Hachi: A Dog’s Tale – Review

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16 comments Jan 13, 2010  |   Posted by in Domestic Film Reviews

Home  \  Hachi: A Dog’s Tale – Review

Hachi: A Dog’s Tale is a tear-jerker about a lovable dog which are almost always box office winners as Marley & Me proved last year. Hachi is a drama based on the true story of a college professor’s bond with the abandoned dog he takes into his home.  It’s an American take on the story of Hachiko – the famous Akita from Japan who continued to come to meet his master at the train even 9 years after his death. There’s a statue memorializing the dog in Japan where it’s a well known story. Those who know the legend will realize where the story is heading, but it plays out effectively because Hallstrom handles the tear jerking moments discreetly.

Hachi is a loving but willful companion. For instance, he refuses to play fetch, despite Parker’s many training attempts. He also ignores his master’s instruction not to follow him to the train station for work every day. He even shows up again promptly at 5 p.m. to wait for Parker to step off the train again. One of the things that sets this movie apart from the other movies that involve animals is how they stuck to reality instead of throwing in some hard to believe elements here and there just to make it more entertaining. Unlike other Japanese remakes, this movie actually gives credit to the original story so that you don’t get the sense that Hollywood wants to call it its own. All the actors in the movie do a superb job in making you feel as if you were a part of the community embracing the dog.

I don’t think I’m giving anything away in saying that Richard gere’s character, Parker, dies about two-thirds of the way through the film — after all, it’s the dog’s behavior after his master’s death that made his story so unforgettable. When I looked around the theater though, every single person was crying and I saw a lot of red eyes as I left the Men’s restroom. The film really amps up the pulling of heartstrings at this point, as the dog continues his increasingly grim journey to the train station every afternoon, eternally hopefully that his master will greet him again. However, it’s also a heartwarming tale of loyalty, about how people and dogs are more than just friends and, I guess most of all, about how a dog’s love for its master never fades.

Richard Gere was fantastic in this movie, he bonded really well with the dog and it never felt like watching an actor at all, it genuinely seemed to be a movie with his own dog. Hachi is a film without explosions, computer graphics, and violence. A family film with a message. Of course, this might not attract everybody, providing that majority of movie audience today is highly dependent on fast paced, action packed scenes, and aggressive, often rude highlights of any other nature. However, for those who can do without it, and keep alive their interest even in a simple story, who won’t shy away from emotional involvement, they shall easily find themselves consumed by its mere beauty and warmth. But it is the pacing which most cripples the film. At least a dozen slow fade blackouts exaggerate the emotional side of the film, thus, lessening the impact. The passage of time is portrayed very poorly, with nearly 15 years passing and few physical alterations made in any human character. These are just small nitpicks though in an otherwise great film.



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  • http://hagiblog.wordpress.com hagiblog

    Man, I don’t think I could sit through that. Remember the Littlest Hobo? The ending always made me cry when I was a kid. The dog walking off by himself and the sad music playing. The last thing I need around here is for both my girlfriend and I to be in tears watching a movie!

  • http://hagiblog.wordpress.com hagiblog

    Oh and just so you know man, I’m tagging you with a Kreativ Blogger award on my site. I’d do it just for the graphics alone over here but I’m also a big fan of the reviews! HAHA! Keep up the good work man.

    http://hagiblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/13/kreativ-blogger-awards/

  • http://notouchi.wordpress.com notouchi

    I was nearly crying reading the review….and then I watched the clip….It just wouldn’t stop. I don’t think my cats would be waiting for me when I got home from work. However they did poop all over my house when I got back from a 3 day trip -to show their love and that they missed me. Anyways good review don’t know if I’m going to be watching it tho I think I’d start crying as soon as I see the opening title. :S

  • http://japancinema.net Cello

    haha! Well maybe you should show your cats this movie so they know how to properly greet their owner when they come home :P ~

  • Princess: Pets Are Forever

    Just watching the Trailer of this Movie “Hachi” and discovering that this really did happened by Seeing the real picture of “Hachi” and by reading his story on “Wikipedia” has really touched my heart and made my eyes water. It had also reminded me about my Husky mix named “Princess” whom before she passed away – Always used to wait for us at the door and would wait for us to get back. This movie shows all of us what a strong bond us humans can easily have with animals especailly if they are our pets – and how Loyal our Pets are with us !:)
    This movie really deserve an Oscar Award !

  • Jennifer Hayes

    I think the movie was definitely a winner. I loved it so much. My students also loved it. Is it possible for me to get a worksheet about the movie for my students. We all loved it.

    When I got home, I hugged my dog so much. I think she thought that I had lost it. Smile!!!!!!!!

  • MissMyDirtBall

    I was really touched while reading the story. I then was a basket case watching the clip. No doubt they are men’s best friends, including cats. It makes me miss my beloved cat of 16.5 years, Dirtball. He and Mimi (18.5 still going strong) would sit by the door when I come home. Or, I would see them running toward to the door and greet me just like dogs. I would be watching TV or minding my own business while they would sit on my laps and stare at me with unconditional love. Thanks for the article and sharing the clip. It’s very beautiful. Thanks again.

  • http://www.globetel.com.ph Genie(Doydz)

    WOW! so nice movie i do love it… I missed my dog too… I keep on crying while watching… huhuhu…

  • Bettia’

    This one one of the greatest movies of all time. The tears will surely flow. Even if you are not a dog lover, you will really enjoy this movie. Hachi was so smart and loyal to his master. He knew he would see him again, finally after 9 long years of waiting and Hachi grew old and weary. His master finally stepped off the train and called him on home. I can see them playing and walking around in heaven now.

    My dog Jazzy was loyal to me, she always waited in a certain spot for me to come home, so I can relate. Always greeted me with a kiss. I had my little poodle for 10 beautiful years. Whenever, I left the house I would always say Momma will be back.

    Jazzy bought so much joy and unconditional love into my life and I miss her dearly. My husband and I cried so much through this movie because it reminded us of our little Jazzy. Our son who is 25 cannot bring himself to watching this movie. Hopefully one day when the time is right he will.

    My hats off to you and the crew for a job well done, Congratulations!

    We love you Jazzy (RIP)

  • Tyrone

    Jazzy, was my dog too. I cried through this movie. My daughter sent Jazzy to my wife as a Christmas gift. She flew HER from Carolina to Mississippi. I had a fit because I did not want a dog period and definitely did not want one in the house.

    Of course all of that changed quickly. She became a family member. Jazzy watched TV with me every day in the same spot on that sofa for 10 years. Everyday around the same time for 10 years I would come home and let her out and give her a snack. i REALLY MISS MY JAZZY. I retired last June, 2009. The last picture on my retirement video was me little girl Jazzy in that same spot watching TV. Jazzy died in November 2009. I cried harder when my dog died than my own dad. Jazzy death was so sudden, she was never sick. I suspect a heart attack. Jazzy loved riding in cars. She took her last fast ride when my son and I tried to make it to the hospital at 3a.m. in the morning with her. Jazzy died in my son’s lap. Oh man, wow did we cry. I always called Jazzy my little daughter. she really act as though she was human. Jazzy knew she was loved by everybody.

    Hachi grieved for his master and could not let go.

    Hachi and Jazzy (RIP) GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!

  • http://japancinema.net cello85

    Thank you both for sharing your stories about Jazzy, I too, had lost a dog that I had for 16 years. I can’t bring myself to talk about it so I applaude your courage. Thanks again for sharing.

  • Joanne Marie Valentine

    Good Lord! I was bawling just watching the film clip how am I ever going to sit through the film? Made me look at my faithful little fella sitting here right beside me and decide to take him for a walk.

  • Zerah

    Seriously, I watched this movie on my flight coming back from Hong Kong. It is a warm heartfelt movie and I cried throughout my flight, sniffling shamelessly. I have 2 babies of my own which I love dearly. They wait for me each day to come back from work, I cook dinner and we share…safer to give them steam meats mixed with their dog biscuit than giving them commercial treats.

    This is a really good movie for dog lovers or potential ones out there. Great job done!

  • dfirefox83

    I have been wanting to watch this film and before the release, I read about Gere acting in this film. I was disappointed when this film didn’t play in my neighborhood theatre and so I had to either wait for a DVD release or hope I don’t remember to catch it online or something. I knew the movie would be good as it is based on a pretty heartwarming legend about a bond between man and man’s best friends. Definitely gotta watch this…

  • http://animebestseller.com Naruto Anime

    Interesting relation between an human and a dog. The actor seems the have liked to play with an animal during setting. Well we must not forget that we are all animals.

  • Angela

    Where can I buy this movie dubbed in Japanese?  I found it dubbed in Japanese on-line on video but I need the DVD. Help!



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