The Plague Dogs

Anyone who has seen Richard Adams/Martin Rosen's adaptation of Watership Down will know what to expect from The Plague Dogs. You've got superb animation - even more polished and fluid in this case - great voice acting, and at the same time, an unrelenting and at times brutal story, which in The Plague Dogs focuses on the cruelty of mankind, as opposed to nature in Watership Down. This is not to say that it's sentimental: like Watership Down, The Plague Dogs presents its story objectively and lets the viewer make up their own mind.Before I explain the story, I'll make one thing absolutely clear - this film is not for the faint-hearted. Children, animal-lovers and dog-owners alike will probably feel uncomfortable watching this film, for several reasons. And those who have read the book will find the story a couple of shades darker.However, this is an excellent film and worth watching if you don't flinch from the storyline too much.The Plague Dogs begins in an animal testing centre in the Lake District. The two protagonists, Rowf, a labrador-cross, and Snitter, a jack russell (voiced by John Hurt), are subjected to experiments out of human curiosity: Rowf is submerged in a tank for as long as he can remain conscious, in order to test canine lung capacity, and Snitter has had brain surgery to determine where the subjective and objective perception of the canine brain begins and ends.One night, they both escape into the mountains.This is purely about the animals - we follow Rowf and Snitter on their journey, where they take to attacking sheep to find food, and find friendship in "The Tod", a wily fox, all the while trying to escape from the "whitecoats".While Snitter is desperate to find them a "master" to look after them, as he used to have, Rowf is bitter towards humans, but at the same time considers that the "whitecoats" are their only masters and perhaps they were right to be tested on in the first place.The human characters are barely glimpsed, instead portrayed in back-and-forth voice-overs between the scientists and the locals as they try to track the animals down. The fact that Rowf and Snitter are falsely suspected of carrying the plague - a disease secretly being researched at the centre - gives the film its name.There are several unpleasant sequences in The Plague Dogs, although not always "active" - there is of course the animal testing centre, and a couple of incidences when dogs and humans cross paths.However, the animation is superb. Like the animated version of Lord of the Rings, no character is ever static on screen, even when they are not the subject of the shot, and there are some wonderful views over the Lake District.If you are looking for an animated film with a difference I would highly recommend this. But I don't think this is suitable for young children; I would suggest adults watch first before placing their youngsters in front of it, especially since this is the uncut version.A cult film with an interesting story and intriguing characters, The Plague Dogs in definitely a classic, but it's by no means a children's film.

Fab

This isn't a movie about maltreated animals as much as a fairy tale about the danger of perceiving yourself as a victim. Snitter and Rowf have both been damaged by The Man, but only the terrier has been destroyed. The Lab has learned the intrinsic lesson that capitulation equals surrender, and surrender equals holocaust.Never mind that I'd rather kick a poodle than pet him. John Hurt and Christopher Benjamin are people, of that special breed known as artists, and they invest their pathetic roles with irresistible humanity. Martin Rosen this time drops most of Douglas Adams' speechifying in favor of a more effective device: straightforward storytelling.This fable manages to be both depressing and encouraging. By this dichotomy it also transcends my personal enmity with its subject and politics. I used to work as a janitor at a veterinary clinic, an experience that did not improve my sympathy for the canine community. I've been bitten by wild dogs in several countries. And one of my seminal experiences growing up on a ranch was having to shoot my own dog, for killing chickens I had to get up every morning at six to harvest for eggs. So I'm not the world's biggest dog lover.Add to this the fact that I'd like to throw lead-based paint on every activist who ever ruined a mink coat, or broke into a university lab. A farmed fur coat leaves about 1/4 the environmental footprint of a Gore-Tex parka, and animal experiments are an indispensable part of medical and consumer research. Without the discomfort of a few dozen white mice, we wouldn't have proof that stem cells can reattach retinas, and potentially repair spinal cords. Let's not ignore, too, the role primates have played in forcing governments to set rules on products intended for human consumption.Yet I still like this movie. Put that in your PETA and smoke it.

This is a very dark film that can only leave the viewer feeling uncomfortable. A little dated, especially the voices, but still a very compelling watch with themes around animal testing that are very relevant today. If you're after a cuddly doggy cartoon with a happy ending this won't be for you!

Of course, I've seen the Extended Version, and for a purist it's the only version to have. Missing from the US cut (this version) are the captions which keep a tally of how many days it is since the dogs escaped and about twenty minutes of footage which, while thoroughly enjoyable, isn't ESSENTIAL to the story (except maybe the moment when a body is discovered that was clearly eaten by the dogs).The point I'm trying to make is that, even in its truncated form, this is an outstanding film which will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and fill you with a leaden, depressed feeling and make you question the structure of modern human society. This might not sound like an endorsement, but this IS a very sad film. Please buy it and watch it, though, as it's also one of the finest films ever made, not least because Martin Rosen pursued the truth of the story at the expense of popularist devices, a move which amounted to career suicide for him, as he rarely directed again. This was brave in the extreme, and gives it an integrity which shines through every disturbing minute.

Its not often you are blown away by something, but this film did just that. It should be watched. Its harrowing, and shows a really bleak perspective for the animal characters. Layered within the film is a true sense of redemption and ultimate sacrifice, and things often are not happily ever after.

The Plague Dogs (o Los Perros de la Plaga en español. Creo que nunca se localizó en latinoamérica) es una película de 1982 dirigida por Martin Rosen (director de Watership Down) que relata la historia de dos perros en busca de paz y libertad, cuya aventura comienza cuando escapan de un laboratorio que experimenta con animales. Es una historia muy desgarradora y bastante fuerte, pero muy emotiva.En cuanto a la edición en Blu-ray, esta viene de parte de Shout Factory de Estados Unidos. Tiene una restauración en 2K (básicamente en Full HD), sonido estéreo 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio (únicamente en inglés) y un extra, además de dos versiones de la película (versión de cine y extendida).Tal vez lo que llama la atención es que incluye dos versiones. Solo he visto la versión extendida de 103 minutos, mientras que la de cine está sumamente recortada con solo 86 minutos de duración.La calidad de imagen está 2-3. No es una restauración muy limpia, hay bastantes partículas de polvo y manchas, como si estuviéramos en un cine antiguo. Claro, la propia película te dice que se hizo lo mejor que se pudo hacer por el estado del negativo original, y aún así estoy seguro que es la mejor manera de ver la película.El audio está bien, no es una película llena de acción que necesite sonido surround por lo que no es un problema que solo sea estéreo 2.0. Eso sí, solo en inglés con subtítulos opcionales en inglés para personas con dificultad auditiva.Extras:Esta edición contiene solo un extra: entrevista con Martin Rosen. Dura 15 min y aunque es breve, sí da detalles interesantes sobre varios aspectos de la película. Eso sí, un poco monótono por ser solo un video de él hablando con unos cuantos clips de la película de vez en cuando. Nada de detrás de escenas o arte conceptual o cosas por el estilo.El empaque:No tiene slipcover pero es porque nunca lo tuvo. Tiene un arte interno y un disco con serigrafiado a color y completo. Me gusta la presentación.En general, es una buena edición aunque le faltó extras. Cómprala pero de preferencia en oferta pues a veces se pone muy cara para lo que ofrece.

L'articolo è arrivato ieri 12/03. Questo è un capolavoro sotto ogni aspetto anche per quelli che conoscono solo il libro. un cartoon senza tempo e per tutte le età, malgrado la scena più terribile del film che è anche quella che ne ha segnato più l'importanza.

This film is soulful. The animation is grim, yet beautiful, art of the time.Not really for children, the subject matter is enough to affect adults.It is an exercise in truth of the nature of life, and thereby is hard.Beautiful though. Just not a fuzzy blanket, deeper. More meaningful. Very sad.It gracefully, grimly dances over media, falsehoods, government, cruelty to animals and animal testing, the horror of accidents, the hope and the bleakness of existence.Absolutely beautiful in the most gut wrenching heart breaking of ways.Love that it pulls no punches.

PLEASE NOTE THIS REVIEW HAS CERTAIN THINGS THAT REFER TO THE REGION 2 PAL VERSION BUT IN GENERAL THE REVIEW IS FOR THE FILM ITSELF ALSO.The Plague Dogs is a film that comes from the book of the same title, some parts liberally and the ending left to interpretation.First things first, THIS IS NOT A KIDS FILM, for the love of God I have seen some people review this as a horrid kids film and it is not (same with Watership Down, not a kids movies yet somehow gets lumped into child entertainment, even for the 70's). This is a film about the lives of two dogs that escape a testing facility and are pursued by the government and the media. The dogs escape and eventually attack a sheep (different from book to movie but I will stick to the movie here) and are eventually hunted. In the film, to get to the point faster, the viewer knows via exposition that they never got near where tests on the Plague are happening but the fact that it may have been possible (because of a lone flea) they are portrayed as "possible carriers" and the manhunt starts.Keep in mind I am over simplifying the plot a bit but that is the gist of it. While out they meet a "The Todd" (for fellow Americans that don't know, another name for a fox) and he teaches them how to survive out in the wild. The fox is ever cunning and you are never quite sure of his intentions, coupled with the smaller dog Snitter who had a brain surgery (see movies as to why) and Rowf the big black dog that is cynical (for good reason) and the film also tells the story about cruelty of performing vivisection and animal research for its own sake.There are two cuts of the film, 86 minutes and 103 minutes. America only saw the full uncut version from Thorn Productions on the old Thorn EMI VHS (not sure if that edit was theatrical or not), only 8000 were made.Then there is the 86 minute version. Embassy pictures picked it up and ordered cuts. THIS was given a limited theatrical release and Charter Productions (Charter Entertainment Home Video) released it on VHS with the run time of 99 minutes on it (I've owned multiple copies, their version was never 99 minutes). 99 minutes basically comes to the 103 minute cut after you factor in what some call PAL speed up (more Frames Per Second, NTSC, which is America is 24/25 FPS and PAL rounded up is 30 FPS).HERE is where we diverge in the review for the PAL Region 2 disc I bought.Anchor Bay in the UK released a copy with BOTH cuts and I believe some nice extras but as fast as it was made was as fast as it was gone, very collectable. There was an American domestic version, but only the 86 minute version, again, very hard to find. Then there is this version of the DVD I got with both versions released by Optimum releasing. This is bare bones in the fact that it is just the two versions of the film (and I am okay with that). The picture on the 86 minute cut is fantastic (and full frame which is how I believe it was made). I was really happy with it. HOWEVER, the longer 103 minute cut is obviously sourced from a well worn 16mm or 35mm print. It's not horrific, but on a scale from one to ten I give it a 7.5. I can't help but wonder what happened to the original elements after the original cut, story is the longer print is from the producers private collection and only known surviving copy.*SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT*Are the differences worth it? Some of it seems superfluous but adds to the character of the dogs and the fox development but in reality it does show they are out longer than the shortened version seems. By the end of the film you see Rowf's ribs and you wonder why, longer version shows you via titles DAY ONE, DAY TWO, etc... (By the end of the film they are out there 40 plus days). They removed a "graphic" scene (as it was deemed). In both versions a hunter is dispatched to hunt and kill the dogs, the fox saves them, hunter falls off mountain and dies. In the longer take, you see the helicopters flying around looking for the dogs and you see a mutilated body, the hunter, and you are to assume the dogs ate the guy (though never said but slightly implied in both versions). Another crucial difference is (if you've seen the shorter version), you don't hear the end theme song over the opening credits like in the cut version. *BIG SPOILER ALERT*Another "hmm" moment is the ending. For those that know the book ended on a happy and sad note. Author wanted a down ending and the publisher said you can't do that, author said yes I can, long story short, the book ends with the dogs drowning. At which point the author has a "Conversation" with the reader in a type of poem rarely used for and it basically says, "here's your happy ending" and we read ending #2 where all is well.The movie does and does not do that,At the end of the flick the dogs swim away because the smaller dog wants to swim to an island for dogs. It is in this swim he tires and comes the realization there is no island and the other dog Rowf says, "yes there is, look, there it is! Our Island!" and the audience realizes they are swimming to their death into the fog and as credits roll, you kind of see what looks like a mountain/land.Longer version, same set up, however the mist slowly falls away and you see what you see in the credits of the shortened version. So was Richard Adams intention of a double meaning done in the longer version but sort of pushed to his original version for not a happy ending from the end of the book, that is for the viewer to decide. I'll be honest, when I watch the shorter version I think one way and when I watch the longer version, I tend to believe they may live, but then again, you never know.All in all, Plague Dogs is a very good film that I have seen people actually say, "hit me right in the gut." People that would never show emotion period.Also, until rights holders decide who and when can release a proper special edition without wanting too much money the Optimum DVD is the best one to get from Amazon or Amazon seller. Just make sure you have a DVD Player or a Blu-Ray Player that can play multi-regioned DVD's and convert PAL to NTSC if you are in the states (same with Blu-Ray player, an all zone player usually covers the bases).

Could not watch the DVD on an Australian DVD player or computer. I had also made sure that I ticked 'delivers from Australia only' but some reason Amazon site ignored that.