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Arctic Tale (2007)
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Reviews Counted:95
Fresh:59
Rotten:36
Average Rating:5.9/10
Consensus: Arctic Tale features breathtaking nature cinematography, but is undone by its over-cutesy narration.
Theatrical Release:08-02-2008
Synopsis: This heartbreaking documentary puts a face on the sad statistics of global warming--and though it's not a human face, it's the perhaps even more effective face of an adorable polar bear cub, Nanu,... This heartbreaking documentary puts a face on the sad statistics of global warming--and though it's not a human face, it's the perhaps even more effective face of an adorable polar bear cub, Nanu, along with her mother, her brother, and her natural enemy, the equally heart-melting Seela the walrus. With breathtaking footage of life on the arctic tundra, the directors spin a highly emotional tale of the melting ice caps and the effect of their disappearance on every species in the ecosystem. Since the film is essentially aimed at children, the cuteness factor is off the charts, aided by the slightly grating use of sound effects, a slangy voiceover by Queen Latifah, and a kid-friendly pop/folk soundtrack. And, as in a National Geographic special, viewers learn some interesting and neutral facts about polar bears, walruses, narwhals, foxes, and other northern creatures. The narrative, however, returns repeatedly to the grim conditions that are killing off our planet's wildlife, one family at a time. The directors take pains to create a hopeful ending, with a sweet pair of life-goes-on epilogues and a closing credit sequence featuring conservation tips, but the message of the film is sobering and hits its mark with kids and adults alike. [More]
Director: Adam Ravetch, Sarah Robertson
Director: Adam Ravetch, Sarah Robertson
Producer: Adam Leipzig, Keenan Smart
Composer: Joby Talbot
Studio: Paramount Classics
Reviews for Arctic Tale
The filmmakers probably thought the truth would be too upsetting for children, so we get walrus farts instead.
Arctic Tale isn't a documentary. They say it right there in the title, see? It's a tale. [Blu-ray]
The photography of Arctic Tale is what makes it so good. The nature documentary style of this movie is brilliant and breathtaking at times.
...the movie is mainly for the benefit of children, a good thing because the world will soon enough be in their hands.
Well intentioned, spectacularly filmed, and packing a vital message, Arctic Tale is worthwhile, even if its old style presentation leaves us less than thrilled.
Capitalizing on the successes of both March of the Penguins and An Inconvenient Truth, the sappy Artic Tale is more akin to a commercial for a McDonald's Happy Meal.
those expecting a March of the Penguins-like good time are going to hit eject on the DVD player feeling awfully depressed
Putting an animal’s face to global warming is conceptually smart and would’ve been more effective if it were applied to other species in other climate zones too.
If you're expecting a dramatic fictional depiction of life in the semi-frozen north, you'll find the stories pretty thin. This is not The Call of the Wild.
As a baby boomer myself, "Arctic Tale" falls just short of the Disney gems. But the aquatic adventures of the walruses alone get my seal of approval.
Although lacking the lyric force of March of the Penguins and Winged Migration, the film combines a great story with world-class photography to tell a unique National Geographic tale.
It makes you extremely grateful that Smell-O-Vision was never perfected.
If it's sometimes a little too pat, a little too cute, bear in mind that this film's target audience is the post-Barney, pre-Bratz set and not John James Audubon.
Latest News for Arctic Tale
April 29, 2008:
Disney, Warners Taking Filmgoers Back to Nature ![]()
No longer the sole domain of Marlin Perkins and Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, nature documentaries have become big business at the box office -- a business that Warner Bros.... More...
July 26, 2007:
Critical Consensus: Woo-Hoo! Simpsons Is Certified Fresh; No Reservations Is Bland; Rescue Dawn Shines
This week at the moves, we've got America's favorite family in their long-awaited big-screen debut (The Simpsons Movie); a tale of two chefs (No Reservations, starring Catherine... More...
July 22, 2007:
The striking visuals that sweep across both the landscape and awesome natural world beneath, compete for center stage with the film's critical ecological cautionary warning pertaining to the careless harming of the planet. ![]()
More...
June 13, 2007:
Trailer & Poster review. ![]()
More...
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