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      A Breed Apart

      R Released Jun 22, 1984 1 hr. 35 min. Adventure List
      Reviews 32% 100+ Ratings Audience Score Jim Malden (Rutger Hauer), a Vietnam vet who's lost his family, lives virtually alone on a bird-filled island, where he's a committed conservationist. When rock climber Mike Walker (Powers Boothe) is hired by passionate egg collector J.P. Whittier (Donald Pleasence) to steal the eggs of the rare bald eagle, which lives on Malden's island, he tells Malden he's a nature photographer to gain his trust. However, Malden's infectious passion for the wild forces Walker to reconsider the plan. Read More Read Less

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      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Interesting little adventure film, without much action. It's more of a commentary on the importance of protecting endangered species. Rutger plays a really unconventional leading man, with a dark past that clearly still haunts him. Powers Booth plays a surprisingly likeable antagonist, and shares a great chemistry with Rutger. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/02/18 Full Review Audience Member Jim Malden (Rutger Hauer), a Vietnam veteran who has lost his wife and child, lives as a recluse on an island full of rare birds. His only contact with humanity is with Stella Clayton (Kathleen Turner) and her young son Adam, who have a small supply store on the mainland. One day, a mountain climber named Mike Walker (Powers Boothe) arrives to the island to observe two very rare eagles; what he doesn't tell Malden is that he's hired by the obsessive egg collector J.P. Whittier (Donald Pleasence) to steal the eagle´s eggs. But, the situation takes different turns for Walker... I had totally forgotten about this movie, I did see it back in 1985, and now I found it on dvd in Germany. First of all, the plot with the animal protective and recluse Malden and his whole island set up is intriguing. His outfits, animals and general weirdness adds to the storyline. Hauer is ok, but this is hardly his finest moment, nor is it Turners or Boothes either. The acting is pretty wobbly, the movie feels out of sequence and there´s no proper structure. Then I red that after principal filming in South Carolina had finished, the film reels were sent back by plane to Los Angeles. One reel (of 4) never arrived, so the film was substantially reorganized around the missing scenes (shot out of order) in the editing room. This partly explains why some sub-plots are incomplete and Malden has no back story. Thus, this hardly helps the movie. Variety said that the film "lacks reason, dramatic tension or emotional involvement." and to that I can only agree. "A Breed Apart" doesn´t hold together properly despite the fact that there´s a foundation with a good story. I reckon the production team and the director Phillipe Mora simply only managed to take "A Breed Apart" to some sort of b-movie level. But, there´s still something I like with this movie. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member This is a so so action yawn nothing really happens but the message behind it is important. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Great story of a Vietnam veteran who finds a home in the solitude of nature. His time alone is interrupted when a poacher from the city threatens the vet's bald eagles. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Um......freaky stuff. I'm still not really sure what happened.... So there is this guy...who likes animals and his family died so he lived on an island for 4 years with the animals....and that makes him weird with people....but he's in love with this lady...who he's known for 2 years.....but he...doesn't know how to not be alone.......so that makes him act werid.....but wait! There's more....near the end it's revealed that he isn't exactly....smart? Knda simple actually. I don't care. Rutger Hauer is hot and he was very nice to look at in the film. Plus, the other characters were pretty interesing as was the oddballed script. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Okay script uplifted by a great cast. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Ángel Luis Inurria El Pais (Spain) This environmental and love adventure is directed with an uneven rhythm by Philippe Mora. [Full Review in Spanish] Apr 1, 2020 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Never makes much sense. Rated: C+ Sep 14, 2015 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews [Rutger Hauer is] frequently seen riding around his island on a white horse, wearing pirate's clothing, and holstering a cross-bow. Rated: 3/4 Sep 26, 2002 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Jim Malden (Rutger Hauer), a Vietnam vet who's lost his family, lives virtually alone on a bird-filled island, where he's a committed conservationist. When rock climber Mike Walker (Powers Boothe) is hired by passionate egg collector J.P. Whittier (Donald Pleasence) to steal the eggs of the rare bald eagle, which lives on Malden's island, he tells Malden he's a nature photographer to gain his trust. However, Malden's infectious passion for the wild forces Walker to reconsider the plan.
      Director
      Philippe Mora
      Screenwriter
      Paul Wheeler
      Production Co
      Hemdale, Cinema '84, Sagittarius Productions
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Adventure
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Jun 22, 1984, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Jan 2, 2020
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