Movie Review: March of the Penguins
Last weekend I saw "March of the Penguins" with my daughter. I know this movie has been somewhat of a sleeper hit, because basically its a documentary about Penguins. I mean, really it is a kind of standard documentary and Morgan Freeman does the narration. So, if you're looking for animated penguins or that kind of cheezy voice over where penguins appear to be speaking, this is not it.
However, this is a great movie. First of all, the landscape of Antartica is stunning and so unusual. Then the penguins themselves are such interesting animals- so graceful and speedy in the water and so pokey and comical as they walk along on land. The documentary's focus is on the penguins journey to their breeding ground and what they go through as they bring forth the next generation of penguins. There are many things about this that are stunning, but it is amazing that somehow these penguins have an internal compass to return to the breeding ground where they were born AND there are thousands! they are all there looking for a mate. So the mother lays the egg, but then the fathers sit on the egg as the mother goes for food. And the fathers balance the egg on the tops of their feet and tuck it under their bellies, as they huddle around each other for warmth. The fathers sit on their eggs until they hatch and then the mothers come back and feed the babies, and the babies huddle under the moms while the fathers take their turn going back to the sea to get something to eat. It is really amazing how their family unit interacts, and then is part of this HUGE community of penguins all living together at the breeding ground.
I must warn of a few sad parts. In one instance when the babies start walking around on their own, one baby wanders too far from the group, and the mama penguin sadly continues to nudge her dead baby with her beak. At this point in the movie I was a little choked up, but my daughter was really sobbing, and said "I want to leave, I don't like this anymore"- of course, a crowded theater is no place to explain how the wild is a tough place, some animals don't make it, cycle of life, yadda, yadda...So, I said "Let's just stay a little longer, because the other babies are going to grow up and you don't want to miss that" and I gave her a hug and a smooch. This seem to calm her down. All the while I was hoping "Please don't let this movie become some penguin carnage movie, where all the babies are eaten by predators, or a huge iceburg crushes the whole penguin community, or they document how some horrible ebola-like virus sweeps through and kills them"
Fortunately, the penguins carried on and no horrible things happened, aside from a few sad moments, the penguin movie was fascinating. The penguins are creatures of dedication and fortitude. And it was rewarding to see the babies grow up and dive into the water for the first time on their own.
Later we went and had a burger at our favorite place, Burgerville. Allie admitted she was glad we stayed and saw the end of the movie.
Allie's summation: "I really liked the movie, and it would be even better if you didn't have to see the death part."
However, this is a great movie. First of all, the landscape of Antartica is stunning and so unusual. Then the penguins themselves are such interesting animals- so graceful and speedy in the water and so pokey and comical as they walk along on land. The documentary's focus is on the penguins journey to their breeding ground and what they go through as they bring forth the next generation of penguins. There are many things about this that are stunning, but it is amazing that somehow these penguins have an internal compass to return to the breeding ground where they were born AND there are thousands! they are all there looking for a mate. So the mother lays the egg, but then the fathers sit on the egg as the mother goes for food. And the fathers balance the egg on the tops of their feet and tuck it under their bellies, as they huddle around each other for warmth. The fathers sit on their eggs until they hatch and then the mothers come back and feed the babies, and the babies huddle under the moms while the fathers take their turn going back to the sea to get something to eat. It is really amazing how their family unit interacts, and then is part of this HUGE community of penguins all living together at the breeding ground.
I must warn of a few sad parts. In one instance when the babies start walking around on their own, one baby wanders too far from the group, and the mama penguin sadly continues to nudge her dead baby with her beak. At this point in the movie I was a little choked up, but my daughter was really sobbing, and said "I want to leave, I don't like this anymore"- of course, a crowded theater is no place to explain how the wild is a tough place, some animals don't make it, cycle of life, yadda, yadda...So, I said "Let's just stay a little longer, because the other babies are going to grow up and you don't want to miss that" and I gave her a hug and a smooch. This seem to calm her down. All the while I was hoping "Please don't let this movie become some penguin carnage movie, where all the babies are eaten by predators, or a huge iceburg crushes the whole penguin community, or they document how some horrible ebola-like virus sweeps through and kills them"
Fortunately, the penguins carried on and no horrible things happened, aside from a few sad moments, the penguin movie was fascinating. The penguins are creatures of dedication and fortitude. And it was rewarding to see the babies grow up and dive into the water for the first time on their own.
Later we went and had a burger at our favorite place, Burgerville. Allie admitted she was glad we stayed and saw the end of the movie.
Allie's summation: "I really liked the movie, and it would be even better if you didn't have to see the death part."
posted by moegirl at
5:55 PM
3 Comments:
Thanks for the review. I had heard good things and plan to rent it when it comes out. Sounds like the kids will like it but being warned about the sad parts will help us discuss it.
By
Diana, At
6:01 AM
When you ate the burger did you think about the cows?
By
Anonymous, At
4:05 PM
I thought about the cows probably as much as the penguins thought about the fish they ate during the movie.
By
moegirl, At
1:23 PM
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