Shiloh 2: Shiloh Season Reviewed by Eugene Novikov http://www.ultimate-movie.com Member: Online Film Critics Society
*** out of four
Starring Zachary Browne, Michael Moriarty, Rod Steiger, Scott Wilson. Rated PG.
Have parents not complained about the current lack of wholesome family entertainment? Have critics not bashed the film industry for not putting out movies that can entertain children without bombarding them with high-tech special effects? They have, making the fact that Shiloh 2: Shiloh Season wasn't a box office hit all the more a surprise. It went nowhere during its admittedly limited theatrical release which signifies a certain hypocrisy on the part of some parents: how can they rant that there isn't anything good for their children to watch and then when something good hits the screens not seek it out?
Shiloh Season is based on the novel of the same name by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and it is a sequel to Shiloh, likewise both a novel and a movie. The first film had little Marty Preston attempting to save a mistreated beagle from Judd Travers, its cruel owner and the town drunk. He managed to get the dog and keep it but Judd isn't over it yet. He wants revenge and he wants the dog back.
Marty, I suspect, would rather give away his little sister than his beloved beagle so to him, giving the dog back to Judd to avoid trouble is out of the question. He blatantly refuses and his father (Michael Moriarty) supports him. But Judd isn't ready to give up so easily. He begins to blame Marty for various things that mysteriously happen around his residence, such as his mailbox being knocked over, his truck getting scratched and his dogs being set loose and biting Marty's sister. Marty insists that he didn't do any of those things; we, along with his parents, believe him.
Marty wants to see if he can change Judd; make him a better person by being nice to him. That's a refreshingly simple concept: here is a person deeply scarred by events of his childhood, so what better way is there to change him than to show him compassion? A little kindness, as opposed to a lot of therapy, goes a long way.
Inspector Gadget this ain't. In fact, Shiloh Season has an almost frustratingly no-frills attitude; in part, I'm sure, because of its limited budget but also because it is interested in emphasizing good values rather than cool effects. That's not to say that it doesn't entertain in the process: kids will love it and adults who allow themselves to be won over by it should not be squirming in their seats. It's a family film, not a kid flick; a movie that might be targeted at the young ones but can be enjoyed by the parents as well.
What this isn't is the story of a boy and his dog; it's a part of the plot but a minor one. You'll be hard-pressed to find a moment where director Sandy Tung tries to get an "Aaaaaaw" out of the audience with Shiloh's cuteness. Instead, it's a simple but sincere exploration of human nature. What makes "bad" people? Can we change them? If we can, how? These are questions that Shiloh Season tries to answer for kids while leaving enough open for discussions with parents. It's a fun movie, but it's also, in its own right, an important one.
Unfortunately, with all the big-budget "family" films around, not a lot of kids want to see stuff like this, and in accordance to the laws of supply and demand, not a lot of it is released. That is a reason why, now that Shiloh Season is on video, you should rent it. Don't deny yourself or your kids the experience of a moral, wholesome family film; now a rare breed. ©1999 Eugene Novikov‰
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