Adapted from the classic book “The Call of the Wild,” 20th Century Fox has brought the adventures of Buck, a dog who is always looking for new adventures, to the big screen. Buck leaves his California home for Alaska during the gold rush in the 1890s. During this, Buck continually crosses paths with John Thornton (Harrison Ford), a man looking for something that has been missing from his life. Little does he know, Buck is what he has been searching for. “The Call of the Wild” shows the power of what “man’s best friend” truly is.

This movie is amazing. The CGI work brings the main character Buck to life. Buck is incredibly realistic and at some points, I wasn’t able to tell if he was CGI or a real dog. The special effects and CGI work does an excellent job at creating environments that pull the audience in. The northern lights are very beautiful and realistic whenever they are shown. The cinematography also allows for a captivating experience. The use of wide, long, medium and panoramic shots is done without flaws. The score is also an excellent aspect of this film; it immerses the audience into the film’s world, assists in provoking emotion and sets the tone for the movie. The acting in this film is outstanding. Ford brings such power and emotion to the screen, and his character’s connection with Buck will tug at the audience’s heartstrings. Omar Sy’s character has such a realistic connection with Buck, and the characters in the film who are desperate to find gold during the gold rush show how badly wealth can corrupt people. On top of the acting, the writing is phenomenal. The ending to the movie is very emotional, bringing the entire audience to tears. The story will keep audiences on the edge of their seats until the very end. The film stays historically accurate, showing audiences that even though animal cruelty was frowned upon during this time, there were no laws against it.

“The Call of the Wild” is a masterpiece. The movie did the book justice and left me unable to say that “the book was better.” The emotional roller-coaster the movie takes the audience on keeps them invested in the movie until the end. While this film is a more serious story, there are some lighthearted moments throughout to ease the tension.

I absolutely loved this film. This is a powerful story that any dog lover should feel a connection to, and I highly recommend that everyone see this film. There is something in this movie for everyone to find enjoyment in, and this is definitely worth a trip to the movie theatre. I rate this film a five out of five tiger paws.