The Plague Dogs

Starring:Plague Dogs
Studio: Trinity Home Ent
Product Type: DVD

Description

Determined to escape the confines of an evil laboratory, two dogs make a flight for freedom into the rugged hills. Panicked by the cries of other animals on their way out, they accidentally break a vial used by plague researchers, and when news gets out that the two could be infected, the human world launches the deadliest hunt. Pursued at every turn, the dogs are forced to retreat further and further until their time runs out and they must make the ultimate decision - and take their chance with fate.

Customer Reviews:

An Animated Animal Movie with Bite.......2007-05-31

It's easy to look at the cover of the movie "Plague Dogs" and then call the kids into the living room for an enjoyable Sunday matinee. There is a deceptive nature to the beautiful hand drawn animation of cute little animals that harkens back to the golden age of Disney animation. This would be a mistake however for it's that very deceptive quality to "Plague Dogs" that makes this film such a treat for adults and a rather disturbing nightmare for children.

Like it's predecessor "Watership Down" (another Richard Adams book made into an animated feature by director Martin Rosen), "Plague Dogs" is a very adult tale about animals in jeopardy. In "Watership..." it was a small group of rabbits in search of a safe home. "Plague Dogs" is the story of two dogs who escape from a testing laboratory. Together they are desperate to find safety and a life free of abuse and pain. The smaller dog (Snitter) having just had brain surgery, is a smart but tortured animal. Rowf, is a dog mentally and physically beaten by repeated drownings. Together they search for peace, but peace does not come easily on an empty stomach and the many pastures of sheep are too tempting for the two dogs to pass up. As sheep carcasses begin to pile up local farmers begin to make the connection that the testing laboratory may have had something to do with the two wild dogs that are roaming their land. When it's discovered that the laboratory was working with Bubonic plague, the dogs are marked for death.

Ultimately "Plague Dogs" is an adventure tale; however, director Martin Rosen uses the bleak storyline to propel a theme of hopelessness. Snitter and Rowf and undesirables, cast out by bad luck and bad timing. The society that they find themselves in is unable to fully understanding their situation and their destruction is a simply seen as a more effective way of dealing with them. The ending in particular has our two furry antagonists in questionable straights.

Such a film would not play well today, nor did it play that well in this country 25 years ago. It asks too many questions, pushes too many cringe inducing buttons, and often doesn't wait for the passive viewer to catch up. I can't think of one reason why or how a movie like this got made, but it's our great fortune it did. "Watership Down" proves to be a better movie experience but "Plague Dogs" goes where "Watership Down" didn't and we are all the better for it.

Worth seeking out the Australian version.......2007-05-10

I don't really have a lot to add about the film itself that the other reviewers haven't already said; this is a dark, distressing, relentlessly grim and harrowing film about two dogs on the run from an animal research laboratory. It has a somewhat slow pace at times, and much of the animation is crude by today's standards, but it has tons of character. It's not exactly a pleasant experience but it has great power and a worthwhile message. Just to make it clear (if it isn't already), this is mature material only suitable for older teens and adults.

I actually just wanted to address a couple of points in a previous review (possible spoilers coming). The original film, released in the UK in 1982, was 1 hour 42 minutes - this is the full, unedited version which can ONLY be found on the Australian DVD release (the quality isn't great, but at least you're getting to see the whole film). The difference in running time (99 mins on DVD as against 102 mins in theaters) is simply down to the fact that films run slightly faster on VHS and DVD than they do on the big screen; ALL films are approximately 3 - 4% shorter when transfered to home entertainment formats.

When it came time to release the film in the USA, director Martin Rosen had great difficulty finding a distributor willing to take it on. That shouldn't come as too much of a surprise; the film is far too disturbing for kids or families, and adults are likely to dismiss an animated feature with talking animals as kids' stuff - so who exactly would pay to see this movie? In an effort to placate the distributors, Rosen was forced to cut 17 minutes from the film's running time. Some of the cuts were simply made to speed up the pace, and others were made to remove some of the more unpleasant scenes (most notably the sight of a human corpse which the starving, desperate dogs have partially eaten). Needless to say, these cuts did little to lighten the film's grim tone, and it only ever received a brief and extremely limited run at a few US theaters. Unfortunately, it is this shorter version that has been used for most of the recent DVD releases; as I mentioned before, only the Australian edition has both versions included.

There were some changes to the plot in the transfer from novel to screen. The somewhat forced but nevertheless welcome happy ending in the book was removed, to make the film a more powerful anti-vivisection statement. Also the fate of the fox, or The Tod as he is known, was changed; in the book he falls victim to a hunt, whereas in the film he sacrifices himself to a pack of army hounds as a distraction, allowing the two titular dogs to escape (temporarily) on a train. This was NOT changed due to any pressure from pro-hunting groups; neither Richard Admas or his admirers would have tolerated such a move. I imagine it was changed to allow the Tod's death to play a more important part in driving the plot forward, and to show us the wily fox was a noble fellow in the end.

A classic (not so well known animation).......2007-04-28

The animation is rough (ala Watership Down) - but this is a film with heart, and a moral...and makes me cry every single (*&(*& time I see it. Everyone should see this film, at least once...!

Lovers of the Novel Will Not Be Disappointed.......2007-04-08

_The Plague Dogs_ by Richard Adams has long been one of my favorite books. For this reason, I have avoided seeing Martin Rosen's adaptation until now; I was afraid I would be deeply disappointed, that the film would somehow tarnish my relationship with the book. Although the film adaptation falls short in places, and there are slight variations in plot (notably, in the last five minutes of the film), overall it is an exceptional work that stays true to the heart of the book.

Fortunately, I have not seen the entire movie in its original format. If I had, I may be disappointed. Having researched the changes that were made, I do see how Martin Rosen's original rendition would have been stronger. However, those new to the film will not be disappointed.

Also, there seems to be a debate about the ending of the film vs. that of the novel. Although completely different, both endings are equally as strong and poignant. Both the book and the film will elicit an emotional response from all except the coldest of hearts.

The voice actors in the film are excellent. John Hurt, who did the voice of Hazel in _Watership Down_, appropriately performs as Snitter. Christopher Benjamin excels as Rowf. We are even briefly treated to the voice of Patrick Stewart in a very small role.

This film falls short in one area: length. It is impossible in 87, or even 99 minutes to thoroughly develop the plot of the novel. The absence of Digby Driver, for example, eliminates a fascinating and ironic subplot from the film. However, since editing was necessary, it was nice that Rosen chose to focus almost exclusively on the animals themselves.

If you, like me, have read the book and are thinking about checking out the DVD, please do not hesitate. The animation is beautiful, the voice acting is excellent, and it is thematically true to the book. Its only shortcoming is its length.

Hummm. Still functioning despite the amputations!.......2007-03-18

"Plague Dogs", based on Richard Adams' (Watership Down, Shardik) 1977 novel, is among the most substantive offerings in animation films. Snitter (terrier), and Rowf (Black Lab) escape from an animal research lab conducting "experiments" on dogs, monkeys, rabbits and others, including: Bubonic Plague, experimental brain surgery, sensory deprivation, and (often-fatal) recovery-from-drowning. Encountered on the run, a worldly-wise fox (The Tod) helps Snitter and Rowf evade re-capture and survive in the wild while seeking a vaguely understood, permanent safe haven.

The animation is fine, similar to Watership Down's. But it is the novel's substance and attendant characterizations that underlie the film: a brutal perspective, from that of two anthropomorphized dogs and a fox, about survival needs; animal researchers' clinical depravity; anthropocentricity; and a welter of CYA political and press mendacities. At its core is a fascinating character study: that of poor Snitter's brain surgery-induced delirious yet moving confusions and imaginings; Rowf's ever-fatalistic, aggressive, no-nonsense realism; and the Tod's sympathetic opportunism.

At 150,000 words, the novel (Knopf, 1978, 1st American hardbound edition) also has a bonus: 20-plus pages of carefully-drawn Wainwright illustrations (13 full-page, eight being route maps), plus a two-page frontispiece. While a quarter of the novel centers on various humans and their conversations, the film cleverly maintains interest by keeping the focus on Snitter, Rowf and the Tod, pertinent human conversations largely presented as voice-overs. But though the film carefully replicates Snitter's and Rowf's trek and manages to convey some personality subtleties, one needs the novel's far richer prose (Adams' prose rivaling Tolkien's) for a rewardingly deeper understanding of the characters and out-of-context scenes depicted.

Though intriguingly four minutes short of the original's reported run-time, Australian (PAL region 4) sources offer a 99-minute "extended release" DVD viewable in the US with a PAL-enabled system and region-free player. This version, reportedly made from an only-surviving copy, has non-re-mastered but adequate picture-sound quality. Also included is an 82-minute amputated re-mastered version. Struggling for film release, its producers obviously encountered lowest-common-denominator marketing mentalities, shunning of graphic depictions, script change demands appeasing the pro-fox-hunting lobby, and having to manufacture several thrills. Two notable changes from the novel concern the fates of the Tod, and of Snitter/Rowf. Even ignoring detrimental changes, this reviewer awards just four stars for this 80 percent of the original film.

Several reviewers caution prospective buyers to deny young children seeing this film. Would such folks also shield children from Oliver Twist, The Yearling, Race of the Swift, Cooper's Leather Stocking tales, or Felix Salten's Bambi? When this reviewer was in grade-school over fifty years since, it was customary to have such books read by the teacher, generally a chapter after lunch; or on one's own at home! Were that Plague Dogs had been available! Presumably no permanent damage resulted to this reviewer from such dangerous childhood adventures, though some might disagree! And do you suppose the film's missing four minutes were to accommodate the novel's ending, hinted in the closing scene?

Average customer rating:

A tragic and moving tale
Great watch!
Powerful and deeply moving story
One of the best films ever made!
A heart wrenching film

The Plague Dogs [Region 2]
Starring: John Hurt , Christopher Benjamin , James Bolam , Nigel Hawthorne , and Warren Mitchell
Director: Martin Rosen
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Watership Down

ASIN: B00006JI1H

Customer Reviews:

A tragic and moving tale.......2005-08-10

Richard Adams's novel 'The Plague Dogs' always stood in the shadow of his superior masterpiece - the classic 'Watership Down'. The same goes for the animated films, both of them directed by Martin Rosen. The animated version of The Plague Dogs, released four years after the acclaimed Watership Down, never quite achieved the kind of success its predecessor had; not because it wasn't as good, but because of pretty much the same reasons for the novel's limited success. While Watership Down hid violence and severe social-political criticism behind a disguise of a children's tale, The Plague Dogs is much more in-your-face, much less subtle, and makes no attempts to hide itself behind pretty words. The Plague Dogs is a tragic tale that is mercilessly critical toward modern society, taking a strict stand on the subject of cruelty to animals. The idea of an animated film strictly for adults was as difficult to swallow twenty years ago as the idea of a novel for adults told from an animal's point of view. Therefore, movie-goers didn't quite know what to make of the film; it didn't seem right for an adult to go watch an animated film about animals - and a parent who takes his little child to this film would face an even bigger problem of explaining to them why the bad people do such horrible things to the poor dogs.

Fortunately, today we know that animation isn't just for kids, and we can fully appreciate this masterpiece. The story is that of two laboratory dogs, voiced brilliantly by John Hurt and Christopher Benjamin, who escape from their cages and from the lab seeking the freedom of the outside world, and finding out that surviving in the wilderness isn't as easy as that. The scientists have reason to believe that the dogs contacted a bubonic plague virus during their escape, and so the two must run for their lives and fight for survival. Most of the film is from the dogs' point of view (they are later joined by a fox, voiced by James Bolam, who helps them survive in the wild, not without his own reasons). On the other hand we also hear the humans' conversations, yet we never see a human being's face; Rosen doesn't allow us to sympathize or identify with any of the human characters. The animals are clearly the more humane here, and that's the basis of what Rosen and Adams say here.

Be warned - don't let the animation fool you, this is not an easy watch. The violence in The Plague Dogs is more explicit than in most live action films, and the message it bears about human beings as a whole is difficult to swallow. John Hurt's performance as Snitter, alternately funny and sad, dominates the film, and it makes for one of the most beautiful and round animated characters ever seen on film. The story, especially that of Snitter's, is incredibly sad and touching, and is more powerful emotionally than any other animated feature I've seen. A highly recommended film, and not just for animation enthusiasts.

Great watch!.......2005-06-30

It's great movie to watch! Yes, the ending kinda leaves you hanging but you can surely tell from the mocie that they DO die. But, if you were to read the book, you can see that they live. So, when you watch the end of the movie after to have read th ebook, you would know that the fishermen pull them to shore and save them however,t hey did not put that into the movie. Which makes sense cuz, the book is a lot different than the movie, most of it revolving around Snitter the Smooth Fox Terrier.
"Snitter is my fav and i love to hear The Todd talking!)

Powerful and deeply moving story.......2005-04-12

I agree pretty much with what everyone has already said here about this great film, The Plague Dogs. This is one of, if not thee, most heartbreaking movies I own. Yet, it is so moving and powerful that it's worth going through such viewing pain. It is something that older kids (with care) should probably see. A lot of life lessons can be learned from this movie, such as the cruelty of man and life, and the need to respect living things and treat them with care. I would not describe this movie as preachy either. Just a real sad, moving story, very emotional. There is a funny bit or two as well. Look for a dog peeing at a gas station or something near someone. All in all, I would love to see it come out on dvd. Listen for the voice of Patrick Stewart (Star Trek) as the Major. I think, even though for being made back in 1982, the animation holds up fine.

As for the ending and the March 31, 2005 "Kid's review"... This person does not seem to understand the ending. The ending does not suck (not in the sense that the reviewer remarked). SPOILER ALERT: Yes it does not show them dying, but that was heavily implied IMHO. The two dogs were trapped by the military or police etc., on the shore. The two dogs jump into the ocean and are swimming for their lives, remarking about the lovely (imaginary) island they believe they see off in the distance. The idea and tone is: "yes, just a little further. It's a beautiful place, a place of no pain, a place of wonder, yes, there it is, if we just keep swimming...." Meanwhile they are getting more and more weary, getting further out into the ocean, and are running out of strength. The point was they had ran out of hope, options and strength, and they died reaching out for unobtainable peace and love. THE VERY PEACE AND LOVE these two dogs should have had to begin with and that we should treat all pets with. It's very sad, but is meant to inspire a good point. See it if you can, and never forget it. It's very memorable.

One of the best films ever made!.......2005-04-01

Even though it's 2005 and this movie is very old, it's still great. I saw this 2 days ago because my parents bought it for me because we couldn't rent it anywhere. We got it for $3.99. It's a very good movie. The animation is poor by today's standards but it's so good! There is one part that is not for children at all! You soon begin to feel sorry for these dogs and The Tod will keep you guessing. But, the end sucks because it never shows if they live or die. They're just swimming when it ends. Minus those couple parts, it's a great video but parents, please watch it first!

A heart wrenching film.......2004-06-11

People say kids shouldn't watch this film, but I saw it when I was seven. I did not understand everything, but enough for it to have a great impact on me. Partly because of this film I am an animal rights advocate. I think it is very well done. I loved the dogs esp. Snitter, but I wanted to cry everytime I looked at his head; not because it scared me (if you see the movie you will know what i mean), but because it hurt me to see an animal go through that. I think that kids could watch this and maybe it will help teach them compassion, but parents should definitely watch it first and decide whether it is something their kids can handle.

Plague Dogs [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]

Average customer rating:

Plague Dogs [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Netherlands ]
Director: Martin Rosen
Manufacturer: Indies NL
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

Netherlands released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. Languages: o Dutch (subtitles) o English (Dolby Digital 5.1) o English (Dolby Digital 2.0) Synopsis: A brilliant animated adaptation of Richard Adams' novel, about a pair of dogs (Snitter and Rowf) who escape from a research laboratory and try to survive in the wild with the help of a cunning fox (The Tod). The lab director tries to keep the escape quiet, but as an increasing number of sheep are found killed, word leaks out, together with rumours that the dogs might be plague carriers... - Like Watership Down, Plague Dogs is an animated cartoon feature based on a novel by Richard Adams and produced by Martin Rosen. And also like Watership Down, it is more appropriate for an older audience. Two dogs escape from a British government research lab. As the authorities hunt down the canine fugitives, the two dogs search for their original master and for a place where they'll be free from the iniquities and cruelties of Mankind. Plague Dogs was completed in 1982, but was not released in the US until two years later. Special Features: o Biographies o Interactive Menu o Music Video o Photo Gallery o Scene Access

Average customer rating:

A tragic and moving tale
Great watch!
Powerful and deeply moving story
One of the best films ever made!
A heart wrenching film

The Plague Dogs
Starring: John Hurt , Christopher Benjamin , James Bolam , Nigel Hawthorne , and Warren Mitchell
Director: Martin Rosen
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( P ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Animation | Genres | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Watership Down

ASIN: B00005JO3A

Customer Reviews:

A tragic and moving tale.......2005-08-10

Great watch!.......2005-06-30

Powerful and deeply moving story.......2005-04-12

One of the best films ever made!.......2005-04-01

A heart wrenching film.......2004-06-11

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