Arctic Tale

source: Arctic Tale

Global Warming is a real threat. The majority of scientists across the globe agree on this (there is a small dissenting group but nothing compared to those that believe in the theory). And wildlife filmmakers Adam Ravetch and Sarah Robertson believed there were ways to prove it. So they embarked on a fifteen year odyssey to film the lives of two creatures: Nanu the polar bear and Seela the Walrus. The arctic is where these two live, and the arctic is the battleground most climatologists point to whenever they are asked for proof of global warming theory. It is important to let our children know that this area is in danger—as are its animals—thanks to the changes in global climate. And children are who this G-rated film is directed at. There's the cuddly polar bear scene when Nanu is born with her "brother", and the protective nature of walruses as they fret over their young. And there's the bathroom humor of the walruses as they eat clams and then expel flatulence in roaring surround sound. But there's also some things that might frighten the very young. Nanu and her ilk are meat eaters; in fact, they love walrus and seal meat. Some bloody carcasses are seen on several occasions, so parents who haven't discussed life-cycles with their young ones should beware. The fact that the movie-makers didn't give Nanu's "brother" and Seela's "auntie" a name should also give you pause (crewman 19!). To help aid in the marketing of this film, you'll often hear "From the people that brought you MARCH OF THE PENGUINS..." but don't be fooled. Neither director nor the writers involved here were affiliated with March of the Penguins. Both films were aided with production dollars by National Geographic Films but that's about it. Although March of the Penguins held more astonishing film footage, this film can boast some exquisite shots of its own. Following polar bears around as they swim in the open ocean and watching walruses suckle their newborns was something I found phenomenally well filmed. The vanishing ice flows are also pointedly shown as months into what should have been the arctic winter turns into open seas instead of frozen waters. Queen Latifah (HAIRSPRAY) does a great job narrating. Never over-the-top, her tone was perfect for the settings. Always. But I think Morgan Freeman did a bit better job during March of the Penguins. All-in-all, it's a superior documentary that stands head and shoulders above this one. But that shouldn't shame Arctic Tale at all. It's a decent documentary. Just decent.

"Arctic Tale" is a National Geographic nature documentary blown up to widescreen proportions. Exquisitely photographed by Adam Ravetch (who, along with Sarah Roberston, also served as co-director of the film), the movie follows the exploits of an adorable polar bear cub named Nanu and an equally irresistible baby walrus named Celia as they learn to cope and survive (with more than a little help from their mommies) in the harsh conditions of the Great White North. Weaknesses first. "Arctic Tale" suffers from a failing common to many nature documentaries aimed at a general audience - namely the tendency to sanitize and whitewash some of the harsher realities of life in the wild to avoid offending the sensibilities of an often squeamish audience. We don't mind oohing and ahhing over a cuddly little bear, all bleary-eyed and squinty, finally emerging from the dark den of her childhood to the bright light of day - but being compelled to watch her tear some other poor defenseless creature to pieces in order to perpetuate her own survival would be something else again. Similarly, it's one thing to anthropomorphize an animal; it's quite another to do so on the level of a Disney cartoon (the animals here do just about everything but talk). Thus, not only do we get cutesy, folksy narration (voiced by Queen Latifah) that sounds as if it were written for an audience of restless first-graders (which it may very well have been) but a sappy theme song that sets a schmaltzy tone from the outset. The movie also goes in for such corny effects as playing "We Are Family" on the soundtrack as we're introduced to a tight knit community of sunbathing walruses - or treating us to a full-out flatulence contest among the members of that same group. For some reason, the movie seems to feel that we just wouldn't be all that interested in the lives of these creatures if we weren't somehow convinced that, underneath it all, they're JUST LIKE US. Not that we aren't treated to the darker, kill-or-be-killed, survival-of-the-fittest side of nature as well, though rest assured the "kills" are kept at a discreet enough distance to avoid traumatizing the little ones - or even the more weak-stomached and fainthearted members of the adult audience, for that matter. On the positive side, the movie makes a poignant case for the tremendous threat global warming poses to these wonderful creatures and offers proof positive as to just how quickly the rapidly-changing climate is shattering the fragile ecosystem that serves as their home. Ravetch manages to get his camera into amazing places, so much so that we often wonder just how genuine some of the "story" we are witnessing actually is (the movie was culled from over 800 hours of footage gathered over a period of fifteen years, not the mere twelve-month-long period the plot line would suggest). Yet, if you can get past the pedestrian commentary, you'll find in "Arctic Tale" a visually stunning, frequently thrilling and occasionally heartbreaking story of struggle and survival, one filled with enough urgency and passion to get us up and over most of the teeth-gritting stuff.

National Geographic does a documentary with a good dose of cutesy storytelling from the Queen Latifah narration. It starts with a momma polar bear and her two cubs emerging from their den for the first time. They have to navigate the new climate along side a baby walrus within its herd. It's nothing new to tell a nature story from a humanistic manner. Sometimes, it works well like the death of the cub. Other times, it's rather too cute. On that note, I don't like Queen Latifah's narration. It may be old fashion but nature documentaries always sounds better British. I also don't like the music which has singing in it. When it gets to a fart fest, the show takes a giant step down. I appreciate the attempt at something new but most of this is rubbing me the wrong way.

I say this movie is manipulative only because it seems to promise one thing and deliver another. I rented it because I thought my 4 year old daughter would enjoy what seemed to be the promise of one of those cutesy, kiddie-oriented movies featuring baby animals having fun adventures together. The truth is that she wasn't really enthralled by it, and while there are some baby animals in this (mostly a polar bear and a walrus) the "adventures" related really have more to do with the struggle of the animals to adapt to the changing ice conditions in the Arctic being caused by global warming. I have no problem with the message - I think the fight against global warming is extremely important. I just had a bit of a reaction against what I thought was the not entirely honest description of the movie's purpose. Having said that, as a nature movie I thought this was not bad (although it has more to say to adults than to 4 year olds.) Narrated by Queen Latifah, and made in co-operation with the National Geographic Society, it's has some things in common with the Antarctic adventure "March Of The Penguins" (although it's not as good). As you would expect from National Geographic, the photography is brilliant, and a wide variety of animals are featured (in addition to the polar bears and walruses, there are arctic foxes, beluga whales, orcas, narwhaals, terns and gulls and possibly a few I'm forgetting.) The message isn't subtle; it gets through very clearly - the Arctic is warming up! - and it's true that you do find yourself drawn into the animals' lives and rooting for them through their struggles. I appreciated that the film anded on a fairly positive note, as the arctic life cycle continued, with what had been the baby animals becoming mothers to new babies. Manipulation aside, the film is family-friendly and, as I noted, very well photographed, but in the end it didn't accomplish what I had hoped - which was to truly entertain a 4 year old.

There are two of these moral messages in this movie: First: The usual women's libber tale: Beware of Males; The only superior beings in the world are Females. It even goes as far, that they try to suggest, it's only the (bad) males, who are killing the prey. Second: (Usual since 10 years as well): It's only because of you male punks (Car-drivers, electricity-users and so on) that these cuddly (female) creatures won't be able to live (hunt???) in the years forthcoming, because of your blame only, their world is going to disappear. You realise the intention - thus you are displeased.

I don't see this as a standard documentary, or a documentary at all. This movie is about the lives of animals in the Arctic. Tough life as it is, and ones that become impossible because human race forgot that we have neighbors. The movie doesn't try to teach you anything that most of use don't already know, but its doing a great job in creating a loving, compassionate emotions to the wonderful animals of the arctic that fight harder and harder every year just to survive. The story is sweet and touching, and the images are beautiful and make your love flow. The only reason I give this movie a top rate is because (and I've waited the whole movie to see if they would) at the end it lets each of us help the arctic animals in their fight in the changing climate. The movie is doing so by giving the viewer simple, understandable tips for reducing energy consumption. No one is asking for any donations here, or special effort, but only giving us suggestions for making minor changes in our way of life so these wonderful arctic creatures don't have to suffer any drastic changes in theirs and so they can avoid extinction. I would like my grandchildren to enjoy fresh films about arctic life and instead of watching movies like this as an evidence to the lives of species that are long gone. Show it to your children, your friends, and everyone you can, to make them re-discover the love to nature we all buried under so much work and stress...and do something about it!

We certainly seem to be, judging from the comments on this film. It's no masterpiece, and it doesn't discuss global warming in as much depth as I'd have liked--some animations from Gore's film could've worked--but I think some people are being seriously misled by dangerously incomplete knowledge. Evolution takes place over millions of years. Paleontologists consider tens of thousands of years too short a time to distinguish evolutionary changes. Humans have mass-hunted whales and other large animals only in the past couple of centuries, and we've already wiped out so many species. When a species disappears, not only do its evolutionary gains disappear from Earth forever, it also indicates serious trouble in its entire ecosystem. It tells us that something is very, very wrong. Nothing but bacteria can evolve in our lifetime. It says much about human apathy to see such mean-spirited messages on here. People who don't care about animals don't care about humans.

Don't bother renting this movie. National Geographic and Paramount start out filming the cutest little polar bear since Knut. They add silly narrative. Then things take a turn for the worse. They stick in some guff about global warming. Why didn't bloody National Geographic fly in some steaks for the polar bears? Don't they sell enough of their magazines? Doesn't bloody Paramount have some spare change to helicopter in some goodies for the cute little bears? Why did they let'em die?

Wonderfully filmed and well edited. One question though. Why do we rescue oil covered seals and birds? Because if we don't they will die and after all mankind caused their predicament. Would it have killed anyone to save the baby polar bear? Especially if they are dying because of mankind? If they are threatened then isn't each one precious? Fine, you can show the plight of the bear, but you do NOT have to stand there and film it until it is dead!!!! Take it to a zoo!! Every day sick seals are found on the beach and we swoop in with vets and nurse them back to health. Sorry Polar bear, you're not worth saving because we need you to die to make a point. This is the kind of dimwitted environmental religion that drives me insane.