The Dolphin Movie - Dolphin Tale

Dolphin Tale is one of the most inspiring films that I have seen in a long time. It is the only time when I have been in a movie theater when the audience actually applauded at the end of the movie.

This family-friendly and animal-friendly film tells the inspiring tale of Winter the little 3-month-old bottle nose dolphin, who lost her tail due to a crab trap and must learn how to live a new life, a life forever changed, without her tail.

Dolphin Tale delivers an almost unnoticeable environment message about dolphins being caught in fishing traps. This film also brings to light many of the challenges faced by our wounded warriors and their families in rehabilitating our veterans.

Our family watched many different movies over the summer. For me, "Dolphin Tales" was the most inspiring, family friendly movie that I have seen with my family in some time.

In it's second week at the Theaters, "Dolphin Tale" became the number one film for the weekend. It's great to know that word is getting out and people are seeing this inspirational, uplifting film.

Be sure not to miss this "Inspiring, Uplifting and a Must-See Film."

Image from Dolphin Tale on Facebook

This is a movie about healing, about humans finding confidence, solace, acceptance and understanding in the story of a handicapped dolphin.

...it's a great message.

Shelley Fralic

The real, rich legacy of Winter the Dolphin

Image from Dolphin Tale on Facebook

For me, Dolphin Tale was moving because of the underlying story about a dolphin (and many others) who must learn how to live a new life, a life forever changed by loss. Not only does Winter have to adjust to the loss of her tail, but there are many others in the film who must learn to over come losses and live again.

The other obvious one is Kyle, Sawyer's cousin and a champion swimmer turned Iraq War vet. He comes home from the war and must learn how to adjust to life with his injuries. In a great scene, Morgan Freeman as Dr. McCarthy remarks to Kyle, "Just because you're hurt doesn't mean you're broken" and convinces him to go back home to his family. Kyle eventually meets and is inspired by Winter to swim again.

The film is filled with others who are also adjusting to various life losses, perhaps a poignant illustration as to just how pervasive loss is in life. Sawyer (the young boy) must learn to adjust to life after his father leaves, Hazel (the young girl) and Clay (the veterinarian and Hazel's dad) to life after the loss of a mother and wife, presumably from a long-standing disease.

Ultimately Winter's Tale is about overcoming adversity, healing and learning to live again after a loss. Watch and you will be inspired.

One of the very powerful scenes for me was watching Winter try to adjust to having the prosthetic tail put on her for the first (and second) times. Even though she is being reassured by everyone that the tail is for her own good, she thrashes, crashes and bashes the artificial tail until it breaks off of her. I couldn't help but draw parallels to the frustrations new amputees experience when adjusting to their artificial limbs and even regular people experience when adjusting to loss.

I think that Shelley Fralic writing for the Vancouver Sun Staff Blogs on "The real, rich legacy of Winter the Dolphin" hit on why the film was so powerful and so moving for me.

• The best part of the movie is at the very end, not the Hollywood end where everyone swims off happily into the sunset, but the end where the movie-makers feature a series of real video snippets of Winter interacting with handicapped visitors who have been flocking to the aquarium since well before the movie was released: war veterans on crutches, amputees in wheelchairs and small children without arms and legs - all of them taking to the platform in Winter's pool and interacting with the dolphin, petting her and kissing her.

As she noted, these final scenes at the end —the unscripted scene with the real people who have visited Winter and been moved by her determination, resilience and perhaps most of all her courage —these are the most moving scenes. Without words, these final scenes show why, Winter's tale is so inspiring. Just writing about the end of the movie and these final scenes brings me to tears (of joy) again.

Be inspired by the story of Winter the Dolphin.

The music from the Dolphin Tale trailer and the song played in the closing credits, "Safe."

I have a family and this is the type of movie we'd all go and see together.

Harry Connick, Jr.

Image from Dolphin Tales on Facebook

"Truly Inspiring."

Pete Hammond, Box Office Magazine

"Uplifting!

So inspiring you'll stand up and Cheer."

Jeff Craig, Sixty Second Preview

"A Must-See."

Manny Del a Rosa, NBC-TV

There were two songs featured in Dolphin Tale. "All Roads Lead Home" by Golden State is featured in the film's trailer.

"Safe" by Westlife is played at the end of the movie. The lyrics are so fitting for this film, inspiring hope for so many.

• If you've lost your way
• I will keep you safe
• Well open up all your world inside
• Til you come alive tonight
• I will keep you safe

Winter is a bottlenose dolphin who was discovered on the Florida coast in December 2006. She was only 3 months old when she was found tangled up in the rope of a crab trap.

The rope had cut off the circulation to her tail for too long, so her tail was amputated. Not expected to survive, Winter defied the odds and eventually learned how to swim, with her stump, but in a manner that was damaging her spine.

Over a period of a year and a half, prosthetists Kevin Carroll and Dan Stzempka developed a new dynamic prosthetic tail for Winter that would allow Winter to swim with a tail the way a dolphin is supposed to swim.

Winter's inspirational story was the basis for Dolphin Tale. She has also become a media star, with her own "Winter Cam" that allows online viewers to 'visit' Winter virtually. Winter has also increased attendance at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. With the release of Dolphin Tales, she now has her own line of toys, books and other merchandise.

Net proceeds from purchases made at the Clearwater Aquarium site go directly back to support their mission, " to restore and preserve our marine environment."

Image from Dolphin Tale on Facebook

Image from Dolphin Tale on Facebook.

Learn how Winter's Prosthetic tail works, using a special gel, Winter's Gel from the AssociatedPress

Image from Dolphin Tale on Facebook.

The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is the home of the amazing people who nursed Winter back to health and did not give up on finding a way to help her swim again.

Their mission as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit is "to restore and preserve our marine environment." This mission is accomplished through leadership in education, research, and the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine life. These goals are evident in their logo which features the terms "Rescue," "Rehab" and "Release."

Winter was rescued and rehabilitated, but because of the loss of her tail, could not be released. She is helping them reach their vision of teaching the messages of environmental awareness and respect for marine life.

The Aquarium, founded in 1972, has gone on to beome an internationally respected center for animal care, public education and marine research.

"We know it happens with every man and woman in America who go out to serve and they come back different.

Winter's story will help veterans and families cope with the transition."

Toby Nunn, U.S. Army Sergeant First Class

Interview With Toby Nunn, Big Hollywood

Winter has not only healed herself from her injuries, but in the process of learning how to swim again with a prosthetic tail, she has also inspired many of our current wounded warriors and veterans to cope with their own injuries and their transition back into a civilian life.

In addition the producers, director and cast of Dolphin Tale have reached out to the wounded warriors, veterans and military families. They have highlighted some of the difficulties they face in adjusting to life once they are back home. Perhaps more important, they have hosted special free screenings of Dolphin Tale to give military families a fun night out.

The cast and crew of DOLPHIN TALE at the Soldiers' Angels premiere of the film in San Antonio, TX. Soldiers' Angels is a national non-profit that provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, veterans and their families from WarnerBrosPictures.

"It may sound cheesy, but I could be in a crowd with 50 people and they wouldn't get where and what I've been through, but Winter got it.

It's a strange fellowship, the dolphin understands and realizes what she accomplished."

Toby Nunn, U.S. Army Sergeant First Class

Interview With Toby Nunn, Big Hollywood

Soldiers' Angels, a volunteer-led nonprofit that encompasses over 20 different teams and programs who work to ensure that no soldier goes unloved.

This nonprofit has with hundreds of thousands of volunteers who help to provide aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, veterans and their families. These tireless volunteers send letters, care packages, and comfort items to deployed American service members while supporting their families at home.

Soldiers' Angels also provide assistance to the wounded, continuing support for veterans, remembrances and comfort for families of the fallen, and immediate response to unique difficulties.

What do you think about Dolphin Tale?