The Alaska Wilderness Adventure (1978) User Reviews

Watching this movie is a unique experience

[robotrobinson · 10/10 · 12 January 2014]

This film of a family, moving to Alaska in 1960, living an isolated and independent life for years, and filming themselves and nature, is amazing, simple, and beautiful.

The scenery, nature, music, narration, and editing in this film, skillfully come together in a subtle way that creates a lasting aftereffect. It's hard to describe. This is a film I wish everyone could see.

"The Alaska Wilderness Adventure" and "Year of the Caribou" are the same movie.

I picked up this documentary by mistake at a local video rental store back in the early 1990's. Over a decade later, I was able to track down and purchase a copy of the VHS tape. This is not a high resolution film, but I'm grateful that the nature, life, beauty, and music of this film have now been captured digitally for future generations on DVD.

Caribou (DVD and VHS) is better video quality compared to Alaska Wilderness (DVD and Amazon Instant Video). Reviews on video quality differences are available on Amazon.

The Caribou DVD offers a pictorial update of the Meader family since 1977, and a pictorial photo journal, both set to beautiful music.

Another documentary film that also spanned years that I wish everyone could see is People of the Forest: The Chimps of Gombe

Cannon trying to be Sunn Classics

[BandSAboutMovies · 21 August 2022]

It's as if Cannon took a look at all that sweet G-rated money - well, this was rated PG that Sunn Classics was raking in four walling theaters and said, "Let's send a family into the woods and watch them nearly die."

Also released in 1974 as Year of the Caribou, Don, Elaine and Fred Meader join Linda Johnson and Jay Russell as they battle the elements and nature, spending an entire year living off the land with no modern tools or luxuries.

You know, except for the camera.

Yes, there is a bear attack, in case that was what you were looking for.

The basic cable of today is the exploitation cinema of yesterday.

If you want the fake version, there's an entire series about The Adventures of the Wilderness Family.