Free Willy(1993) #4

Director: Simon Wincer

I chose to watch Free Willy because it was a very popular movie when I was little but I never ended up watching it, so I decided to see what all the hype was and I'm glad I did. The set design of Randolph's cottage is so unique and every little detail in it from the sculptures to the view goes with the whole feel of the movie. This is the kind of film that brings you back to those moments of being a kid and the first time you went to an aquarium and was amazed by all the mammals. The bond that Jesse and Willy share makes the film really draw you in. I personally, enjoyed it because it really shows that animals can share that connection with humans. Also, it made me think of all the time and training that must have been put into this film. The scene when Jesse is talking to Willy and he's shaking his head then they both start dancing, it was very clever and must have taken quite awhile to train him to do something like that. I appreciated the underwater shots also called "watervision" because when films do those types of things it really makes you feel like there are no limits. You are able to see Willy above water and in the habitat he lives in below. I strongly believe that animals have an ability to effect people's lives and make them open up in different ways. This happens with Jesse, he becomes adopted by a couple and does not want to be there, but after spending time with Willy he is finally happy. He begins to open up to them now that he has something in his life that makes him want to stay. The performance by Jason James Richter as Jesse was terrific he really played off the excitement and emotion of a boy who loved this whale and did whatever he could to protect Willy. The emotional moment when he is telling his adoptive father that he needed to keep Willy safe was such a terrific performance for someone of his age. The ending is a very heart-warming one and I found out that there have been sequels, hopefully they were made just as good because the child-like magic of this movie was truly noteworthy.