***^Hatchi: A Dog’s tale (2009)

***^Hatchi: A Dog’s tale (2009)  This is based on a true Japanese story.  This is a very good dog story about a loyal dog.  A dog that is in the habit of meeting his master (Richard Gere) every day when he comes home on the train.  This habit carries on after his master dies from a heart attack.  Even to the point that he leaves the home of the his master's children, to return to the train station to continue his vigil. 

At Theaters: ***^ A Dog’s Journey

***^ A Dog’s Journey   In the case it is actually dogs with the same spirit.  The dog, Bailey (Josh Gad) belongs to Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and Hannah (Marg Helgenberger) is tasked to care for Ethan’s granddaughter when circumstances cause them to be separated.  In fact there are several versions of the dog, who keep being born in different dog bodies.  Some of them actually live with the granddaughter, CJ (Kathryn Prescott) and some have this as their goal but do not meet up for whatever reason.  One version the dog is trained in detecting cancer.  This is useful in another version as CJ’s friend Trent (Henry Lau) has undetected cancer.  The early intervention saves his life, and they become partners.  Finally CJ makes her way back to her grandparents (mother had lied, saying they took her money and kicked them out).  The reunion is doubly confirmed as CJ’s dog knows the same trick the original dog use to do.  Very touching.  Lots of jumping from one dog to another kept together by the same voice. 

In Theaters: ***^ A Dog’s Way Home (2019)

***^ A Dog’s Way Home (2019)  I was really looking forward to this movie, but must admit some where along the way, with the long journey home, it became a bit boring.  The journey took more than two years and allowed our puppy hero to raise a mountain lion, and then be saved by the same mountain lion.  Big Kitty he was called.  Denver must have some pretty restrictive dog regulations, and any three people can certify a dog as a pit bull whether it is or not.  A pit bull cannot be on the streets.  Bryce Dallas Howard voices the dog, Bella.  Her person is Lucas (Jonah Hauer-King).  Bella is loved by the veterans where Lucas works, but is forced to New Mexico by the Denver laws.  From there she makes her long journey.  Wes Studi plays a cameo as a police captain who intervenes in the arrest of a dog.

Disney Movie Review: **** Old Yeller

This is the classic movie of a boy and his dog.  Travis (Tommy Kirk) is the man of the house, as his father (Fess Parker) goes on a cattle drive.  A stray dog comes on the scene causing a heap of trouble the first day his father is gone.  His younger brother (Kevin Corcoran) insists the dog is his.  At first Travis doesn't like the dog; but mother (Dorothy McGuire) insists that the keep the dog for his younger brother, Arliss.  Travis learns to love the dog, as he is a true cattle dog and saves Arliss from a bear, Travis from a from a new mother cow, and from the hogs.  Trouble brews the the dogs rightful owner (Chuck Connor) comes to claim him.  However Arliss is so intent on keeping the dog, the visitor trades the dog for a meal.  However there is "Hypothermy" [rabies] in the country.  In saving the family from a wolf, Old Yeller is infected.  A humorous aside is the character of Bud Searcy (Jeff York).  He instructs his daughter in gathering corn, "Make sure you get ears what is sweet and juicy."