Eco-friendly Earth will dazzle but overwhelm

By: Greg Sgammato

Posted: 4/30/09

Nature is truly astounding. When one sees Earth, the new feature-length version of the BBC's acclaimed series Planet Earth, such thoughts are the first to come to mind. After beginning with remarkable shots of the Earth taken from space, the film continues to showcase the planet and its inhabitants in all their glory.

Alas, if only that is all the movie tried to accomplish. As with any environmental film, it feels obligated to serve as both a phenomenal visual showcase and a public service announcement. Global warming is a very real threat, and the filmmakers, Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, won't let anyone within 10 miles of their movie forget it. Not-so-subtle references and a constant focus on climate change inundate the viewer with eco-friendly information; After a while, one loses interest in the stunning visuals and can only hear the incessant references to the importance of keeping this world healthy.

Before we get to that point though, there is plenty of footage to keep us satisfied. The film, beginning at the North Pole and working its way to the South Pole, follows several families of animals on their seasonal migrations. The first scenes showcase the Arctic during winter, a visual masterpiece of sparkling ice and mountains of frost. Enter two young polar bear cubs and their mother, who have emerged from their den for the first time in months. The cubs can hardly walk, and the first few moments of the film - in which the pair attempt to follow their mother down a slope - are truly adorable.

Next we see footage of caribou, traveling across the plains of North America. Stalking these unsuspecting creatures is a group of wolves, one of which begins to chase a young caribou. Inevitably, the wolf catches its prey, and instantly the film loses any semblance of innocence. Throughout the rest of the film, death and suffering in the animal kingdom are recurring motifs. A family of elephants is stalked by a lion pack, leading to multiple elephants being turned into dinner. A great white shark envelops a baby seal in its jaws. The father of the aforementioned polar bears swims in search of food for days, just to unsuccessfully attack a group of walrus. As a result, even witnessing an animal not being eaten leads the viewer to feel sorrowful. Nature is gruesome, and not even a Disney-produced film such as this will hide that fact.

As thematically grim as it may be, the film is undoubtedly beautiful. The camera soars over the Sahara Desert and captures aerial shots of Mount Everest. The audience is led through the jungles of the Amazon, down waterfalls and up mountains, following nature's creatures as they migrate for the change of seasons. Various birds of paradise grace the screen, displaying their beauty and prowess in attracting mates. A cheetah bounds after its prey, exercising every muscle it has. Slow-motion shots ensure that no moment of the action, whether it involves animals or not, is missed.

On a mechanical level, the film works seamlessly. The editing is spot-on and the sound is perfect. Actor James Earl Jones provides the voice of the narrator, and his deep, reassuring sound grounds the film and provides it continuity from scene to scene.

Every camera angle is fantastic and the documenters employ a variety of techniques that are impressive to the audience. For example, many scenes are shown in fast-forward, at rates much faster than real time speed. Such seamless execution of these scenes is indicative of a high level of dedication and expertise that surrounds every aspect of the film.

Thematically, though, the film encounters problems. A nature documentary should not contain an overarching, human-imposed theme, and it is because of this that Earth becomes bogged down in tiresome narrative quips and repetitive scenes.

Multiple references are made to the ever-increasing amount of ice caps that are melting every year, and the film is sure to point out the implications of such an event. The very theme of the movie - migration and climate change - lends itself to a discussion on global warming. The father polar bear would not have been forced to scavenge for food so desperately if his environment had not been ruined. Instead of pointing the viewer towards the spectacles of nature, all too often the film points its own finger at the audience in accusation.

Perhaps it is telling that the film was released on Earth Day (April 22, 2009), a date on which groups worldwide attempt to raise awareness on environmental issues. Such an agenda is fitting in some circumstances, but its tone was not suitable for a Disney-produced film showcasing the wonders of nature.

The filmmakers could have created a documentary strictly about life on earth and the bad effects of increasing temperature would have been self-evident. As it stands, the imposed eco-friendly theme detracts from an otherwise jaw-dropping experience.