Oceans
Directors: Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud
Stars: Pierce Brosnan (narrator)
Classification: G
Rating: ***
Following the success of the last year’s Earth, Disney’s new documentary label has produced another mammoth non-fiction effort entitled Oceans (no points for guessing what it’s about).
Shot over a span of four years with new underwater filmmaking technology created specifically for the project, Oceans is an undeniably impressive technical achievement.
Stunning footage of sea life that was never possible to capture before will certainly thrill audiences, even if the movie never amounts to more than an impressive showreel for new technology. Fortunately, it’s difficult to be bothered by that too much when watching all of the extraordinary footage projected on a giant screen.
With its Earth Day release date, the film obviously offers some well-timed environmental messages about the pressing need to take better care of our environment.
Disturbing satellite footage highlighting a black polluted runoff pouring into the oceans will disgust many viewers, while Pierce Brosnan’s soothing British voice spells out the dangers of these issues in no uncertain terms.
However, the film doesn’t really offer any compelling argument to justify all of the political finger wagging and heartstring-pulling footage of adorable animals.
The movie is merely a collection of the most impressive images a massive crew of underwater filmmakers could capture with a near limitless budget and production schedule.
The result may boast a significant “wow” factor, but it’s a shame that no one bothered to come up with a concise theme or structure to give it all a clear meaning.
There is a nice message about nature conservation and the majesty of the great blue yonder to be found in Oceans. It’s just difficult to determine what specific arguments the filmmakers want to impart on the viewers. The movie is aimed at children and they shouldn’t mind quite so much about the questionable substance.
All they’ll care about are the pretty blue images of ocean life that the filmmakers deliver for 85 minutes.
An unfocused documentary, but also an undeniably beautiful one.
