Customer Reviews

Arctic Tale

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

(3 1/2 *'s) `An Arctic Tale' is not exactly woven as neatly as `March of the Penguins'. Playful and at times cutesy-pie like the walrus pups and polar bear cubs presented, narrator Queen Latifah gives a comic edge to what might have been just another polar survivor adventure. Personification is a key component to the charm of her presentation, but this gets extended into the ending, which fails to stay with the story and becomes a springboard to a soapbox lecture at the end.

As with any National Geographic special, some of the cinematography ("principal" [their spelling] cinematographer, Adam Raveld) is awesome. Without a widescreen TV, I was thoroughly satisfied. The story is the tender and terrific rendition of one mother polar bear and her cub, Nanu, and one mother walrus and her pup, Selah. We see the lifecycle go from each of their births and follow their community adventures until each is old enough to become a mother herself.

As a G-rated venue, meant to enlighten and entertain, I think discerning information is needed for its potential audience. Just as the ice splits into two during an arctic summer solstice, the movie can have that kind of "polarizing" [sorry!] effect. Walking on thin ice, I'll try to be as fair as possible, nonetheless. Seeing the arctic creatures fend for themselves as their domain is melting more than previously, I knew one could discern an environmental message in layers just below the surface.

At the end we get children pleading for the audience to amend their lives to help save the characters in the movie. Now, I am split with a verdict of the ending. Part of me, having grown up in the seventies, likes the idea of conserving and sharing resources. Pollution and hording are not okay, and the specter of another energy crisis with garbage looming on the horizon is not part and parcel of my beliefs for a better future. On the other hand, I start to lose my sympathies when prodigy children lecture me that if I take two minutes less to shower, I will save the life of one of the polar bears. I think this is when everyone has a right to a claim of disservice. Conservatives get angry when they have been robbed of their "G" rated entertainment in favor of what they say is silly propaganda. Liberals also have a right to be equally offended for having their causes being brought to ineffective levels, bringing incredulity to the masses.

I think if you take the movie as it is, you will be well served by a beautiful and benign film. Just like people sometimes find it nauseating when you have a highlighter pen lecture like at the end of 'The Ultimate Gift,' people will find it more effective to let the story and stunning cinematography do all the work for them and let the adults do their own lecturing to their children. Maybe they could have taken their cues from 'Happy Feet' before them. Just as they seemed to emulate them with an environmental tale set to music, 'Arctic Tale' should have ended with its graphic "Green.nationalgeographic.org." In movies with the tug-of-war between show and tell, show should always win over tell.

This is not a global warming film! It doesn't need to be. It is obvious what is happening. The Arctic is disappearing and a polar bear named Nanu and his childhood friend Seela the walrus are now coping with the fact that their world is disappearing. This National Geographic Film covers an eight year period in which Nanu and Seela grow up, play, love and struggle against the elements of changing nature. At times the film seems like a documentary, and at other times like a wild life adventure. The film is narrated by Queen Latifah (her rendering simply did not work for me at all...I wanted Morgan Freeman!). The story is very manipulative and definitely goes for the heartstrings of younger children. It is informative and sometimes enchanting, but as an adult I did feel a little bit used by this film. All in all, a one time view will suffice for adults. Children will like this one better.

Bought this to watch with my granddaughters and while it is a bit lengthy for the under 6 crowd, they stayed interested and enjoyed it. For adults, the photography is superb and it is also informative. Latifah does a grand job. I recommend it for everyone with grandchildren for fun and educational viewing together.

Anyone who says this movie has a liberal agenda is out of touch with what is going on in the natural world. The film is excellent because it shows how the struggle for survival is becoming more difficult for Arctic animals since the ice is forming later and later each year and to a much lesser degree. The movie ended on a very positive note encouraging kids and adults to change the way they live in order to protect our planet. The movie's message was, what we do in our homes and lives effects how these animals live in their homes. The movie is beautifully filmed and touched my husband and I so much we plan on donating our surplus check to environmental groups working to protect the Arctic. The film is so moving and inspiring for kids. I am a teacher and I plan on showing it to my class as well.

This movie was fantastic for our entire family. It did NOT have a political agenda, it was just stating what is actually happening in the arctic. I liked it and felt it helped to educate my children to the problems that are occurring. WE LOVE this movie and would recommend it to any family who wants something fun for the kids yet truthful and educational, the more we educate our children about how our planet is changing the better they will be to help it in their own generation.

Quality and service was much more than I had expected. This was a great nature movie and I am very pleased that I ordered it.
I've watched this movie several times and have shared it with family and friends. Wonderful photography, great naration, sad in parts and funny in others. A real eye opener as to what we are all doing to our future Earth. Highly recommend this movie to all.

One of the great trends in the entertainment industry of the past decade is the increase of high-quality, feature-length, family-friendly documentaries that are both entertaining and educational at the same time. Shows like "Winged Migration", "March of the Penguins" and "Blue Planet" are bringing the world to people's homes even as mankind intrudes more and more into the natural world. One of the latest productions is Arctic Tale, a Paramount Pictures production that examines the life of a female polar bear, Nanu, and a female walrus, Seela over the course of three years. The movie begins with Nanu's first appearance from her mother's ice den, and then switches to Seela's first swim in the arctic waters. As the movie progresses, the viewer sees each undergo trials and tribulations such as looking for food, watching out for predators, and learning how to survive from family. The lives of both cross at several points during the movie, but both make it to the end, as both become mothers in turn. The movie is narrated by Queen Latifah, who must be working hard to expand her resume. The photography in this movie is great, and the extra features show how some of the footage was obtained. All in all, an entertaining documentary.

This was a wonderfully filmed movie. It is wholesome entertainment for the entire family. They did not show any unpleasant scenes about the outcome of some of the Arctic animals. Very good to watch.

It is my hopes that everyone takes serious the eroding of the polar ice caps and what the global warming trend has to do with it. My daughters children will never get to witness ice packs or polar bears or any Artic wildlife if this remains unchecked. Great movie to bring this to light!

This movie was fantastic for our whole family. I DON'T feel as though their was a political message to this movie like others posted, I feel as though they were being truly honest about the state of the arctic and the trouble animals are having. We cannot hide these things from our children and educating them in an honest way(like this movie) will only help future generations! Great job national geographic:)