Has anyone here seen the film, "Hachi"?

[closeupready]

I loved reading about this true story in news reports about other similar animal companions, but I was so disappointed when I streamed the film on Netflix. For a few reasons, but before I say why, just curious about others' thoughts.

[gaspee]

1. I've seen it

It was filmed in my state and my friend bred the Shiba puppies that played Hachi as a puppy.

I thought it went too far from the original story for my tastes.

If you like that kind of movie, try looking for Mari and The Three Puppies -- fantastic movie (it's in Japanese with English subtitles)

[closeupready]

2. "too far from the original" - yes, that sums up my point well.

Too much dramatic license, and the anthropomorphization of Hachi was so saccharine.

By that I mean, okay, so we have a male dog who loves the character played by Richard Gere. About midway through the film, we have an isolated, 15 second segment where a fluffy poodle is made to prance about in Hachi's face, and the dog portraying Hachi has been trained to feign interest, as if to say to viewers, 'hachi and gere may both have penises, but hachi was straight'.

I found that bit gratuitous and, frankly, sickening.

It was also a story done up way too much like a greeting card.

[3catwoman3]

3. I have, and found it quite touching.

I have not read the book, so had no expectations of the movie. What did you not like?

(I typed my post but forgot to hit send until just a moment ago, so you have already answered - never mind. I do not remember the poodle scene at all.)

[gaspee]

4. If I didn't know the original story

I would probably have liked it a little more. But I know the original story and I live with Japanese dogs and they don't act like that. But movies have to be more dramatic than reality, I suppose.

If you liked Hachi, you'd probably love Tale Of Mari And The Three Puppies

I'm pretty sure it can be found on Veoh and maybe even YouTube by now. It's in Japanese with English subtitles.