Dustin P (UMD)
posts on 11/11/2009 11:48:16 PM
I just watched a boy and his dog and the same thoughts came to mind as many others. The 'boy' was far from young. Even the title 'a boy and his dog' makes me think of a feel good story of two buddies making it through. The movie itself was entertaining, if not high in production value. I've never let that stop me from enjoying a movie. The question I want to post to any and all on this post is this - Did Vic do the right thing in the end? From what the movie seems to imply (" ... if not great taste") Vic killed and cooked Quilla to save Blood. Now, this is often seen as being misogynistic (thanks Wikipedia!) because of this scene. Many would argue that Quilla was evil, conniving, and power hungry, but she was still a person who probably deserved to live, or at least a chance to survive (unlikely she would have made it far). On the other hand, Blood is intelligent and has human thinking, reasoning, and communicating abilities. He obviously is as intelligent as any human he has ever encountered. I don't know the answer to this question. I would say killing a human being for a dog is wrong on all accounts, but I've never only had a dog as my only family and companion. Let alone a dog who can think, feel, love etc. I would like to hear further posters thoughts on this matter. Thanks!
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Wayne Sauer
posts on 11/6/2009 2:19:36 PM
One thing that raised a question in my mind is what kind of structure were the people down under living in? Where did they get the resources and equipment to survive underground like that? I was thinking maybe that it was a huge government bunker made in case of nuclear holocaust. Another thing to think about is if there are other bunkers like this scattered across of what’s left of the United States or even the entire world. If there are other bunkers, do they have the same governmental structure that the community of Topeka had or is it different? I guess this leads to my ultimate question on what kind of government would you think be most applicable to the people down under if you were ruling them. There is limited room with limited resources, so even though their theories of law and order are very harsh, maybe they are necessary.
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Joshua C (UMD)
posts on 11/3/2009 1:35:17 AM
This movie is actually my first venture into the post apocalyptic genre. It was not at all what I expected it to be. I thought that the boy would be younger, since in the title it’s “boy” and not “teenager.” I also thought the dog would just be a lovable sidekick, not a whiney know it all dog that can talk to Vic with telepathy. I was glad to see Vic go after Quilla when she went “down under,” because it showed he cared enough about something that he wanted it safe.
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Daniel W. - UMD
posts on 10/22/2009 10:28:14 PM
Sticking with the title, the movie follows the titular duo as they attempt to life in a world that borders on apocalyptic, containing many controversial and sometimes difficult to watch behaviors. When civilization is cast aside and things such as boundaries and laws no longer reign supreme, it is unsurprising that such a regiment of biological needs would become the new ultimatum. In the sense of content, I found the film very interesting and noteworthy. However, while it was on a budget, and while it wouldn't make sense to approach taping it in many styles besides the minimalistic vantage point, the quality of the flick as far as production values went was horrible to tolerate. I ended up adjusting the speakers several times, as well as checking the movie, before I realized that the audio -was- that fuzzy. Coupled with some awkward visuals and an almost campy atmosphere, it seemed to have absorbed a lot of the tropes of B-rated horror; a choice that I can't really agree upon when it comes to the overall product.
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Tough love
posts on 10/10/2009 1:09:05 AM
WIll UMD, I hadn't recognized the association between "I'am Legend" and "A Boy and His Dog". But not that you have mentioned it my imagination is running trying to find all of the scenes that had resembled each other. I think that the relationship between Man and Dog in both movies is which makes them great. It obvious that they are so much more than just pets but rather equals. In contrast to "I am Legend" where the dog seems to require Will Smith to survive in "A Boy and His Dog" it was a mutual relationship. Both Vic and Blood required each other for their own survival. In the final scene you see Vics desperate attempt to acknowledge that they need Blood to move on. Moreover, Blood seemed to be a father figure to Vic who seemed immature for such an environment, which Blood was able to counter his immaturity with wisdom. This offered a balance to the relationship.
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Grant - UMD
posts on 9/4/2009 8:33:13 PM
I didn't mind this movie too much. From the start, it reminded me of Mad Max and this kept my interest. However, as the movie went on, Vic's behavior and immaturity started to annoy me. I liked the setting of how the world became a dog-eat-dog society because it made some sense to me. One other thing that I disliked was the land 'down under'. I'm not sure if the make-up was intentional, or if it was an attempt to make the inhabitants look as if they haven't seen the sun in quite some time. Anyway it was supposed to be, it looked off and cheesy. I really liked how the movie ended though. I was hoping Vic would choose Blood, a trusty old friend, over Quilla, a fake and self-centered girl. Once Quilla confessed her "love" to Vic, I started to laugh once he turned his head and looked at her the way he did. I felt the ending was fitting for that story.
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Will UMD
posts on 9/2/2009 8:21:20 PM
This movie reminded me of I Am Legend with Will Smith. I found the relationship between Vic and Blood similar to that of Nevel and his dog, Sam. Both movies are set in post apocalyptic settings where the main character has only one friend left, his dog. Both Vic and Nevel care for their pet and do their best to protect and provide for them. The main difference between the two is Nevel cannot communicate telepathically with his dog. The scene that reminded me of this comparison is when Vic and Blood fight a large group of bandits and Blood helped by attacking other dogs. A very similar scene occurs in I Am Legend when Nevel and Sam are attacked by the zombies and zombie dogs.
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The commentator Nick UMD
posts on 9/1/2009 9:22:37 PM
I really enjoyed this movie, and thought that it was really interesting. I really liked the connection between Vic and Blood, and how they communicated back and for telepathically. To me the most intriguing part of this film was the bomb shelter, where there was a community that lived down there with there own set of merciless rules. It makes you think of what it would be like if there was a nuclear war, and people were forced to live under ground under there own governed cities, and what it would be like. It was interesting to see the chaos that the war had brought forth to the world, and the way that people were living. It was like they were at the beginning of civilization once again, and everyday was a fight for survival.
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Josh Sc Fi class 09
posts on 8/29/2009 1:51:34 PM
This movie was very different from anything I had ever watched before. There were many interesting aspects to explore, but the one that captured my attention and intrigued me the most was the concept of the mental telepaathy shared between the boy and his dog. I would like to know if Vic's ability to mentally communicate with Blood was something he was born with (possibly inherited) or was it developed as his friendship developed with Blood?
On the other hand,it could have just been a young man's use of his own imagination in an under stimulated society. Was this his own way of keeping his mind active and alert in such a cruel post war world where people were not so pleniful?
Maybe it was somehting born in his imagination, nurtured and believed (believing would have been very important) because he faced constant loneliness and this helped to keep him form going insane. Perhaps this was part of a madness that he already possessed. Could this truly have been mental telepathy, and if so, how could the dog communicate in our language instead of in a dog's language?
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Lindsay McSweeney UMD
posts on 8/24/2009 1:53:34 AM
I think that in the modern world that we live in today, a lot of the ways in which women were portrayed in this film were horrid, but if you consider the time this movie was made and the setting of the movie, it makes sense. I still find it horrible in my own opinion that women were used as complete objects in the "on top." One thing I found interesting however, was how "down under" women played an actual role in society. I think the concept of the film is interesting. I think that the fact that there are two completely different worlds that you could live in is an interesting choice that Vic has to make, and when he chooses to stay on top with Blood, it just shows how completely strong a bond they have.
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The commentator Dan
posts on 8/21/2009 5:50:33 PM
I agree that women were treated greatly different due to the time the movie took place. I found it very interesting though that a women was part of the committee down under. Also I thought it was smart how they used a woman to bring Vick down under which seemed to be a weak spot for him. Eventually when he realized how he was set up by Quilla he chose the dog to come with him, that way he will always have a best friend.
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Ian Floyd-UMD
posts on 8/17/2009 5:00:38 PM
After reading a number of these posts I've noticed that people's biggest problem with this movie seems to be the treatment of women in this world. The problem with all this talk is that you can't apply this forward thinking liberal thought to a post apocalyptic nuclear wasteland. When you actually stop and think about things from the perspective of the setting it makes a lot of sense that men would want women for nothing more than to satisfy primal urges. Women simply wouldn't be very useful in a world ruled by strength. Notice in the scene with the well off waste lander from whom Vic steals food from; in the scene he has a number of men, possibly slaves, doing manual labor. You don't see any women working, why, because this is work that you would want men for because they are simply stronger in every physical aspect. Women are also a liability in a world such as this. Having a woman with you is another person to feed, another person you have to watch out for during a fire fight, and most dangerous it makes you a target for raiders and other wastelanders who aren't so forward thinking. When you look at things that way you can begin to understand why the men up top view women as only a way to satisfy primal urges. As for cutting up women afterward, that seems to be something that only raiders, who are are the violent psychos of this world do.
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Josh science fiction class 09
posts on 8/16/2009 8:54:45 PM
Will you explain to me why the characters hated women so much? I don't understand, if there was such a shortage of women why were they not highly revered? You would have thought the men would have been fighting to find a woman and keep her safe not to rape and murder her.
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Fan
posts on 8/5/2009 8:37:08 PM
By far, one of the best movies of its time. A Boy and His Dog set the stage for cult classics such as Mad Max and many others. And, if you consider that it was made in 1975 on a budget of less than $50,000, a standing ovation is in order.
When viewing this film, all who posted in a negative light clearly left any objectivity at the door for you see, when viewing any movie, one needs to leave all subjectivity at the door and open their mind to the two hour escape. Many who post on this site clearly are up tight and have issues of one form or another. I suggest you not bring those issues along for the rest of us to view.
Anyway, great movie and a real career launcher for Don Jonhson playing the role of Vic. Blood was a classic smart ass and loveable at the same time. The union of Vic and Blood is strong and enduring and their never ending quest for "Over the Hill" where "they grow food from right out of the ground" is inspiring, particularly for the blight of a world they live in. As to Vic's occasional off color comments, picture yourself as a 20 something year old independent trying to survive and knowning nothing but a post apocolyptic world and I am sure similar manenrisms would naturally form. It's not like he had an option of enrolling at a local Ivy league university after all. :-)
In summary, one of the Top 10 movies of all time and the genesis for which all other post WW3 movies model themselves after. Oh and as for Quilla June, she did ultimately get what she deserved, with her final act of kindness (perhaps her only real act of kindness ever) being that of providing a weak and hungry Blood with some nourishment with which to fight another day.
Classic - 10 out of 10 stars!!!!!!!
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Stephanie R, UMD cst 3030
posts on 8/4/2009 1:36:53 AM
This movie really portrays the importance of friendship in order to survive. Vic provides food for Blood while Blood provides females for Vic to have sex with. I understand that many people who watch this movie are offended with the fact that the males after the holocaust are primarily focused on food and getting laid and that the movie objectifies women. I too am repulsed by the actions of the males in this movie, but you need to take in the context of the movie and it really quite possible be the reality of what would happen if a nuclear holocaust would occur. However, I just think that the males should have gone about the situation in a different manner. Instead of raped the females because they were so far and few between, I would like that they would want to appreciate them and have them for themselves instead of tossing them to the side later. Now back on the topic of the relationship that grew between Vic and Blood. You could tell that even though they had their moments of fighting, they really cared for each other and needed each other to survive. This was evident when Vic feeds Blood Quilla June at the end of the movie to get him back to help and keep him from dying. I have never had a dog, let alone a pet, so I personally do not understand the relationship between a “man and his dog” but Vic and Bloods was really strong. I particularly enjoyed how Blood was portrayed as the intelligent one that always wanted Vic to go over history and learn more. The author may be getting to something with this, stating that animals are smarter than humans or that in the future animals will learn to talk to humans and become much more intelligent. Vic may not have been as intelligent as Blood or have the moral and ethical values that Blood did, but he has “street smart” and knew how to survival and care for the dog after the nuclear holocaust by feeding him and fighting off the raiders. Overall, this movie was quite interesting to me. I didn’t know what to expect going into it and it was quite strange, but I kind of enjoyed watching another view point of what earth would be like after a nuclear war. It was a decent movie.
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suhon003@UMD
posts on 7/23/2009 1:11:11 PM
I would have to disagree 100% with one post. Yes, women being raped happens everyday in the world we live in and that our human instincts are to survive but our survival is for mating, not raping because we need to get laid! The women in this film were living in fear and WERE treated with such disregard and were just a “tool” if you will for the man. And I found it completely appalling that Vic was upset that they basically “wasted” a women because she could have been used again. The thought of having to endure daily raping, I would rather be killed the first time instead of living through that horror each day. Women in this film are completely dispensable and the message I got was that women in general are only good for two things: sex and reproducing and there is no point of wasting resources or time on them.
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The commentator Eric
posts on 7/22/2009 8:01:00 PM
I think the main storyline of this movie is quite funny. Ultimately Vic has to choose between his dog and his 'girlfriend' and he chooses his dog. I know things were a little different when this movie takes place, meaning women are looked at basically as something that man can mate with, but I just think it is funny that he chooses a dog over a human being.
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baxte076 @ UMD
posts on 6/24/2009 10:14:01 PM
This was definitely an interesting and unique movie. It seems that nuclear explosions are a common theme in science fiction movies that depict the future. A lot of the explosion and war history was left a mystery though. It seemed like people were sparsely located after the war, hinting that that there weren't many people left alive. But then Blood spoke of the place Over the Hill, where food and more people could be found. It just seemed odd to me that Vic would not want to follow Blood's idea and go searching for this area. Instead, he just stayed around the same desolate desert scavenging for food and endangering himself. Throughout the whole movie, Blood kept keeping him safe, finding him a women, and eventually almost dying for Vic. It seemed that throughout the movie, Vic became more and more trustworthy of Blood through all of Blood's good deeds. Finally at the end, Vic realized how deep their friendship was and wanted to trust Blood one more time by letting him bring him Over the Hill.
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The commentator duns0025 UMD
posts on 6/24/2009 1:10:21 AM
Everybody keeps commenting on how brutaly the women were treated. Maybe this is a poor assumption but people don't seem to realize that this same kind of thing goes on all the time around us. Not that it should not be shocking but it is something that happens today. I think the movie is trying to pull out the underlying roots of our existence and survival: food and mating! Although I do agree if you found a woman wouldn't you want to keep her completely intact so that you could continue to mate with her. Although if you can't feed her and yourself you will leave after making whoopee anyway. Vic expressed his frustration at one point when he was asking why they had to cut her up so bad because she could have been used again. So I think he had the same sentiment. I think the last scene of the movie sums up the entire attitude of the day, when Vic cooks Quilla June for Blood to eat. Humans aren't even all that human and a good dog is definitely worth more than a woman. A dog can find you more women but the women will only just eat the food that you don't have.
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Laura F (UMD)
posts on 6/5/2009 1:10:21 PM
Like many others, I was completely taken aback when I watched this film. I could not believe the crude way in which women were treated. It shocked me, disgusted me and took away from the film. I found it hard to focus on the story when all I could keep thinking about was how horrible the treatment of women was. I found myself wishing that the director had toned this down just a bit so that it was not quite such a distraction. That said however, the film definitely displayed a deep interpersonal connection between Vic and Blood and I appreciated the sharp contrast between just using women and sustaining a friendship that was illustrated. I only wished that the depiction of women had not been so vulgar and explicit. I not only found the treatment of women shocking but also the overbearing theme of extreme violence in the film to be disconcerting. It seemed like practically every scene involved violence of some sort whether it be with the roverpaks or against women. Despite the fact that the violence in the film was an ever-present component and was difficult to watch at times, I enjoyed the idea that we humans could return to a very primal state of being in the aftermath of nuclear destruction. This is an interesting idea because it is similar to the world depicted in Canticle for Leibowitz except in this depiction life seems much more hopeless. The primal urges for sex and aggression rule and dictate what the above grounders do and they rely on dogs who are superior in intelligence and emotional capacity to help them. I think this film definitely pushes us to think about protecting and preserving what we have now so that this harsh depiction of life does not even come close to coming true.
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