#august schellenberg

august schellenberg as sitting bull in bury my heart at wounded knee

I know many are nostalgic for Free Willy. You ensured this 90's film received 3 sequels and an animated series too. I never saw it until now and can see the appeal… but really it’s just ok.

Jesse (Jason James Richter) is a troubled 12-year-old delinquent who gets busted while vandalizing an aquatic theme park. As punishment, he must clean up the graffiti and winds up bonding with the park’s hostile killer whale Willy in the process. As his friendship with the sea mammal grows, Jesse warms up to the foster family that has adopted him (Jayne Atkinson and Michael Madsen as Annie and Glen Greenwood).

Certain elements are sure to tug at your heartstrings. Despite his initial abrasiveness, you sympathize with Jesse. He's still hurt over being abandoned as a child but gradually begins warming up to the people around him. Many, particularly children will relate to his loneliness. There’s something about killer whales - they’re so big and alien, but also somewhat friendly that inherently makes you want to like them. Combined with poignant soundtrack themes (the best of which is Will You Be There by Michael Jackson), don't be surprised if you get a little weepy, particularly during the conclusion.

Going off topic for a moment, Free Willy has an unusual, unintentionally powerful quality. I'm not sure if children will look at it the same way I did as an adult that's only semi-aware of what zoos and amusement parks are like. For me, I couldn't help but wonder if the film increased the demand for killer whales in amusement parks - basically unintentionally working against its own message - or created a new generation of advocates who will fight for these animals' freedom and rights and marked a turn in mankind's relationship with these creatures.

Setting these sentiments aside, certain elements leave you wanting more, or better. Jason James Richter is not good. You want to cut the child actor some slack but he's often wooden and unconvincing. Similarly, Michael Madsen seems completely uninterested in his role. Lori Petty and August Schellenberg as employees of the amusement park fare better, but they’re side characters. The dialogue doesn't help. Schellenberg is given a number of overly cheesy spiritual speeches, particularly during the film’s climax.

The biggest problem is the picture’s climax. I’m not talking about that famous shot, so famous it’s the cover of the DVD… I’m talking about the why. Michael Ironside plays the one-dimensional devil of a villain. No subtlety in the role, no reasons why he does the things he does except that he’s greedy and a bad. His character isn't even necessary. The film could've simply been about a boy who wants to set his animal friend free and his struggle to convince others to help. But this wouldn't be a black-and-white case so shots which insinuate Willy can understand English (nodding to say yes, etc) and the boo-ha-ha villain are used to swiftly get us to the finale, which includes wiretaps, people forgetting to call 9-11 and other questionable turns.

Free Willy has good intentions and genuine emotions along with a number of glaring problems. It’s just good enough to recommend for young viewers. If you grew up with this one, you're better to leave it alone and retain your warm memories. There's appeal but if you're looking to instil a passion for wildlife in your children, you can do better out there. (On DVD, October 22, 2015)

Free Willy (1993) GALLERY LINK : [x] Quality : BluRay Screencaptures Amount : 2639 files Resolution : 1920x800px