The Great Alaskan Race

This movie is based on true events that happened in Nome, AK at the start of the 20th Century. It was great to hear some of the details I'd not known, such as Togo being the lead dog that travelled the greatest distance of all the teams that traversed the distance and extreme temperatures to get the serum to Nome. The story is more focused on the people than the dogs, which is a nice change (and I love dogs). A very warm, heartfelt story and it's family friendly - a nice bonus! It's not filmed in the Hollywood glossy style but it tells the story it intends. One less star because some of the story comes across a little disjointed.

I loved Balto but this movie gives you even more of the back story. A touching film of what parents will do to save their kids. I knew how it ended but I was still on the edge of my seat.

Based on an incredible true story, the movie features an amazing cast and stunning visuals, but the script is poor with clipped, predictable dialogue and choppy scene transitions. It's almost like they chopped up a two and a half hour epic to fit into a 90 minute time slot. Brian Presley is beautiful and rugged and portrays the anguish of loss well, but it seems he was too busy writing to direct, too busy directing to act, and too busy acting to write. It was a definite positive to include the native Alaskan aspect of the story that is too often ignored in retellings. I really wanted to like this movie. The story of men and dogs braving the weather and treacherous terrain to deliver medicine and avoid a disastrous epidemic is thrilling and uplifting, but the movie just has too many issues.

For a lifelong Alaskan who grew up in mushing circles, this movie was a disappointment. Superficial coverage, with jarring incongruities (CO landscape, stone cabin, plastic sled runners, a light-colored Togo, etc), left me wishing Hollywood would depict Alaska accurately by filming on location, or at least consulting for authenticity. The historic photos at the end were the best part, however, credit given to all 20 mushers by name would have been appreciated.

Just watch Togo with Willem Dafoe. I expect they put cheap knockoffs like this out because they know people will get confused and pay to watch the wrong movie.