Miracle en Alaska

Managed to see this on DVD from my public library. It is based in real events in 1988, but many of the characters have been fabricated or named something different from the person they were taken from.

It is outside Barrow, Alaska in the fall, cold weather is a bit early and the ice begins to freeze sooner than usual. This traps a whale pair and their young offspring.

John Krasinski is reporter Adam Carlson in Alaska and one day happens to notice something on the ice. He spots the whales repeatedly surfacing through a medium sized hole in the ice, but because it would require a 5-mile swim under ice to get free and swim south, the three whales are stranded at the hole.

Drew Barrymore is a conservationist who wants to attract more attention to saving the whales, while the local native Alaskans are thinking about "harvesting" the whales for food. Ted Danson is J. W. McGraw, a wealthy businessman wanting to drill in the Arctic, he ends up under pressure of publicity donating a hovercraft barge to be used as an ice breaker. Kristen Bell is too pretty as the California reporter Jill Jerard who ends up going there also and reporting some of the developments.

This is basically a family movie, cooperating to take care of the environment. Plus, when they were not able to get the hovercraft there the Russians ended up saving the day, using their ice breaker to free the whales, after Alaskans had used chainsaws to cut a series of holes in the ice closer and closer to the open sea, to allow the whales to make progress.

Pretty interesting movie.

Yes, there were simplistic clichés, but for a PG-rated movie and the confines therein, Big Miracle is about as good as it can get. The Inupiat people, the reporters, the extraction industry - all sides were treated with a degree of nuance. The take-away message was really important too - that you can accomplish things with people you don't agree with or even like. And we really enjoyed the efforts made to set the film properly in its late 80s period.

I disagree with the other reviews that found the special effects lacking. I don't think they detracted from the story, which in the end was quite compelling.

This was a really sweet and heart warming film, especially if you're and animal lover. There's a good story (based on a true story) and great performances. Yes, it was a little generic, all be it cheesy, at times; but I still left the film feeling touched. IMO Drew Barrymore gave a stand out beautiful performance, while john Krasinski, Kristen Bell, and the rest of the cast were also great. It is a tear jerker at a few sweet moments, I must admit, but its a good cry. I grapple with the fact that the whales were CGI. One hand, I'm a semi animal activist and prefer not seeing animals working, and they did look incredibly real. On the other hand, it was a little bit of a let down when I found this out. Can't explain why, just a gut reaction. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised and would recommend this film to anyone looking for a nice genuine entertaining time. Also, it is suitable for families which is always nice.

Big Miracle dramatizes the real life struggle of three gray whales trapped in the ice near Barrow, Alaska. While my daughter told me what happens before we saw the movie, I still enjoyed the movie for its heart-warming and touching story of humans and nature.

Big Miracle has an ensemble cast that was very good. Drew Barrymore, in particular, did an outstanding job as a Greenpeace activist trying to save the gray whales. And, Ten Danson was fun as the oil magnate who sees an opportunity to help save the whales for some good PR.

The highlight of the movie was the Inupiat actors, who were charming and added warmth to the movie. The grandfather Inupiat stole every scene with his strong and quiet presence, and he provided several funny moments. His young grandson was also outstanding as the young friend to John Krasinki's character.

Big Miracle, however, did move slowly and many scenes seemed forced in drawing laughter or empathy. My wife and I enjoyed the movie for its touching story and appealing characters, but our kids said they were bored and uninterested. At the very least, catch Big Miracle at a matinée.

Sometimes it takes a film about the environmental crises to bring to the attention of the entire populace that not only MUST we do something about our bruising of our natural environment, but that when certain people take action it does indeed make a difference. This is a gently made film that gets its point across in a warmly entertaining way - and it is a true story!

Thomas Rose' book FREEING THE WHALES forms the basis for this story, adapted for the screen by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler. Ken Kwapis directs. In brief summery (everyone knows this story by now), an animal-loving volunteer and a small-town news reporter are joined by a native Alaskan boy to rally an entire community - and eventually rival world superpowers - to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle.'

The cast is a large one with some actors only appearing briefly but in roles that show their professional an also their emotional support for placing this subject before the public. In the lead roles are John Krasinski, Drew Barrymore, Ted Danson and Tim Blake Nelson, but the remainder of the cast includes Dermot Mulroney, Kathy Baker, Kristin Bell, James LeGros and a fine supporting cast of Inuit actors and others.

The special effects are credible and deeply moving as the whales are released form their frozen captivity. The film adds much to the understanding of environmental problems and how multinational efforts are necessary to tame the destructive threats to the future of our globe. Grady Harp, January 13