Product Details

• Actors: Thora Birch, Vincent Kartheiser, Dirk Benedict, Charlton Heston, Duncan Fraser
• Directors: Fraser Clarke Heston
• Writers: Andy Burg, Scott Myers
• Producers: Andy Burg, Carol Fuchs, Gordon Mark, John Stronach
• Format: Subtitled, Closed-captioned, Color, Full Screen
• Language: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Turner Home Ent
• DVD Release Date: September 3, 2002
• Run Time: 109 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000069I1L
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,343 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Director Fraser Heston captures the danger and beauty of Alaska in this adventurous family film about two kids who embark on a very personal rescue mission. Former 747 pilot Jake Barnes (Dirk Benedict) moved away from a fast-paced Chicago lifestyle with his two children, Jessie and Sean, after the death of his wife. While daughter Jessie thoroughly enjoys and excels in her new surroundings, son Sean's moodiness and homesickness escalates. One stormy night Jake's small plane crashes during an emergency flight, leaving him stuck on a treacherous cliff with a broken leg and no radio. The local search and rescue team soon gives up, prompting Sean and Jessie to kayak, hike, canoe, and rappel their way over many lush and snowy miles to save their dad.

Younger kids will enjoy the antics of Cubby, the baby polar bear who befriends the youthful trekkers and eventually leads them to their father. They'll also enjoy the good-natured sibling rivalry between the tough but tender-hearted Jessie (Thora Birch of Now and Then) and Sean (Vincent Kartheiser of The Indian in the Cupboard) and a chance to hiss at the two evil poachers (including the director's father, Charlton Heston). Parents, on the other hand, may feel compelled to explain etiquette around wild animals, the dangers of hypothermia, and how to pack for a long hike. But the scenic Cook's tour of Alaska and British Columbia makes some of these otherwise corny elements tolerable to grown-ups. --Liane Thomas

Product Description
Two teenagers journey into the Alaskan wilderness to rescue their father, a bush pilot whose plane has crashed.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good movie with great visuals, December 5, 2000

By	retrowens (Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Alaska (1996) (Slip) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I can't believe that "Alaska" isn't getting better reviews than it is. A movie doesn't have to be one of the best ever to be a great movie. I thought it was a good all around movie. Two teens go on a search for their father after his plane crashes and the police show that they're not willing to search for him as much as the kids think they should be. Along the way, the kids run into poachers and they find a friendly polar bear that follows them the rest of the way trying to protect them. They have to find their father and then figure out a way to rescue him.

"Alaska" works well as a good adventure movie and it realistically shows family drama at the beginning of the movie. Surprisingly, parts of it such as when the kids are trying to save their dad, are even exciting. All the way through the movie you'll see spectacular scenery, which goes along great with the plot. Myself, I liked "Alaska" and I don't see why a lot of people don't like it that much, except for maybe that they're expecting too much from the movie. Just don't watch "Alaska" and expect it to be like a movie blockbuster, just watch it like it's a regular Tv movie, and you should like it pretty well. I recommend this movie for anybody.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Predictable and unbelievable at the same time, November 30, 2003

By	Karen Potts (Lake Jackson, Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This movie tells the story of two young people, Jessie and Sean, who have moved to Alaska with their father after their mother's death. Jessie is making the best of the move, but Sean is very unhappy that he has been uprooted from his home in Chicago. When their father's plane crashes during what was to have been a routine flight, Jessie and Sean decide to rescue him. What follows is totally unbelievable, but there is some exciting action during the rescue and the scenery is spectacular. Mostly designed as a children's movie, the scenery is probably the best part for adults.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Alaska : Decent Adventure Fare, January 18, 2005

By	Yendor "sknayfan" (Gilroy, CA United States) - See all my reviews

ALASKA is a good ol', straight forward, adventure film reminiscent of the type of programming shown on THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY tv anthology show back in the 60's and 70's. Good,solid, family entertainment with great location shots of the Alaskan wilderness. While delivering supplies, bush pilot Jake Barnes' (Dirk Benedict) plane is downed during a snow storm. Then, his son and daughter, Sean and Jessie, (Vincent Kartheiser and Thora Birch) take it upon themselves to find him and trek through the remote Alaskan wilderness and rivers. They run into two poachers (Perry and Ben) and let loose an illegally captive baby polar bear. The cub immediately 'adopts' the two kids as his new friends and follows them on their trek. Not too complicated, but entertaining nontheless with some narrow escapes and decent action sequences along with some light emotional scenes. Good to see actor Dirk Benedict (A-TEAM, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) doing some work along with veteran Charlton Heston in an uncharacteristic villian role as one of the poachers. He's probably in the film because his son Fraser C. Heston directed.