
Cautions: some language, brief mild sensuality and immodesty, and some violence and intensity
Eight Below is the story of one man’s determination to rescue his sled dogs, left behind in an Antarctic storm, and the strength and resourcefulness of the eight dogs struggling to survive the storm, the extreme temperature, and the predators of a continent completely abandoned by humans. While maybe not the best movie for the very, very sensitive among animal-lovers, Eight Below stays mild enough for most children, and adventurous enough for most adults.
2006 | Frank Marshall | 120 min Watch Trailer
Some Language
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Some Violence and Intensity
A man almost falls into a deep chasm. Later, a man slips off a ledge and breaks his leg (although the break is not seen or heard). A man falls through ice into the water and barely escapes drowning or freezing to death. Black, frostbitten fingers are shown.
A dog is chased and attacked by a leopard seal, and the scene includes a fairly strong startle moment. The leopard seal segment is designed to be intense, and may be too scary for sensitive children.
Spoiler Warning - A few of the dogs are injured, and a couple of them are shown to have died. While no gore is shown, the sad music and the crying of the other dogs may be emotionally intense for the especially sensitive.
The dogs catch and eat birds (though no gore is shown), and also begin to eat the frozen carcass of a killer whale, which displays several patches of light red, where another animal has been eating.
Brief Mild Sensuality and Immodesty
An unmarried couple kisses once. For quite some time.
A young man and young woman hug hello and goodbye a few times. They also kiss each other on the cheek in hello.
Characters reference dating relationships a few times, although until the ending kiss, none of them are actually shown interacting with anyone on a boyfriend/girlfriend basis.
The opening scene shows a couple of men in only shorts, though this is not played sensually. A somewhat low neckline is briefly seen in a picture of a girl described as “hot”. A gap between jeans and shirt is briefly seen when a woman stands up.
Note:
A side character, portrayed as wise, says that “what’s important is finding that one thing that will truly put your heart at rest,” and is obviously not referring to Christ.
There are a number of references to “lucky stars” as a running theme, although none of the characters change their plans or behavior based on it.
The main character approaches obsession in his attempts to rescue his dogs, and is willing to risk other people’s lives in addition to his own, although he evidently realizes that his level of zeal was inappropriate, or at least led him to consider inappropriate means.
A married man with a young child risks his life for the sake of scientific discovery, and says that “you gotta take chances for the things you care about.”
The main character and a friend occasionally joke and play around in an immature manner. Someone teases the main character, warning him that he’s “starting to sound like a grownup.”
In playful retaliation, a comical side character states that “payback is a dish best served cold” - a line that children may find catchy enough to imitate.
The main character, giving children kayaking lessons, says that “the ocean has a mind of its own, so respect the ocean: stay alert.” This is probably merely personification.
The main character mentions a previous romantic relationship that he was in, but indicates that the demands of his job put an end to it, and says that “relationships” don’t really fit his lifestyle. This is more or less resolved.
A scientist says that finding a meteorite from Mercury “could lead to discoveries we can’t imagine”, leaving it uncertain of what nature, or to what end those discoveries would be.
Positively-portrayed characters borrow a vehicle from another country’s base, without permission.
A couple of the characters are single working women.
Two of the main characters have a drink each at a social event.
The main character refers to his dogs as “the kids”.