Opens Wednesday, July 25
Spectacular photography of the frigid domain of polar bears, walruses and seals is the chief attraction of Arctic Tale, a new documentary which hopes to combine the appeal of March of the Penguins and An Inconvenient Truth. Like the former film, this National Geographic production observes the mating and survival rituals of a group of imperiled creatures who inhabit the frozen wasteland at the tip of our world. And like Al Gore's lecture on global warming, Arctic Tale adds a green message to its nature photography by pointing out how climate change cracks the ice floes that mean the difference between life and death for many exotic creatures.
Whereas Penguins enlisted Morgan Freeman as narrator, this new film employs Queen Latifah as "storyteller" to recount the lovable exploits of Nanu, a young Polar Bear, and Seela, a baby walrus. This new picture seems guaranteed to attract a family audience, but it might not match the impact of those two earlier Oscar-winning docus. Sometimes it hurts to be second -- or third. The novelty is definitely gone.
The narration is the weakest element in the film. Written by Linda Woolverton, Mose Richards and Al Gore's daughter Kristin, the voice-over sometimes resorts to blatant message-mongering. Just as problematic is the cutesy tone that infects Latifah's chronicle of the mishaps of Nanu and Seela on their journeys across the ice. The use of music is also a bit heavy-handed, like the choice of Sister Sledge's We Are Family to celebrate the camaraderie of a herd of walruses.
The film would be more enjoyable if one could turn off the soundtrack and simply revel in the stunning visual evocation of this white-on-white world. Co-director Adam Ravetch is also the principal cinematographer, and he is aided by a crack team that caught amazing footage above the ice and underwater as well. The animals' search for food as well as their struggle to survive their enemies makes for a fascinating Darwinian adventure.
Children will be mesmerized by the animal footage, and adults will glory in the landscapes and respond to the sobering reminders of climate change. While the film shows bears hunting seals and walruses, it discreetly averts its gaze from the most savage animal attacks. It's probably even a little less graphic than the Disney true-life nature documentaries that were popular with families in the 1950s.
The gradual melting of the ice makes it far more difficult for these Arctic creatures to find the food they need to survive, so Arctic Tale adds to our understanding of how the balance of nature is being upset by human abuse of the environment. But most viewers will find the ecological manifesto less eye-opening than the lovingly rendered tableaux of animals romping and foraging at the North Pole.
Spectacular photography of the frigid domain of polar bears, walruses and seals is the chief attraction of Arctic Tale, a new documentary which hopes to combine the appeal of March of the Penguins and An Inconvenient Truth. Like the former film, this National Geographic production observes the mating and survival rituals of a group of imperiled creatures who inhabit the frozen wasteland at the tip of our world. And like Al Gore's lecture on global warming, Arctic Tale adds a green message to its nature photography by pointing out how climate change cracks the ice floes that mean the difference between life and death for many exotic creatures.
Whereas Penguins enlisted Morgan Freeman as narrator, this new film employs Queen Latifah as "storyteller" to recount the lovable exploits of Nanu, a young Polar Bear, and Seela, a baby walrus. This new picture seems guaranteed to attract a family audience, but it might not match the impact of those two earlier Oscar-winning docus. Sometimes it hurts to be second -- or third. The novelty is definitely gone.
The narration is the weakest element in the film. Written by Linda Woolverton, Mose Richards and Al Gore's daughter Kristin, the voice-over sometimes resorts to blatant message-mongering. Just as problematic is the cutesy tone that infects Latifah's chronicle of the mishaps of Nanu and Seela on their journeys across the ice. The use of music is also a bit heavy-handed, like the choice of Sister Sledge's We Are Family to celebrate the camaraderie of a herd of walruses.
The film would be more enjoyable if one could turn off the soundtrack and simply revel in the stunning visual evocation of this white-on-white world. Co-director Adam Ravetch is also the principal cinematographer, and he is aided by a crack team that caught amazing footage above the ice and underwater as well. The animals' search for food as well as their struggle to survive their enemies makes for a fascinating Darwinian adventure.
Children will be mesmerized by the animal footage, and adults will glory in the landscapes and respond to the sobering reminders of climate change. While the film shows bears hunting seals and walruses, it discreetly averts its gaze from the most savage animal attacks. It's probably even a little less graphic than the Disney true-life nature documentaries that were popular with families in the 1950s.
The gradual melting of the ice makes it far more difficult for these Arctic creatures to find the food they need to survive, so Arctic Tale adds to our understanding of how the balance of nature is being upset by human abuse of the environment. But most viewers will find the ecological manifesto less eye-opening than the lovingly rendered tableaux of animals romping and foraging at the North Pole.
- 6/18/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Up close and personal with the largest animal on Earth is the chief appeal of "Whales", the latest IMAX offering to open at Exposition Park in Los Angeles. Whale-watchers will delight in this educational and often enthralling depiction of those mammals, some of which are nearly twice as heavy as the largest-known dinosaur.
Unfortunately, it's not IMAX-amatic that bigness makes for the most exciting usage of the IMAX film capabilities. Essentially, what beaches "Whales" is that while close-up shots of the grayishly coated mammals are initially captivating, the novelty will likely wear off for those who aren't truly whale-lovers. While the cinematography is breathtakingly beautiful, particularly in its vast scopings of the great blue oceans, it is, after a while, somewhat repetitive. Indeed, the IMAX process is at its most invigorating and illuminating when the visual stimulation is varied and packed -- a whale fin in the midst of a blue sea on a screen the size of a city building soon is, essentially, a picture, not a moving picture. After a while, one is lulled by not only the cadence of the sea but the predictability of the visuals -- whales spouting, fins flapping -- not much else.
Still, there's plenty of delightful rhythms and visualizations in this thoughtful, intelligent production, including a homey dance between a mother humpback and her calf. Truly, there's some wonderfully playful and educational segments in "Whales", and the writers (Dr. Roger Payne, Mose Richards, Dr. Leighton Taylor) are to be commended for their savvy blend of information and entertainment. A triumvirate of directors (David Clark, Al Giddings, Dr. Roger Payne) has energized "Whales" with some forceful, cinematic rhythms. Especially exciting are the subjective scopings when we're taken underwater, directly into the deep and murky world of these magnificent creatures.
"Whales" spouts surest when enhanced by the vigorous and powerful sound design. Special praise goes to Jim McKee and Earwax Prods. for the haunting and beautiful sound textures, clueing us to the life forces below what seems a tranquil and dull blue sea.
WHALES
The National Wildlife Federation Endowment
and the National Science Foundation
Producers Christopher Palmer, David Clark
Directors David Clark, Al Giddings,
Dr. Roger Payne
Executive producer Richard James
Executives in charge of production Ed Capelle, Tom Casper, Chat Reynders
Screenwriters Dr. Roger Payne,
Mose Richards, Dr. Leighton Taylor
Directors of photography Al Giddings,
Andy Kitzanuk, Paul Mockler
Editor James Lahti
Sound designers Jim McKee,
Earwax Prods. Inc.
Sound mixer Skywalker Sound
Running time -- 43 minutes...
Unfortunately, it's not IMAX-amatic that bigness makes for the most exciting usage of the IMAX film capabilities. Essentially, what beaches "Whales" is that while close-up shots of the grayishly coated mammals are initially captivating, the novelty will likely wear off for those who aren't truly whale-lovers. While the cinematography is breathtakingly beautiful, particularly in its vast scopings of the great blue oceans, it is, after a while, somewhat repetitive. Indeed, the IMAX process is at its most invigorating and illuminating when the visual stimulation is varied and packed -- a whale fin in the midst of a blue sea on a screen the size of a city building soon is, essentially, a picture, not a moving picture. After a while, one is lulled by not only the cadence of the sea but the predictability of the visuals -- whales spouting, fins flapping -- not much else.
Still, there's plenty of delightful rhythms and visualizations in this thoughtful, intelligent production, including a homey dance between a mother humpback and her calf. Truly, there's some wonderfully playful and educational segments in "Whales", and the writers (Dr. Roger Payne, Mose Richards, Dr. Leighton Taylor) are to be commended for their savvy blend of information and entertainment. A triumvirate of directors (David Clark, Al Giddings, Dr. Roger Payne) has energized "Whales" with some forceful, cinematic rhythms. Especially exciting are the subjective scopings when we're taken underwater, directly into the deep and murky world of these magnificent creatures.
"Whales" spouts surest when enhanced by the vigorous and powerful sound design. Special praise goes to Jim McKee and Earwax Prods. for the haunting and beautiful sound textures, clueing us to the life forces below what seems a tranquil and dull blue sea.
WHALES
The National Wildlife Federation Endowment
and the National Science Foundation
Producers Christopher Palmer, David Clark
Directors David Clark, Al Giddings,
Dr. Roger Payne
Executive producer Richard James
Executives in charge of production Ed Capelle, Tom Casper, Chat Reynders
Screenwriters Dr. Roger Payne,
Mose Richards, Dr. Leighton Taylor
Directors of photography Al Giddings,
Andy Kitzanuk, Paul Mockler
Editor James Lahti
Sound designers Jim McKee,
Earwax Prods. Inc.
Sound mixer Skywalker Sound
Running time -- 43 minutes...
- 2/21/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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