The Film
Man finds dog. Man and dog form a bond. The bond lasts beyond anyone's expectations in Hachi: A Dog's Tale on Blu-ray. Based on a true story that happened many years ago in Japan, the U.S. version takes place in a small New England town, yet with the same breed of Japanese dog, the Akita.
The first act of the heartwarming story shows the developing relationship between Hachi (the Akita) and his owner Parker Wilson (Richard Gere). In the second half the film focuses mainly on the dog, and his interaction with the townspeople of Bedridge, where they live.
The Picture
It can be difficult, at times, to see the 1.85:1 picture though the tears you'll shed while watching Hachi: A Dog's Tale. The picture captures the look of the close knit New England town of Bedridge. The cinematography does a good job of portraying the passing seasons except in one transition where it's clear the leaves blooming and shedding from one tree are through the work of computer animation. That's forgiven, however, to a purpose.
The Sound
A tale that spans more than a decade; the passage of seasons is important to portray. The silence of winter, crispness of spring, song of summer, and dryness of fall were translated through sound in this 5.1 DTS-HD MA presentation. Parker, a professor in the music department at a local university, set the tone for the soundtrack. Contemporary piano pieces comprised most of the musical score. Barks and not many growls made up the rest of the composition.
The Extras
After a very limited release in the theater, the offering on Blu-ray may just be counted as a special feature. Beyond the feature presentation, extras are slim with two making-of featurettes and Sony's movieIQ through BD-Live. The making of featurettes do help explain the story and how it's based on a true story famous in Japan. "A Bond of Loyalty" discusses the work with several Akita dogs, how they were trained to show a bond with Gere, and how makeup and weights were used to show an aging Hachi.
Final Thoughts
It's impossible to watch Hachi without shedding a few tears, so keep a box of tissues close by. That's not to say all the elements that make a good film were present. Development of the characters and the story itself were sparse. It was important to the director to develop the bond between Hachi and his owner and establish the canine routine. This is often done at the expense of what else happens in a lifetime, between a husband and wife, between a father and daughter. Hachi truly is a dog's tale.
Product Details
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