Silver Wolf

"Silver Wolf" is a heart-warming flick in the style of "Old Yeller", except the animal star of the film doesn't get shot in the end! Michael Biehn from "The Terminator" stars as a nature-wise ranger who has to raise his 16-year-old nephew (Shane Meier, "Sons of Thunder", "Needful Things") who just lost his father after a snowboarding accident. Together, they rescue a timberwolf and several bites and scratches later, the wolf gets accustomed to the kid and his uncle, while a gun-crazy rancher (Roy Schieder) wants the wolf's hide.

This film has nicely correographed snowboarding skills and good camera techniques. It's one of the very few films shown on the Fox Family Channel that I happened to enjoy!

This was a well made movie with lots of realistic thrilling moments, good acting from Michael Biehn and Roy Schnieder, and the snowboarding scenes were amazing. The plot was original and classic at the same time. (You'd have to see it to fully understand). Of course I can't possibly leave out the wolf who was "Silver" in the film. "Silver" was the most dignified looking creature I've ever seen and it was fun watching it. Great flick!

This heart warming story of a boy who recently lost his father and is displaced into a small close knit mountain community, brings a good story of coming of age tied nicely together with outstanding snowboarding and skijoaring footage right from the scenic mountains at Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia. Jesse not only has to deal with the death of his father, but moving in with his park ranger uncle and dealing with a new peer group that sees him as an urban wonder. Jesse befriends not only his nemesis' daughter but a wild but devoted wolf he promptly names 'Silver'. The movie concludes with a skijoaring race in which Jesse enters himself with a snowboard as opposed to skis, and a wild wolf instead of the family pet dog. This well acted and beautifully filmed picture is perfect for the whole family, and any one who is an admirer of the mountains, wolves, and of course, snowboarding.

Roy Scheider gives the WORST performance of his career in this utterly stupid excuse for a nature flick. It doesn't help that the young man in the lead is completely inept as an actor. There really is no script other than good versus evil. There is some strikingly magnificent photography of the Canadian Rockies. That's about it for the plus column.

I love films like this. Films that try to put a positive spin on animals and many of the misconceptions that humans have towards them. Silver Wolf is a film that has it's heart in the right place. It is a good film with two film giants from days past. It is also a film that has a conscience and for that I really like it.

First I want to comment on the casting of the film. You have to like a film that has Reese and Martin Brody in a film together. Michael Biehn and Roy Scheider play the two lead adults in the film and it is fun to see two guys that were in two of the biggest film franchises ever, square off. I can't help it, every time I see Scheider I expect him to say " You're going to need a bigger boat. " But in here he plays a nasty man that seems to hunt wolves just because he can. He really is a bad man just for the sake of the movie needing a bad man. I didn't really understand his reasons for hating wolves in the first place but it's okay here because there is so much to like about the film that small things like that are easily overlooked.

The other two leads in the film are Jesse Meier as the young nephew of Biehn and Kimberly Warnat as Scheider's daughter. They are both quite good in their roles and I have to say that Warnat is quite the looker. Her beauty was one of the reasons that kept me watching the film when it was on viewers choice. After looking at her filmography in the IMDb you can see that she hasn't done a lot as of yet but I think she will become a star one day. She is a very good actress and she will continue to grow physically as well. Sorry if that sounds incredibly sexist, but hey, sue me, I'm a guy.

Silver Wolf has some incredible photography and it's choreographed snowboarding scenes are breathtaking and quick paced. But what I enjoyed most about the film was the relationship with Meier and the young wolf. The wolf takes to him after a while and they develop an honest friendship. When it is time for the wolf to go home to his family you are almost sad to see him go. But then to see a wild animal that was captive become free, well that makes the movie so much better. Silver Wolf has great intentions and it is entertaining. I think kids will like this movie but if you are a sucker for animals as beautiful as this, then you ( adults that is ) will probably enjoy it as well.

And remember, watch for the name Kimberly Warnat in the future, she will go on to do bigger films, I'm almost sure of it.