Customer Reviews

Grey Owl [VHS]

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a film that ended up being shown on airplane flights and rented out in video stores. Sad, because though it might not have been noticed in cinemas, Grey Owl is a well-made, well-told interesting story that is acted to perfection by Pierce Brosnan. This is one of those smaller films that really stays with you.

Grey Owl is based on an real-life story of a native guide in the Canadian wilderness. An early conservationist, he struggled to get the public's attention to the loss of many of Canada's wild animals such as the beaver. But Grey Owl had a secret that, when discovered, threatens to derail his crusade to save the native Canadians and the wilderness.

This movie is about all that and much more. Grey Owl is fascinating, complex person, and Brosnan's acting brings him to life incredibly well. Don't miss it.

I rented this video on a whim; I'd never heard of Grey Owl and had more than a little difficulty picturing Pierce Brosnan as a believable Indian. I was transfixed by the story of Grey Owl, and pleasantly surprised by Brosnan's excellent portrayal of this complicated but important figure in conservation. It's a movie I've since purchased, and one I enjoy every time I watch it. Having done a fair amount of reading of Grey Owl's works after my first viewing, I've learned this is a moderately accurate portrayal of a complicated figure. It doesn't reveal all of his warts, but the focus of this film is rightly not just Grey Owl as a person, but his conversion and ultimate contribution to conservation. The public has a tendency to view heroes (or anyone) in black and white terms, and is notoriously uni-dimensional in their views of such people. Grey Owl (ironically, given his name) suffered that same fate. It's a story well worth watching and watching again. The cinematography alone is a treat for the eyes.

Pierce Brosnan is very good in the title role, and newcomer Annie Galipeau is delightful as his young wife.
The film makers squeeze every ounce of drama out of Grey Owl's life. The dvd comes with a clutch of short interviews with cast and crew, a short "On Location With" video and, most delightfully, two 10-minutes films featuring the real Grey Owl, made in the 1930s.
A pleasant enough film with some moving scenes between Galipeau and Brosnan, although non-environmentalists may ask what all the fuss is about..

I must admit that when I first saw this DVD jacket at a video store I scoffed at it. Pierce Brosnan play an Native American? Yeah, right. Last night I was just about to go to bed and this movie came on. I said to myself, I've got to see this. As I watched I became intrigued by the subtle hint that something was amiss about the Grey Owl character. It was very late at night, but I was not sleepy because this movie is incredible.

This is a moving story based on the actual life of Archibald Stansfeld Belaney. It is very well acted, written and directed. If you know nothing about the life of Archie Grey Owl, you will be amazed. There are some scenes in this movie that are very touching and powerful. For example, when Pony falls through the ice and Grey Owl rescues her. Also, when Grey Owl tells Pony his secret, her reaction is heart warming and powerful. To reveal too much about the story line is to spoil the film for someone unfamiliar with the life of a very interesting man.

I watch a lot of movies and this one is really very good; and certainly worth the $8.99 asking price, in my opinion. As for the DVD, I do not have it. Based on the other reviews, there are 2 10 minute inteviews with the real Grey Owl; and to me, this is enough to purchase the DVD.

Pure poetry in motion is Richard Attenborough's GREY OWL, a beatifully acted and filmed true account story. Although some may consider Pierce Brosnan an aquired taste, here he taps into the talent he displayed years ago in an early John McTiernan film - NOMADS. Not only does Brosnan rely on the 'less is more' fundamentals - he also seems to color the character of Archie Grey Owl(a man with a past) with a pathos seldom seen by todays top box office male stars. As for Attenborough's direction - it to is careful, deliberate and completely poetic. As he did in CHAPLIN, Attenborough incorporates vintage footage into the story to create a perfect 'true story' feel. The Canadian backdrop is filmed with a glorious reverence. Nothing is pompous or 'lugubrious' about this film, as another reviewer stated. Instead, the thrust of this picture is one of heartfelt grandure -- told with a very delicate hand with extremely convincing performances all around. Sure there is a subplot - but it takes the viewer on a journey with the character and provides ample emotion and tension. Annie Galipeau plays a young modern native Canadian, who sees in Archie a chance to connect to ancient roots and feelings. She brings to her character a sense of passion for things only known as legend and provides a soothing metaphor for Brosnans hiddeness and angst. A scene involving Grey Owl and the elders of several Indian Nations hits with such force it invokes emotion not seen much in todays multi-plex market. Although this film seems to have gone straight to the shelves -- it seems far more worthy of a big screen outing than so many other lesser and far more cliched efforts.

Not the typical film you expect to see with action and complex plots, and this film will not appeal to most who are not interested in environmental causes or Native Americans. However, slow as it is, it is well done and well acted, and I can see how Pierce Brosnan resembles the real Archie Belaney now that I have seen his picture online. A sleeper that will only be precious to a few, but if you are one of those, check this film out!

When I first sat down to watch GREY OWL, I thought to myself, "You've got to be kidding. Pierce Brosnan as an Indian?". It didn't seem to fit. Of course, I grew up watching Brosnan as Remmington Steele so him in any role other than one of class seems out of place. However, as I was swept into the world of the movie, I actually began to believe that Brosnan was Grey Owl, aka Archie. He seemed a little different than other Native-Americans, but not so different that he seemed totally out of place. By the time the movie ended and after I had done a little research about Grey Owl, I felt Brosnan had done a wonderful job and had been perfectly cast.

GREY OWL is a film directed by Sir Richard Attenborough and tells part of the story of Grey Owl, aka Archie, a Canadian Indian who began a conservation crusade to protect the native wildlife of Canada in the early twentieth century. However, Grey Owl has a secret that once revealed threatens everything he has fought to perserve.

The movie itself is engaging and has a great story to tell. It's filled with beautiful images of nature and has a strong message. GREY OWL is a film that is often overlooked, but after watching it, I am reminded that not all gems sparkle like gold.

You cannot determine whether to laugh or cry. I guarantee you will do both. I love this movie and would recommend to the highest!!

Grey Owl is a wonderful film that makes you laugh and makes you cry by showing both humor and deep emotion. The star of the film, Pierce Brosnan, is a great actor with wonderful talent and comedic timing as well as his co-star Ann Gilpeau. Pierce has succeeded not only as a marvelous actor, but as a great producer also. As producer AND star of the film "Grey Owl" I think he did a more than wonderful job (as always) and if you haven't seen Pierce in much or if you are a fan I suggest you see this movie. It really is a touching story.

I didn't know much about the story of Grey Owl much less that this story was a true one! I just bought it since I'm so much into indiginous people's history and stories and this didn't disappoint in the least!

The story is a true one of an Englishman that moved to Canada at an early age and took on the role of a people he was fascinated with and becomes a trapper. He later grudgingly finds a special person who helps him strive to be more and he becomes one of our first environmentalists. I normally don't like to tell the story or give much away but I feel this is essential so you know what you are getting. In addition, many may wonder why in the heck Pierce Brosnan is playing the role of a Native American like I did!

The message is a great one and despite the deception, Grey Owl's story is an extraordinary one. The DVD is excellent as it has some historical film you can view of the real Grey Owl in the earlier part of the last century. That alone makes this DVD an exception purchase.

I wholeheartedly recommend it but cannot give 5 stars as I don't see it best in class for it's genre. However, it's among the better ones I've encountered for sure! It's an excellent addition to my DVD collection.