Meet Troy James Hurtubise, a self-styled "close-quarter bear researcher," who's obsessed with going face-to-face with Canada's most deadly land mammal, the grizzly bear. Troy is the creator of what he hopes is a "grizzly... more »-proof" suit of armour -- an extraordinary fusion of high-tech materials and homespun ingenuity -- and of his own hybrid mythology that is part Hollywood, part Canadian Shield. His quest takes audiences into a world both compelling and disturbing, full of contradiction, humour and fantastical vision. Directed by Peter Lynch, Project Grizzly explores the territory between documentary and drama, where the dividing line between fact and imagination is as thin as a knife edge. In this twisted nature film, it is man, not bears, who come under the closest scrutiny. Robo-Bear in the Rockies... Clint Eastwood meets Jacques Cousteau... Project Grizzly is a film about overcoming insurmountable odds, leaving an imprint, creating your own legend.« less
"This is the best movie that I have ever seen. What could be better than a guy in a protective suit getting hit by a truck at 30 mph? I dunno. And then a log. I wish he were here now so I could beat him with a bat."
Always keep your knives at half-sheath
Ivan Schneeberg | Toronto, Canada | 06/16/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A must see for lovers of the wilderness. Clear proof that truth is in fact stranger than fiction. High points are, without question, Troy's description of his encounter with "the old man" and long-shots of Troy doing karate in the Canadian rockies in his long-johns."
Very good - not great
Ivan Schneeberg | 03/25/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Definitely best when you see it for the first time, because you just don't know what happens next. It's a slow bit paced, so sometimes it makes your mind wander. My big complaint is that they left out LOTS of great footage from the final. I have a tape of the extra footage, and it would definitely have made this film much better (extra scenes include Troy getting shot with a .45 revolver, wrestling with bears in the junk yard, Troy on the Roseanne show/Canada AM/interview, him getting hit by a pickaxe, etc...). I live near Troy and have gone up north to gold pan too, so technically it's pretty realistic. The soundtrack is good and editing job also, but some scenes drag on with people talking about things you really don't care about, that don't have much to do with anything. This is still probably the most entertaining and uninformative documentary ever."
The Greatest Film I've Ever Seen!
trung nguyen | chicago, il | 03/08/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If Motorhead moved in next door, your lawn would die. However, if Motorhead became farmers, they would grow copies of "Project Grizzly." This is cinema at its most powerful and gripping. This movie depicts a man who is somewhere between brilliant and ridiculous, visionary and villain, demi-god and dunce. You will not be sure whether to ask for his autograph or help in the effort to have him driven from your town. You will certainly be inspired to buy a Bowie Knife."
Canadian Redneck builds a ridiculous bear fighting suit
trung nguyen | 02/12/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Northern Canada must be a very, very boring place! So this freak decides to build a suit capable of withstanding a grizzly bear attack. The suit looks like RoboCop and the "Danger Will Robinson" robot's love child. Classic scenes that you'll watch again and again include him getting knocked out by a log and rammed by a pick up truck, all while wearing the Mark VI Grizzly armor. It is totally bizarre and very amusing, especially when the host fills you with stirring insights like, "anyone worth half a sh** carries a bowie knife into the bush and knows how to use it." You'll find yourself asking if this guy's for real, and you'll have to decide that for yourself. This is definitely worth watching, if only once, for the sheer spectacle of this absurd character and his hunt for the elusive grizzly."