I love films like this. Films that try to put a positive spin on animals and many of the misconceptions that humans have towards them. Silver Wolf is a film that has it's heart in the right place. It is a good film with two film giants from days past. It is also a film that has a conscience and for that I really like it.
First I want to comment on the casting of the film. You have to like a film that has Reese and Martin Brody in a film together. Michael Biehn and Roy Scheider play the two lead adults in the film and it is fun to see two guys that were in two of the biggest film franchises ever, square off. I can't help it, every time I see Scheider I expect him to say " You're going to need a bigger boat. " But in here he plays a nasty man that seems to hunt wolves just because he can. He really is a bad man just for the sake of the movie needing a bad man. I didn't really understand his reasons for hating wolves in the first place but it's okay here because there is so much to like about the film that small things like that are easily overlooked.
The other two leads in the film are Jesse Meier as the young nephew of Biehn and Kimberly Warnat as Scheider's daughter. They are both quite good in their roles and I have to say that Warnat is quite the looker. Her beauty was one of the reasons that kept me watching the film when it was on viewers choice. After looking at her filmography in the IMDb you can see that she hasn't done a lot as of yet but I think she will become a star one day. She is a very good actress and she will continue to grow physically as well. Sorry if that sounds incredibly sexist, but hey, sue me, I'm a guy.
Silver Wolf has some incredible photography and it's choreographed snowboarding scenes are breathtaking and quick paced. But what I enjoyed most about the film was the relationship with Meier and the young wolf. The wolf takes to him after a while and they develop an honest friendship. When it is time for the wolf to go home to his family you are almost sad to see him go. But then to see a wild animal that was captive become free, well that makes the movie so much better. Silver Wolf has great intentions and it is entertaining. I think kids will like this movie but if you are a sucker for animals as beautiful as this, then you ( adults that is ) will probably enjoy it as well.
And remember, watch for the name Kimberly Warnat in the future, she will go on to do bigger films, I'm almost sure of it.
