Critic Review: Hachiko: A Dog's Story

Hachi is a movie based on the true story about a dog in Japan, Hachiko, who would wait at the train station every day for his owner to arrive even after the owner passed away.

I have never seen the original Japanese version of the movie but know the story well as I have been told by many people here in Japan. There is a statue of Hachiko that stands outside of Shibuya Station in Tokyo. Now the statue is the most popular place for Tokyoites to meet their friends before going out shopping or dining in Shibuya.

Unlike other Japanese remakes, this movie actually gives credit to the original story so that you don't get the sense that Hollywood wants to call it its own. All actors/actresses in the movie do a superb job in making you feel as if you were a part of the community embracing the dog. Compared to the original story, people were more accepting of Hachi rather than considering him a nuisance. Of course this is going to be released soon here in the Philippines as the goal is to make it uplifting.

Just a warning, do take many tissues. I can honestly say that I have never really cried since I have homestay theater. I think the score of the movie plus the dog being so adorable made me lose myself. When I looked around myself just alone in the office of my dad, I cried alone in the darkroom. Any movie that can make me do that deserves a 10/10.