Ravishing. So why is Disney hiding the fact that Oceans is directed by the Winged Migration team? (My guess: They're trying so hard to brand their documentary division Disney Nature, they won't mention any other studio's movie.) Happily, Jacques Peppin's and Jacques Cluzaud's fish extravaganza is just as spectacular as their bird movie. Yet, aside from identifying the species, the voiceover narration is mainly pointless. You might be happier taking an iPod and enjoying the stunning imagery while skipping Pierce Brosnan's announcement that penguins aren't very good figure skaters.
Did you realize the floating trash mass in the Pacific Gyre is now larger than Texas? You won't learn that from this movie, which only glances distantly at the oceans' dire problems. Without pointing fingers at any actual culprits, they merely mention "pollution" and "overfishing," then return to the magnificence. Curiously, the 86-minute U.S. edition is 14 minutes shorter than the European version; maybe they get more facts.
Nevertheless, even in this form, Oceans is essential, incredible viewing. No surprise, the French trailer below chooses better scenes, but the movie at your multiplex is in English.
I agree with you about the narration. It seemed very pointless. But I did like seeing the pod of ten or so humpbacks off the coast of Alaska. That was very cool!
Posted by: Lori Hobkirk | April 26, 2010 at 12:12 PM