panstat Registered User
Posts: 1
(9/4/02 4:55 am) Reply
The Ill-logic of Balto - Wolf's Quest
I just got the VCD for the 2nd Balto movie, and had read the following synopsis:
" Balto becomes a father and all the pups but one ... are given away to good homes."
I am not surprised why Janett isn't a good mother; if she had really cared for her pups, she would MIND selling her pups to humans, since she would most probably raise them. Besides, the story fits in best as a dog's story, not a wolf's quest.
Mysterious Sparkling White Wolf
Posts: 316
(9/5/02 11:37 am) Reply
Re: The Ill-logic of Balto - Wolf's Quest
Welcome! Stop by our new forum, www.keyframeonline.org/ww_forum.html ?
Indeed, this story is more about a dog (Aleu is only 1/4 wolf), but it does involve searching for wolves, and the wolf background behind Aleu. I think Jenna was a good mother...but she knows the ritual of selling her pups. Animals in the wild part with their cubs no matter how good of parents they are... that didn't bother me. I rather liked the "Taking You Home" ballad.
~Snow
panstat Registered User
Posts: 2
(9/7/02 6:37 am) Reply
Ill-logic of the 2nd Balto movie
Analysis of the two movies:
1) Balto I was based on a true story, about an epidemic that broke off in 1935 at Alaska, when Balto and other sled-dogs brought the serum from distant places. Indeed a more "realistic" film (with additional fun elements such as supporting characters) compared to the emotionally charged 2nd movie, which I think Universal Studios' "wolf quest" left Balto and his cast whining, because of what we call "overmilking" the franchise (in order to make money).
2) Balto in the first instance was not meant to be another White Fang. Rather, the dog is well-ackowledged for inspiring the Alaskan sled-dog race because of his heroic deeds. Why create Wolf's Quest? So as to catch people's attention by charging them up with "emotional investment" (a common technique used in film-making); Aleu, the "quest" for searching one's "destiny"? Come on! Perphaps Universal Studios is using Balto as a money cow (sorry he was a dog in the first place), a poor excuse for boosting their economic strength so as to earn more money, whilst COMPROMISING the quality of shows the company used to have in their earlier works (one really good example is The American Tail, another being E.T.).
3) Aleu hated his father for being a half-wolf, was really convinced by the mouse that her destiny was to be a wolf, and finally tells her father that she really accepted that she's wolf (and leaves her empty-handed father) for the clan. WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS? You hate your father because of something, you find out that this thing is true, and then you use it as a mere excuse to say "goodbye" to your father, leaving him away?
4) Reference to point 3). At least her father wasn't left empty-minded, given the fact that he learnt about more himself, as well as the mysterious white wolf (from Balto I) that it was his mother. Sadly, I think the movie was left in a cliff-hanger.
5) For real anime fans (hardcore that is), please watch Wanderer Kenshin OVAs One and Two. Find out the WAY Kenshin's life is being told from his perspective, then compare the WAY Balto's story is being told from the 3rd Person perspective. Frankly speaking, I think Balto 2 pales compared to the serious anime style of story telling (where are the politics?).
I don't expect people to watch good anime, but at least keep the scope wide in discussing the contradictions in the 2nd movie. Thanks.
dog pups usually are sold anyway, it's the way things are
Jenna was an exellant mother.
~RubyWolf
*Aiu lives within my soul*
panstat Registered User
Posts: 4
(9/15/02 1:41 am) Reply
Re: dog pups usually are sold anyway, it's the way things ar
I hope that I am not regurgitating myself over and over again. However, the plot in Balto Wolf's QUest could have improved. Maybe Amblin Entertainment could have spun off an animated series called The Life Story of Balto, which could be based on the actual accounts of Balto's life. Maybe Borris and the other snowdogs need not be important characters. Steele is lame, and Demon is a really, really sore loser. I think that excluding himself from the clan is what I call (paying homage to the Battletech series), "Embracing cowardice". Why not try to follow the same style of directing as that in the White Fang animated series (Singapore circa 1995)?
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