The New Swiss Family Robinson (1998)

The New Swiss Family Robinson (1998). 1h 30m | PG

“I watched this movie a few times and I think that itu0026#39;s okay, but itu0026#39;s not enough to be considered a full-out survival movie like with some of the other films that Stewart Rafill had produced in the 1970s, including u0026quot;The Adventures of the Wilderness Familyu0026quot; and u0026quot;Across the Great Divide.u0026quot; For one thing, the Robinson family may have been stranded on an island after their boat sinks, but unlike the original Robinsonu0026#39;s in Johann David Wyssu0026#39; novel, there are no animal survivors with them, not even a couple of dogs or even a few chickens. For another, sustaining off of crayfish and fish caught in the island streams isnu0026#39;t enough to replenish the Robinsonsu0026#39; food supply when their food rations ran short. If Stewart Rafill could go back to 1998 and remake the film all over again, he shouldu0026#39;ve added an extra 10-20 minutes to his film by adding these additional scenes and creatures;u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e1. The Robinsonsu0026#39; family dogs (2-3 German shepherds, pit bulls, or another dog breed) accompany the family on their seaward journey and survive the shipwreck. The dogs become their guardians and help them to hunt for food.n2. In addition to building their island home and fishing in the streams, the Robinsons also plant crops and grow corn, tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, and peppers. They also find and harvest an abundance of fruits that grow on the island, including bananas, figs, peaches, limes, lemons, and pomegranates.n3. Anna Robinson and her daughter encounter the panther that Jack had seen a few weeks earlier, only to be rescued by Jack and the dogs who drive the panther away.n4. Elizabeth finds a baby monkey while going for a walk in the jungle and adopts it as a pet. The monkey causes a little mischief at first and sometimes annoys the family, but soon adepts weu0026#39;ll into the family by bringing them figs and other fruits that it finds in the tall fruit trees.n5. Jack and his sons discover a herd of wild goats and decide to capture a couple of them. After a few failed attempts, they successfully lasso and capture three goats which they soon tame and raise for milk. One of the goats also gives birth to a pair of kids, and Elizabeth is named legal guardian of the new additions to their goat herd.n6. In one scene during Francoiseu0026#39;s stay on the island, Anna shows her how to milk the goats, Elizabeth and Francoise gather vegetables from the garden, and Shane and Todd show her how to fish in the river.n7. When two of the pirates confront the girls and Anna sprays their eyes with the makeshift pepper spray, the blinded pirates are then attacked by the dogs who come to the girlsu0026#39; aid.n8. During the last scene of the movie before the credits roll in, it should be shown that the Robinsonsu0026#39; dogs, goats, and pet monkey are also taken aboard the ship and accompany their owners back to civilization.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf Stewart Rafill read this, heu0026#39;d be thinking, u0026quot;You know, I never thought of that. If I went back in time to the year I was making this film, I couldu0026#39;ve added those scenes to the movie. But thereu0026#39;s nothing I can do about that, I suppose.u0026quot;”