Not a patch (or a Pongo) on the original

Glenn Close is in this film and she is, as usual, excellent. So, why did I absolutely hate it? Well, Michael Caine put it so well, in words similar to these, "Stop doing remakes, unless the original was terrible". The original One Hundred and One Dalmations was sublime. When I watched this remake, all it did was remind me of the original. I was 11 years old, when I saw it, I am 57 now; and I still love it. My children were brought up on it and my dog jumps up n the sofa, when he hears the first twilight bark and he never moves until it's over (I know he,I, or both of us are pathetic). I am sure that this remake is not a bad film, it is probably quite good. But it's like comparing a beef liver with Foie Gras - No competition! The great sadness is that Disney do not realise what they have. They need to re-release the original (It would certainly cost them less) and educate a whole new generation into animation perfection. Until that moment arrives, I sincerely hope that you enjoy this remake. Get a copy of the original if you can. And let the dog on the sofa.

Noble and Heroic

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Based loosely on the writings of French animal-rights activist Jean Latrille, this movie succeeds in revealing the inhumane aspect of the puppy-farm industry, and depicts the heroic efforts of those who are honor-bound to stop it.

Brothers Jasper (Hugh Laurie) and Horace (Mark Williams) mount a daring raid of a Dalmatian breeding facility, located incongruously in a tony London neighborhood, in an attempt to rescue a group of Dalmatian puppies that are bound for market, where they'll be sold to vicious and uncaring English families. The brothers are aided by their altruistic and devoted cousin, Crue (also, obviously, a heavy-metal fan) who is played by Glen Close.

The movie follows the successful rescue attempt as the brothers lead the puppies through the wilds of Great Britain, where they find refuge at a paradisaical English estate. The film continues as a counter-raid, led by the evil agents of the puppy farm and abetted by hundreds of brainwashed animals -both wild and domesticated, is successful in recapturing the group of puppies, along with eighty-six other puppies previously rescued by the brave brothers. Crue is degraded in an inhumane manner, and the brother's vehicle is firebombed.

The film ends as the puppies are forced to fend for themselves in the wilds of the English countryside, living off the frozen remains of dead sheep and discarded fish-and-chip wrappers. Later, reverting to their wild traits, the puppies form packs in order to survive. One such pack, led by the strong, dominant male Lucky, survives on the outskirts of London by, ironically, poaching on cats and small family dogs, and soon mount an attack on the very same puppy-farm that owes to their existence, along the way dispatching brainwashed animals, corrupt bobbies, and ego-maniacal video-game designers.

Shot in cinema verite by French cinematographer Pierre Latrille (grandson of the original author) this film very aptly captures the idealistic brothers, the beauty of the English wilds, the random hubbub of big city London, and the horrors encountered by a group of animals born in the wrong place, and in the wrong time.

Great Movie

Bought this for my [..]daughter for her b'day. She had worn out the VHS tape and this one was hard to find. Very funny movie for kids and adults.