User Reviews

I liked the movie as a good lesson for children in the case that if they want to get a pet they should be responsible for feeding and taking care of the animal. In this movie "Marty Preston" is a very responsible child. However, here my spoilers,when I rented the movie, I was moved for the little synopsis in the back that says "an abused Beagle", the reason this was interesting is because I recently adopted an abused Beagle that makes us laugh and we have to be very careful in giving her discipline.Now that I am getting to know this breed, these are smart dogs that require discipline and at the same time they are stubborn and that is why she makes us laugh. So I was expecting a Hollywood dog that showed some of the funny and smart behavior of the Beagles. On the contrary the behavior of Shiloh was not the most important part of the movie, even though the movie has its name. For instance, SPOILER, When Marty and Mr Trudders are fighting in Marty's house for Shiloh, The dog "Shiloh" is just standing there watching his former owner and Marty fighting for him and he is doing nothing, In my mind I was expecting some king of heroic act from the dog, like biting Mr Trudders, in order to defend,Marty, but no, the dog stands there and If I could read its mind, Shiloh was probably thinking, "oh please, somebody open the door of the house, I want to take a nap on the sofa".

I like the movie in the sense of a lesson for life like if you want something in life, you have to work hard for it and because the dog did not impress me I Think the movie should have the name of "Marty the boy that worked hard for a dream" or if the title of the movie needs the name of the dream, well, if Marty was going to be working hard for a PlayStation or a bicycle then the movie could be called "PlayStation" or "Bicycle' and believed me, you could replace this toys for Shiloh and you would not notice the absence of the Beagle.

To begin, Shiloh is a very well-written novel. It deals with a boy who does what he believes is right in order to save a runaway dog from its abusive owner. It also deals with honesty, loyalty, friendship and standing up for what one feels is right.

The movie, while a lot is changed, still worked for me. Despite some awkward editing (some shots last for about a second before cutting to another, but I'm sure I'll see worse), the movie was still good for me. Sure, they made "finally getting the dog from Judd Travers" much harder than in the novel.

As many put it, even though Judd Travers is a very cruel character, he states that he had been abused by his father during his childhood and never understood or got sympathy and anyone with a dark past can relate to him (not me, but I am against child abuse so I understand).

Another good point is the acting, Blake Heron acts like he cares about the dog, Scott Wilson really puts effort into acting like a man who never understood sympathy, kindness, love and nurturing and Rod Steiger's performance as Doc Wallace is also well-done, especially during the scene where he encourages Marty to stand up for what's right by recounting a memory from the past.

I bought this film and Shiloh Season from a secondhand store, but I have yet to read the second novel and watch the second film, so I'll see how they are.

I know this film is not 100% true to the original novel, but I have heard of worse book-to-movie adaptations. As someone who is against animal cruelty, I loved this movie and the novel to the point where I recommend giving both a try.

I can't remember the first time I saw this movie, but it's a great movie for anyone. Be warned; there's animal abuse in this movie, though.

The scenes where Judd Travers (Scott Wilson, I think?) is abusing Shiloh will wrench your heart; it did mine. I literally cry every time I see them. The first time Judd abuses Shiloh is at the beginning of the movie: Judd's out hunting with his dogs. Judd hits him with the butt of his rifle for barking and scaring a raccoon, then he kicks the poor puppy, then he tries to shoot him, then he yells at him to come back.

'Come back' to someone who's abused you and tried to kill you? If anyone thought a dog would do that, they'd be crazy.

I like the end of the movie. Marty gets to keep Shiloh.

(There are some Spoilers) Very moving family movie having to do with the this little sweet sad sack looking beagle named Shiloh, after the bride where he found the puppy, by 12 year old Marty Preston,Blake Heron.

Little Shiloh is taken home by Marty who's parents Ray & Dana Lynn Preston, Michael Moriarty & Shira Roth, are anything but thrilled with him. The poor dog is suffering from a number of injuries including a vicious gash over his left eye and the veterinary cost to bring him back to good health are just too much from the Prestons. Having re-financed his home to pay the family's bills another mouth to feed is the last thing that the hard working and money strapped Ray Preston needs.

As Marty tries to convince his parents to keep Shiloh as the family pet the matter of keeping or not keeping the cute little beagle is suddenly cleared up with local hunter Judd Travers, Scott Wilson, showing up in the film. It turns out that Shiloh, or dog # 5 as Judd calls him, ran away from Judd's kennel where he keeps his pack dogs that he uses to hunt game; raccoons possum and rabbits.

Marty is forced by his dad to give Shiloh, who's since become very attached to him, back to the hard driving and abusive Judd Travers where Shiloh ends up being again brutally beaten and kicked around this time within an inch of his life. Shiloh escaping for the second time from the Judd house has Marty, whom Shiloh came limping back to, now more determined then ever to keep the dog no matter what it takes! Even if he has to work himself to death to make enough money to buy Shiloh off of Judd Travers' hands.

The film "Shiloh" is far better then your average "Boy and his Dog" Walt Disney-like flick in its depiction of the grown ups as well as young people in it. Everyone in the movie including the at first despicable Judd Travers have their good as well, especially with Judd, as bad points in how they deal with the realities of life. In this case the treatment of the star of the film sweet little Shiloh. Marty as kind and as loving as he is toward Shiloh really has no answer to what he'll do if he ever gets the dog as a pet!

It's when Marty is given the chance, by Judd Travers, to work off Shiloh's price, $40.00, that he's willing to sell him for that the 12 year-old Marty Preston soon realizes that not all is right in the adult world of business and finance. That's especially true if you, or in this case Marty Preston, don't have the legal papers to back your business transaction up.

In the end even the cold hearted and all business-like Judd Travers gives into both Marty and his parents, who have since fallen in love with the sweet little pooch, in keeping Shiloh as the Prestons family pet. I found Judd who at first was by far the most unlikable person in the film the most, after Shiloh of course, sympathetic person in the movie.

It didn't take that much to get you to like little Shiloh, you fell in love with the cute and sad-eyed little beagle as soon as you saw him, but it took a lot, a hell of a lot, to change Judd Travers around. Travers not only let Shiloh, who legally belonged to him, go back to the Prestons but completely change his attitude about man's best friend as well. It also took the hard work and sacrifice by Marty, in working his butt off for Judd, to get Judd to appreciate what a powerful bond Marty and Shiloh had between themselves.

Trying to stiff Marty out of the bargain, or verbal agreement, that he made with him in getting Shiloh back Judd tried to pull a fast one in nullifying the contract, that had no sighed witnesses, he had with Marty. It was when Judd saw how Shiloh acted as he was driving him back to his dog kennel and, with the badly injured Shiloh really no use to him as a hunting dog, curtain death Judd finally saw the light and let his heart, not his business mind, take over.

This was a heartwarming coming-of-age drama. Everyone did their job acting well. Particularly the late Blake Preston as Marty. Marty discovers a neglected dog owned by the town drunk named Judd Travers(Scott Wilson) who's determined to get him back. With help from his friends and family, particularly his dad, Marty will do anything to save the dog he named Shiloh.

As mentioned before it's a coming-of-age story and a really good one. What Marty goes through is believable and you 100% sympathize with him on his journey. Judd's an interesting antagonist in that he's not pure evil, just a bitter man who knows no other way.

The supporting cast are good too. J. Madison Wright as Samantha "Sam" Wallace, Marty's friend was enjoyable to watch. I really like the scene where she pecks him after telling her his plan on how to help Shiloh. While it's a boy and his dog story, I feel like it goes behind the typical "can I keep him?" stage. Here it shows what Marty has to go through in order to get his new dog and provide him a better life.

Shiloh's a movie anyone can watch and enjoy. It has great characters, a simply yet moving story, and thought provoking commentary to a degree. I'd give it a howl and see check it out.