sea -- showing their tempers as well as their more positive sides.

Couple all these features with stunning cinematography and a beautiful score, and you have one fine film!

Sentimental and enjoyable entry about the friendly teen who befriends a giant whale , including impressivr marine acrobatics. 16-year-old Jesse (Jason James Richer) and old friend Randolph (August Schellenberg) try to foil an illegal whaler threatening Willy and his pregnant mate. This time around an illegal operation threatens Willie and his orca pod . Willy the whale is back, this time threatened by illegal whalers making money off sushi. On the whaler's ship is captain John Wesley and his 10-year-old son, Max (Berry) , who isn't really pleased about his father's job , but he's horrified to discover his commercial fisherman father (Patrick Kilpatrick) is one of the whalers . A new friend. A new threat. A new adventure that will capture your heart.

Heartwarming and delightful story that follows the previous premises about the young Jesse , now 16 years old, has taken a job on an orca-researching ship, and , along with old friend Randolph and a sarcastic scientist called Drew face off a whale ship captained by a nasty captain , all of them determined to rescue the giant orca. Again an electronically operated stand-in whale was used for far-off shots and a domesticated performing whale named Keiko for the close-ups animatronics and digital effects were used to replicate the real Willy . Director was known known to grumble about temperamental Keiko during shooting. It contains colorful and spectacular cinematography by Tobias A. Schliessler shot on various filming locations from Squamish, Howe Sound, Britannia Beach, British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada . Adding a stirring and breathtaking musical score by Cliff Eidelman who uses adequately the classic leitmotif composed by Basil Poledouris from previous entries. The motion picture was competently directed by Sam Pillsbury , though with no originality because copies the same former elements.

The trilogy is formed as follows : Free Willy (1993) by Simon Wincer with Jason James Richer , August Schellenberg , Michael Madsen , Jane Atkynson, . Free Willy 2 The adventure Home (1995) by Dwight Little with Michael Madsen Jane Atkynson , John Tenney , Elizabeth Peña , M Emmett Walsh . Free Willy 3 : The Rescue (1997) by Sam Pillsbury with Jason Jmes Richer , August Schellenberg, Patrick Kilpatrick , Anne Corley . Proof that family films can make money , Free Willy trilogy placed hight boxoffice as US as around the world.

the movie was ok but kind of boring, you didn't had that feeling of satisfaction at the end of the movie like you had at the first two. i liked the concept of the kid having to step up to his father, most people don't know how hard it could be... anyway, like i said they should have stopped after the second one.