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(deleted user)
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Post subject: Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:57 am |
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It follows the odd concept the writers and producers came up with of putting Native American mysticism into the storyline. They made Nava a wolf "shaman" of sorts. And he was looking for a replacement...a successor.
The story implies that, because of her grandmother (Aniu, the white wolf, whom Nava greatly respects and was a peer of...a friend), Aleu somehow acquired the abilities that Nava has and, presumably, Aniu had (I say "had" because she was only a spirit in the movie, not a living wolf). The storyline dictated that Nava and the various spirit guides, sent by both Nava and Aniu, were meant to help Aleu discover and recognize those gifts for what they were (even if we didn't see her encounter all of them).
Of course, the storyline also dictated that Balto himself was on a journey of discovery, and was to be led by the spirit guides. In fact, Nava states that he thought Balto was the one to lead the pack, and initially "called" him. Then, when he had a chance to scrutinize Aleu, he realized that she was the one. I guess Aniu must have known it all along, being a spirit and all.
A lot of people criticize Balto 2 as being a lame movie, with poor animation, bad characters (and bad acting), and bad scripting. I agree, but only to a point. However I recognize that, even though certain elements of the storyline are pretty odd for a movie about dogs and wolves (the Native American mysticism mostly), and the scripted verbal interchange between the characters was weak and uninspired, the storyline does have a powerful undercurrent that makes total sense:
1. Balto, a shy wolf-dog uncertain of his own place in the world, and still a bit confused about how to live his life, is shown - through the help and guidance of his mother's spirit, that he must determine a path for the rest of his life...and it turns out that it is as a dog, not as a wolf. The last scene in the wilderness, after Nava parts company with Balto, and Balto encounters his mother's spirit, defines that...especially when Balto finally has a chance to say goodbye to his mother (she died, or was killed, when he was very young, and unable to do so).
2. Aleu, facing the stigma of being more wolf than dog even than her father, must find her own place in the world. Acting like a human teenager, she angrily sets off to discover it (initially blaming her father for her mixed heritage, and the fact that he kept it from her). With the help and guidance of the spirit of her grandmother, Aniu, and of the wolf shaman Nava (who is growing too old to continue as the leader of his pack, and is seeking a good replacement to lead them), she learns that her destiny lay on the path of the wolf, not the dog. And that's what she chooses.
3. The results of Balto's part in the story are what prepare him for the events of Balto 3. In Balto 3, he is older, and definitely wiser and more settled in with his life, and more comfortable with his sense of self-identity. There is no longer any internal conflict. Instead, new kinds of conflict are presented to him in Balto 3. And good ones.
Many people also criticize Balto 2 for not focusing on Balto himself. As I've shown here, Balto 2 focuses as much on Balto as it does on Aleu. BOTH characters experience a journey of personal discovery, while working out their own differences. And no matter what the complainers and critics here say about it, that is a great storyline. Those who don't see that merely lack insight, and spend too much time focused on the obvious.
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Little Doggy
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Post subject: Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 8:30 am |
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| Beginner |
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Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:35 am Posts: 147 Location: Where do u want me to be?
Gender: Female
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Reading thoughts: i would say no, because in WQ(returning to Balto's dreams) Aniu said : "Bear - inner knowings". If you remember, there was no actual bear, just a spirit. And when Aleu's eyes went yellow, you could hear Aniu's voice "Inner Knowings". That leads to a thought that Aniu created the contact between the bear and Aleu.
Aleu's another gift (just a thought): in the scene when Nava, Balto and Aleu were discussing the journey across the ocean, Aleu looked at the water and her eyes went yellow. She saw the ice bridge and the caribous crossing the ocean. Then the bridge appeared again. So i thought, what if Aleu has a gift to see future and past?! But maybe again, Aniu has shown it to her.
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(deleted user)
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Post subject: Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 11:06 am |
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SimbasGuard wrote: To BaltoSeppala: Wow  Well said To tibb_wolf: I would think Aleu still has this power.
Heh heh...thanks! I'm good like that...sometimes. 
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Swords of the Wolves
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Post subject: Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 9:08 pm |
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| Famous one |
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Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 10:41 am Posts: 1947 Location: Missouri
Gender: Male
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Little Doggy wrote: Reading thoughts: i would say no, because in WQ(returning to Balto's dreams) Aniu said : "Bear - inner knowings". If you remember, there was no actual bear, just a spirit. And when Aleu's eyes went yellow, you could hear Aniu's voice "Inner Knowings". That leads to a thought that Aniu created the contact between the bear and Aleu.
Aleu's another gift (just a thought): in the scene when Nava, Balto and Aleu were discussing the journey across the ocean, Aleu looked at the water and her eyes went yellow. She saw the ice bridge and the caribous crossing the ocean. Then the bridge appeared again. So i thought, what if Aleu has a gift to see future and past?! But maybe again, Aniu has shown it to her.
Well, wait, what about that one part when Niju's and all the other wolves' eyes turn yellow? I think that's what happened when they sang "The Grand Design" (Which would be a lot better without Niju's personal comments in it), or did that happen another time?
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Swords of the Wolves
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:40 pm |
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| Famous one |
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Joined: Mon May 22, 2006 10:41 am Posts: 1947 Location: Missouri
Gender: Male
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No, I saw a screenshot with Niju and a bunch of other wolves in it that were unnamed, and all of their eyes were glowing yellow.
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_Angel_
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Post subject: Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 5:50 pm |
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Joined: Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:53 pm Posts: 433 Location: Canada,Home town england..Anti-Emo are you?
Gender: Male
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Is to lead a wolf pack?
Idk.
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(deleted user)
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Post subject: Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 5:52 pm |
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_Angel_ wrote: Is to lead a wolf pack? Idk.
Boy, you're trying REEAAAAAL hard to build up that post count tonight, huh Angel? 
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