I am so happy that you got some respite by experiencing the movie. I am really sorry for your loss. I just read the book and plan to see the movie. Reluctant sacrifice, friendship, intensive problem solving, and love---all wonderful themes to feel and experience. I am so looking forward to the movie.
I hope I am not sharing too much, but we experienced our own heartache in 2021. Our 31 year old son Brian died from suicide. 3 months later, our 10 year old Welsh Terrier Wally died suddenly. I felt a strong impression that we needed to get another dog soon. My wife was not so sure until she saw our puppy on facetime. We got our Eva (meaning life as you likely know) 4 years ago. She is a mini golden doodle (80 % poodle) and she has brought so much love to our family. Our son and daughter in law adopted our first and only grandchild in January of this year. It seems that experiencing bitter things in life has helped us be more grateful for the sweet and precious things. Thanks for writing your thoughts and opinions. Your impressions are meaningful to me.
...and wellll, it was a worthwhile film to see once, but I'd never care to see it again. Shudda been edited down by 20-30 mins....it drags in places.
By hey, let's hear it for 84 yo Hall of Fame quarterback RogerStaubach, whose most lasting legacy will be the invention of the expression HAIL MARY, 1974.
Im sorry for your loss, Douglas. What you said here makes me realize that while I have it with, I may not appreciate them enough…so thank you for making me realize that.
Would it be a good movie for my 9 and 11 year old grandsons? I feel like they have seen enough of the animated kids movies, time to go for something more advanced.
A couple of years ago, I watched a movie at home starring Michelle Pfeiffer as a single mother with a young, shy daughter. She was trying to help her daughter develop confidence. I can't remember the name of the movie, but it was very sweet and enjoyable....until almost the end of the movie. Then her daughter, who had succeeded on a stage, made some nasty remark about the Republican president at that time, I think it was Bush. Mommy just beamed. That kind of ruined it for me. Couldn't just have a nice, non political movie about a young girl growing up.
Had the same experience recently with a new-ish TV series that I enjoyed a lot. It happens to have a pretty ethnically diverse cast, which didn't really register with me because it was not a "thing" until the second to last episode in the second season that hit the viewers over the head with how tough black women have it (despite every black character in the series being super accomplished and on an upward career trajectory). I can't even finish the last episode, I'm so disgusted.
Are you talking about High Potential? My husband and I said the same thing about that episode. It was so cringe inducing that I contemplated giving up the show entirely.
I was reluctant to see it because I’m a sap and I assumed it would be ET-ish and make me cry. Saw it on Saturday anyway because hubby wanted to go. I was very glad he talked me into it. Just so cute and so heartwarming and didn’t preach at all or make me sob. A total 5-star movie in my book. Glad you enjoyed it as well!
Ironically (or not), this book is one of my incarcerated son's favorite books. He reads a few a week and this one sits at the top of his list. Even the heathens find it a redeeming and cathartic story. 🖤
I was just thinking this last night as I was scouring Netflix for something, anything uplifting, promising “this time” to cancel my long suffering subscription. Thanks for sharing. I’m going through the decline of an older dog, it’s heartbreaking while I make every day uplifting, happy and full of love. Netflix is a cesspool of dystopia. While our culture is fractured, struggling, captured and possessed, Netflix is doing its level best to keep people down, while influencers are trying to destroy a simple concept: Make America Great Again.
“Their story had to have a happy ending because mine didn't.”
I know you know this Sasha, but neither was an ‘ending’. They were points in a continuum; imaginary in the one case and reality in yours.
I have been where you are several times in my past and, though the sweet memories will remain, this grief will pass.
I don’t know your beliefs, but I am a Bible-believing, born-again, Christian. And, if that is, or becomes, true of you, then I believe you will be reunited with Jack - and any other pet that you have shared such love with - in the world to come.
Admittedly, there is not a single Biblical ‘proof-text’ to back that claim up, but there is no text that refutes it either. That said, why is my view anything more than wishful thinking?
Primarily because of the attributes and character of God, and secondarily because of the Biblical description of life after the return of Jesus Christ to rule and reign over the Earth (from Jerusalem, by the way)…
Amongst His other attributes, God is Omnipotent. As Jesus said, “…with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) He can do anything He wants, anywhere and anytime He wants - and He always acts in consistency with His character. And, in that regard, He is Love.
If we delight to give gifts that bring real, lasting joy to those we love, why would we expect God to be, or do, any less?
He won’t. In fact, He quite obviously delights in the super-abundance of all good things.
The Bible makes it clear that those who accept the free gift of salvation in and through Jesus will be resurrected to eternal life, “…and that more abundantly” (John 10:10).
John 11:25-26
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
And we know from the Bible that, in the Millennial rule and reign of Jesus upon the Earth, the condition of life on the planet will be dramatically altered for the better in every respect, including a profusion of animal life with altered natures.
Isaiah 11:6-9
6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”
Perhaps I am wrong, but I see no Biblical reason at all to doubt that we will not only see and delight in our beloved pets again, but rejoice in what we see God do in their lives as well, as He “…makes all things new”, for those who are redeemed and made ‘as one’ with God in eternity.
Revelation 21:3-5
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
Many may differ with my views on this, and some vehemently. But I share them with you with in peace, knowing the heart of God, in hope that they bring some comfort to you in your grief.
May the Lord comfort, guide, and bless you. And may He continue to bless your efforts.
Sorry to hear your pup is gone. Prayers up for your comfort and healing; it hurts, I have been there too. Remember your dogs energy and personality that you love so much. Doing that always makes me smile. Bless you. We saw Hail Mary last week. We loved it.
And Sasha, yes, I am glad you could find just a few minutes of solace and peace.,it’s increasingly hard to find these days. I live near Calabasas. On the weekends I drive to the Santa Monica mountains. There’s an overlook at the Chambless park beautiful view of Malibu and ocean. That’s how I try and recharge. A cigar, a woodford reserve and a sunset. I wish you peace and comfort.
Good for you Sasha! The power and purpose of a good movie cannot be understated: To escape…
I won’t go into details but many, many years ago, I was an emotional wreck and felt like I was on the ledge of giving up on life… By chance, there was a double-feature of “The Sting” and “Play It Again Sam” playing at the theater. My friend and I went it in and I was sure I’d be trapped, that I would never be able to step outside my world of fear and paralyzing anxiety…
Almost four hours later, I realized that a for a couple of hours, I FORGOT all my problems. I WAS able to escape for a little while and that was all it took to give me enough hope to learn that I could overcome my own grief and fear…
I am so happy that you got some respite by experiencing the movie. I am really sorry for your loss. I just read the book and plan to see the movie. Reluctant sacrifice, friendship, intensive problem solving, and love---all wonderful themes to feel and experience. I am so looking forward to the movie.
I hope I am not sharing too much, but we experienced our own heartache in 2021. Our 31 year old son Brian died from suicide. 3 months later, our 10 year old Welsh Terrier Wally died suddenly. I felt a strong impression that we needed to get another dog soon. My wife was not so sure until she saw our puppy on facetime. We got our Eva (meaning life as you likely know) 4 years ago. She is a mini golden doodle (80 % poodle) and she has brought so much love to our family. Our son and daughter in law adopted our first and only grandchild in January of this year. It seems that experiencing bitter things in life has helped us be more grateful for the sweet and precious things. Thanks for writing your thoughts and opinions. Your impressions are meaningful to me.
My goodness Douglas, what a tough period you’ve experienced.
May God continue to give you some happier times now, and healing and comfort. Sending you virtual hugs.
Sasha, yours is the second recommendation I’ve read today for this movie. We will be checking it out!
...and wellll, it was a worthwhile film to see once, but I'd never care to see it again. Shudda been edited down by 20-30 mins....it drags in places.
By hey, let's hear it for 84 yo Hall of Fame quarterback RogerStaubach, whose most lasting legacy will be the invention of the expression HAIL MARY, 1974.
i'm so sorry. good for you for continuing to embrace life!
What a moving post, Douglas! It brought tears to my eyes, and so much hope!
Im sorry for your loss, Douglas. What you said here makes me realize that while I have it with, I may not appreciate them enough…so thank you for making me realize that.
So sorry for your losses. So glad to hear of the new blessings that you’ve been able to treasure.
My husband and I just saw Project Hail Mary. We loved it!
Would it be a good movie for my 9 and 11 year old grandsons? I feel like they have seen enough of the animated kids movies, time to go for something more advanced.
I think so! Although it's a little over 2.5 hours long.
Thank you!
My friend took her 12 year old son and was very glad she did.
Yes, I agree. My 11 year old grandson really liked it, but for younger children I am not sure.
A couple of years ago, I watched a movie at home starring Michelle Pfeiffer as a single mother with a young, shy daughter. She was trying to help her daughter develop confidence. I can't remember the name of the movie, but it was very sweet and enjoyable....until almost the end of the movie. Then her daughter, who had succeeded on a stage, made some nasty remark about the Republican president at that time, I think it was Bush. Mommy just beamed. That kind of ruined it for me. Couldn't just have a nice, non political movie about a young girl growing up.
Had the same experience recently with a new-ish TV series that I enjoyed a lot. It happens to have a pretty ethnically diverse cast, which didn't really register with me because it was not a "thing" until the second to last episode in the second season that hit the viewers over the head with how tough black women have it (despite every black character in the series being super accomplished and on an upward career trajectory). I can't even finish the last episode, I'm so disgusted.
Are you talking about High Potential? My husband and I said the same thing about that episode. It was so cringe inducing that I contemplated giving up the show entirely.
I sure am! And I was so disappointed!
I think that movie is called, “Bitter Resentment.”
I was reluctant to see it because I’m a sap and I assumed it would be ET-ish and make me cry. Saw it on Saturday anyway because hubby wanted to go. I was very glad he talked me into it. Just so cute and so heartwarming and didn’t preach at all or make me sob. A total 5-star movie in my book. Glad you enjoyed it as well!
And here I am going to see it BECAUSE I am a sap and wanted to cry. Just seeing Rocky in the trailer made me emotional! 😊
Ironically (or not), this book is one of my incarcerated son's favorite books. He reads a few a week and this one sits at the top of his list. Even the heathens find it a redeeming and cathartic story. 🖤
Sasha, if you haven’t, read the book! It was my favorite read of 2025 and I read a lot. The audiobook is amazing! Can’t wait to see the movie.
Not worried about Hollywood surviving. Talented people will always find a way to be inspired and create.
yep, at this point I think the continued collapse of Hollywood is important as a lesson to mankind.
That may be the salvation of cinema but it won't come from Hollywood. The industry needs another locus.
But it deserves a plague of locusts....
and 40 days of rain, too! Perhaps some assorted pestilences and leprosy thrown in for good measure.
Did you by chance, move away from near Keene, NH 30+ years ago?....we might have known each other....?
Not me. My loss. I hear NH was great back then! :-)
Thanks, going to go see this one. Haven't been to a theater in a couple years and miss it!
I was just thinking this last night as I was scouring Netflix for something, anything uplifting, promising “this time” to cancel my long suffering subscription. Thanks for sharing. I’m going through the decline of an older dog, it’s heartbreaking while I make every day uplifting, happy and full of love. Netflix is a cesspool of dystopia. While our culture is fractured, struggling, captured and possessed, Netflix is doing its level best to keep people down, while influencers are trying to destroy a simple concept: Make America Great Again.
“Their story had to have a happy ending because mine didn't.”
I know you know this Sasha, but neither was an ‘ending’. They were points in a continuum; imaginary in the one case and reality in yours.
I have been where you are several times in my past and, though the sweet memories will remain, this grief will pass.
I don’t know your beliefs, but I am a Bible-believing, born-again, Christian. And, if that is, or becomes, true of you, then I believe you will be reunited with Jack - and any other pet that you have shared such love with - in the world to come.
Admittedly, there is not a single Biblical ‘proof-text’ to back that claim up, but there is no text that refutes it either. That said, why is my view anything more than wishful thinking?
Primarily because of the attributes and character of God, and secondarily because of the Biblical description of life after the return of Jesus Christ to rule and reign over the Earth (from Jerusalem, by the way)…
Amongst His other attributes, God is Omnipotent. As Jesus said, “…with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) He can do anything He wants, anywhere and anytime He wants - and He always acts in consistency with His character. And, in that regard, He is Love.
If we delight to give gifts that bring real, lasting joy to those we love, why would we expect God to be, or do, any less?
He won’t. In fact, He quite obviously delights in the super-abundance of all good things.
The Bible makes it clear that those who accept the free gift of salvation in and through Jesus will be resurrected to eternal life, “…and that more abundantly” (John 10:10).
John 11:25-26
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
And we know from the Bible that, in the Millennial rule and reign of Jesus upon the Earth, the condition of life on the planet will be dramatically altered for the better in every respect, including a profusion of animal life with altered natures.
Isaiah 11:6-9
6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”
Perhaps I am wrong, but I see no Biblical reason at all to doubt that we will not only see and delight in our beloved pets again, but rejoice in what we see God do in their lives as well, as He “…makes all things new”, for those who are redeemed and made ‘as one’ with God in eternity.
Revelation 21:3-5
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
Many may differ with my views on this, and some vehemently. But I share them with you with in peace, knowing the heart of God, in hope that they bring some comfort to you in your grief.
May the Lord comfort, guide, and bless you. And may He continue to bless your efforts.
Am Israel Chai, to the glory of God!
Love, Mike
Sorry to hear your pup is gone. Prayers up for your comfort and healing; it hurts, I have been there too. Remember your dogs energy and personality that you love so much. Doing that always makes me smile. Bless you. We saw Hail Mary last week. We loved it.
Matt Walsh had the same upbeat outlook on this movie today. Maybe I’ll surprise the kids and take them. Glad you felt some lightness today.
And Sasha, yes, I am glad you could find just a few minutes of solace and peace.,it’s increasingly hard to find these days. I live near Calabasas. On the weekends I drive to the Santa Monica mountains. There’s an overlook at the Chambless park beautiful view of Malibu and ocean. That’s how I try and recharge. A cigar, a woodford reserve and a sunset. I wish you peace and comfort.
Good for you Sasha! The power and purpose of a good movie cannot be understated: To escape…
I won’t go into details but many, many years ago, I was an emotional wreck and felt like I was on the ledge of giving up on life… By chance, there was a double-feature of “The Sting” and “Play It Again Sam” playing at the theater. My friend and I went it in and I was sure I’d be trapped, that I would never be able to step outside my world of fear and paralyzing anxiety…
Almost four hours later, I realized that a for a couple of hours, I FORGOT all my problems. I WAS able to escape for a little while and that was all it took to give me enough hope to learn that I could overcome my own grief and fear…
Thank you! It's actually playing in my little mountain town and I had no idea it was actually a good flick!