Exciting bear attacks, great scenery
Judged solely against other bear-attack movies, INTO THE GRIZZLY MAZE probably rates a five. It's exciting, high budget, just gory enough to be realistic, and the wilderness scenery is breathtaking. Judged against other films in general, I found several things that bothered me. I realize that, in real life, people make mistakes and poor decisions, and wild animals sometimes behave erratically. But this film has more than its share of HUH? moments. Michelle (Piper Perabo), an ecologist, goes into the grizzly-infested wilderness alone, with no weapons, and promptly gets lost. She gets caught in a snare she herself set, and is rescued just before a bear attacks her. Instead of being grateful, she writes a note: I'M DEAF, NOT STUPID. Later she falls into a dead animal's carcass --- waist deep! --- and her friends must pull her out. What if THAT had happened while she was alone? Douglass (Billy Bob Thornton) is supposed to be a legendary "old" hunter who has killed many grizzlies, once with just a knife; but at age 59, with a slight build and thick-rimmed glasses, he looks more like a middle-aged computer nerd than a seasoned mountain man. If he and the man playing Sheriff Sully (Scott Glenn, age 73) had traded roles, I would have bought into the premise more easily. Kaylee (Michaela McManus) falls off a cliff and gets her leg impaled on a VERY thick stick, which her friends PULL OUT (a major first-aid no-no). Michelle makes a point of throwing away Kaylee's clothes, because bears are attracted to blood (true); however, Kaylee spends the rest of the film with a bloody leg and un-bandaged head wound, and yet the bear inexplicably passes her by --- more than once --- in favor of others. And if you're going to confront your boss about his illegal activity, would you do it while a killer grizzly is chasing you, or would you maybe wait until you were both back at the office? Rather than being unrealistic, these characters might be TOO realistic...flawed humans in a situation that seems to beg for heroes. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
