Star Rating: 4 stars
(for Star Rating key: https://madtimemama.wordpress.com/mama-and-papa-movie-reviews/)
We have been wanting to see this movie ever since we heard about it. Really and truly, my husband and I will watch anything with Liam Neeson. He’s one of our favorites and one of our favorite Jedis! If you are expecting any kind of quick witted humor or fast talk, this isn’t the movie for you. If you are down with raw human emotion and action sequences with bad ass wolves, then you will love this movie.
Side note: Is it just me? Or ever since Natasha Richardson (Neeson’s wife) died abruptly, Liam Neeson has THROWN himself into work. I hear he is dating and quite possibly engaged. Still, (and it may just be me) I sense a bit of sadness in him and detect it in every movie since the death of his wife. I love you Liam.
Back to the movie. Neeson’s character, Ottway, is a loner in the Alaska frontier as a wolf killer along a pipeline. From the very beginning, Ottway shows great respect towards the wolves even down to the last battle. After his plane crashes in the Alaska wilderness, he and the other survivors must work with each other to get back to civilization. As the wolves defeat the survivors one by one, we see who the Alpha is and who is the weakest link. Classic tale of survival of the fittest between humans and wolves.
This movie caused quite a bit of a stir due to the portrayal of the Grey wolves. Environmental and animal activists got their panties in a wad due to thinking the film depicts wolves in a negative light, specifically at a time when gray wolves had recently been removed from the Endangered Species List in many western American states. Did these people even watch this movie? I, for one, LOVE wolves. They are amazing creatures—the ultimate hunter. I have to say, after watching the movie, I thought the movie showed great parallels between the human race and the wolves in their natural habitat. Sure, we see wolves hunt and attack the humans in this movie. Still, it’s not like if we were in the wild, they would be singing Kum-ba-Yah around the campfire with us. How is this movie depicting them in a negative light? The humans are in THEIR territory. What are they supposed to do? They show great skill as hunters. Also, I would think this brings great attention to the wolves. It got me thinking of the wolf sanctuary in West Yellowstone, Montana. If you ever get a chance to go there, please do. It’s incredible! They also have Grizzly Bears! Click this link: http://www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.com/
Look how awesome the Alpha wolf looks in the film:
Poem from The Grey:
Once more into the fray.
Into the LAST GOOD fight I’ll ever know.
Live and die on this day.
Live and die on this day.
Quote from husband: “In exactly five seconds, I will start beating the shit out of you.”
Quote from me: “It’s Liam Neeson people. Do what he says and you’ll live longer.”
Mad Time Mama! 
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