Amazon.com
In this 60-minute documentary,
National Geographic accompanies a family of naturalists on a quiet journey through islands around the northern tip of Antarctica. The family members, seasoned Antarctic explorers, study bustling penguin colonies to gauge the general environmental health of the peninsula. Interestingly, the film reveals that scientists are the primary threat to Antarctica's ecology--in some areas, rusting shipwrecks and abandoned oil drums from scientific expeditions litter the landscape. Unlike most
National Geographic features, this film favors character studies over geology--we learn quite a bit about the family's three sons, but little about the formation of the "last continent." The camera work is somewhat uninspired (perhaps due to the restrictions of filming from the boat), but there are some excellent close-ups of humpback whales surfacing around the small vessel. Penguin lovers will also enjoy the ample footage of their favorite amiable black-and-white birds.
--Claire Campbell
Product Description
Set sail with a family of real-life explorers for the most remote and starkly beautiful continent on earth - Antarctica. Aboard the 50-foot schooner Damien II, a husband-wife naturalist team and their three sons will guide you on the voyage of a lifetime. Rocky coasts, azure blue seas, and magnificent towering icebergs set the backdrop for a wide variety of wildlife as you navigate south through the islands of the pristine Antarctic peninsula. From the deck of the small craft you will see humpback whales perform a graceful underwater ballet. And while on shore, you will mingle with three species of penguins as well as marvel at young elephant seals at play. Join National Geographic for the ultimate ANTARCTIC WILDLIFE ADVENTURE!
