| Overall Grade: |
A |
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| Story: |
A |
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| Acting: |
N/A |
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| Direction: |
A |
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| Visuals: |
A+ |
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Don't listen to the nay-sayers; go and see it.
by Sharon (movies profile)
Apr 25, 2009
36
of
42 people found this review helpful
There are some people who are saying this film is a rip-off of "Planet Earth", while others are calling it too violent and intense. I think these people are wrong, and if you wish to know why, please continue reading.
First off, if you are a fan of the "Planet Earth" series that aired on Discovery Channel & Animal Planet about a year or two ago, you may recognize some footage in the new Disneynature film, "Earth". That's because the team that created "Planet Earth" is the same team that filmed "Earth". Disney did not steal footage, this is the BBC's work, but as explained in a mini documentary that was made BY THE BBC, they said that the new film deals with a great deal of footage that they shot but did not use for the series, plus it was always their wish to have the film on the big screen, but they did not have the funding to do so, until Disney stepped in. Disney is the producer, the BBC is the director, plain and simple. Also, the BBC reported that they could focus more time on the lives of these three mothers and their new babies, than they could during the "Planet Earth" series, which had more ground to tackle, even though it was an over 6-hour mini-series. We're all feeling the effects of the recession, but this film is WORTH seeing on the big screen, truly! I only wish they could have filmed it in IMAX. It takes a real prickly scrooge of a person to call this a rip-off and a waste of time.
As to the other thing that some nay-sayers are complaining about, is the violence depicted in the film. My goodness, if I had a quarter for all the over-reactive parents who took their way too young preschooler to this film and have complained about how their child cried when they saw a cheetah chasing down a gazelle...oy! First off, this film does a VERY GOOD JOB, I think, of toning down, or softening, the violence. Yes, there are some scenes where predators are hunting for food (which are other animals, I'm sorry, but that's how nature is) and we do see them attack, but the camera cuts away before the true graphic rawness of nature is shown. The music also heightens to give rise to the emotion, but blocking out much if not all of the real-life sounds being made from the animals. But let's use our heads people; nature is not always warm and fuzzy, and in the animal world, survival means predator vs. prey. The scene that I found the saddest was that of a male polar bear, struggling to find food after days of swimming after the ice from right under his feet has melted.
This is not a film for the extremely young, but I would hope parents with half a brain would figure that out. Nature is beautiful, but it can also appear cruel at times. It is a constant struggle between life and death, and if a child...or adult even, can't handle that reality, then they probably shouldn't see this film, or any nature documentary. BUT don't listen to those who believe the film needs a PG or higher rating. And don't think you can't take children to this film at all. Children can enjoy this movie; I went with a friend and her 8 year old son, and he loved it! He did find certain parts sad, he did admit, but he never cried or screamed for his mother. If you have children, you know them best, so you make the decision if they can handle something like this.
Overall, the film focuses more on the beauty of the world around us, it has some light comic moments to soften us up after some serious ones, and it is also a beautiful tribute to the love and care of mothers for their babies. The cinematography deserves an Oscar, or at least a nomination, and James Earl Jones' voice makes you feel warm all over while watching it.
An interesting point to end on; many older people (basically all adults) associate Jones' voice with Darth Vader. But many children, like my friend's son, thinks of Mufasa from "The Lion King"; I think that says something there. Like it's narrator, "Earth" is versitile; it can show some of life's harsh realities, but overall, there is a message of hope and love and the promise of new life. Go and see this great film! |
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