Moviola > Films > Earth

Earth (U)   90 mins

Written and directed by Alistair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, this re-cut version of the BBC series Planet Earth is a wildlife film at the very top of its game. No shot is less than dazzling, most are beautiful and many are stunning. Astounding images of whales cavorting in the oceans, rivers crashing down mountain-height waterfalls, cherry trees blossoming in time-lapse and many other wonders are complemented admirably by the rich, authoritative tones of narrator Patrick Stewart.  Earth concentrates on a few animal characters in order to take us on a rough journey from the North to the South pole over a year. There's a polar bear family, with cute fluffy cubs sliding in the snow. A herd of Kalahari elephants trudge through a drought and lions to reach water, and a humpback whale and her calf journey halfway across the world. This focus helps add drama and, while the voiceover does occasionally veer into the pompous, it manages to steer clear of anthropomorphism. Plenty of other creatures get a cameo moment in the spotlight too - one bizarre bird-of-paradise dance makes a particularly memorable sequence.  Despite some censorship of the nastier things in nature, there's a serious message overlaying the pretty pictures. The damage mankind is doing to the earth is made starkly clear. Still, gloomy message notwithstanding, images of this brilliance are naturally uplifting.

"Visually dazzling"  Philip French

"Awe-inspiring"  EyeForFilm

www.loveearth.com/uk

Showing:

26-Apr        Denmead   CANCELLED    

Last modified: 23-Apr-2008

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