Arctic Tale [HD] DVD

Arctic Tale
March of the Penguins producers National Geographic Films team with An Inconvenient Truth producers Paramount Vantage to take viewers on an epic journey into the arctic wilderness in a documentary that explores what happens when the beautiful frozen world occupied by two majestic creatures gradually begins to melt away. Seela is a mother walrus thriving in the chilly waters of the Great North, and Nanu is a polar bear with curved claws that make it easy to maintain her footing on ice. As director Sarah Robertson follows these two remarkable creatures from birth through adolescence, maturity, and, ultimately, parenthood, viewers will bear witness to the cycle of life as it unfolds in a vast frozen landscape that could pose problems for all of mankind if it continues to thaw at the current rate. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Cast Queen Latifah as Narrator

Crew Kattie Evans - Co-producer Chris Miller - Co-producer Sarah Robertson - Director Adam Ravetch - Director Beth Spiegel - Editor John Bard Manulis - Executive Producer Michael Rosenfeld - Executive Producer Kevin McCarey - Executive Producer Tim Kelly - Executive Producer Joby Talbot - Composer (Music Score) Frankie Pine - Musical Direction/Supervision Adam Ravetch - Cinematographer Adam Leipzig - Producer Keenan Smart - Producer Richard Taylor - Sound/Sound Designer Emmett Malloy - Executive Music Producer Ralph Sall - Executive Music Producer David Beal - Executive Music Producer The Shins - Featured Music Cat Stevens - Featured Music Vince Gill - Featured Music Aimee Mann - Featured Music Ben Harper - Featured Music Mose Richards - Narration Writer Linda Woolverton - Narration Writer Kristin Gore - Narration Writer

Arctic Tale
A film with a global conscience as impressive as its commitment to capturing rare footage, Arctic Tale is nonetheless too kiddie-oriented to cross over to the adult audiences that made March of the Penguins a hit. Perhaps because its environmental message is not explicit until the closing credits -- which feature a multi-racial spectrum of children offering tips for green living -- Arctic Tale unfolds as just a story of cute animals frolicking and surviving in their harsh conditions. And since their slips and falls are accompanied by pop songs like "We Are Family," Arctic Tale lacks both the seriousness and sophistication of March of the Penguins. Furthermore, its cinematography pales in comparison to the natural majesty documented there. The film is better appreciated from a distance, when viewers can contemplate the notion that directors Adam Ravetch and Sarah Robertson spent 15 years shooting it. Only through that extraordinary persistence could they record this array of dramatic skirmishes and tender moments. The feat is not quite as amazing as the script would suggest -- the two "protagonists," a walrus named Seela and a polar bear named Nanu, are a composite of animals, rather than single creatures tracked through their lives. But this doesn't detract from the accomplishments of Robertson and Ravetch, shown precariously perched on ice floes with all their equipment during the closing credits. Queen Latifah's narration is supposed to contain just enough sass to seem unconventional, but it's too straightforward and precious, reinforcing the film's appropriateness for wee tots. Instilling environmental awareness in young children is an admirable goal, and they brought out the big guns, with Kristin Gore (Al's daughter) credited as a writer. Unfortunately, children old enough to actually absorb this message may rather switch over to the latest fantasy epic than endure Arctic Tale's 85 minutes. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
 

(no awards)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French, Spanish Subtitle Options: English, French, Spanish, Por Sound Processing: Additional Features: Making of Arctic Tale "Are We There Yet? World Adventure: Polar Bear Spotting" MPAA Rating: G DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: Content Length: 86 min