The Earth (Movie) Will Blow Your Mind

"How can people be expected to care if they aren't inspired? This is a movie designed to inspire."

That's they way producer Alastair Fothergill described his highly anticipated new film Earth this week at the film's early screening in DC.

Now I am not, nor claim to be, a movie critic, but if Fothergill's, and director Mark Linfield's intent was inspiration, they completely and utterly deliver throughout their 85 minute film.

I write this as a 28 year old dude who regularly claims not to give a (insert expletive) about polar bears and wildlife.

I grew up in the rural south; I like football and NASCAR; I drink beer in unhealthy quantities, and unbeknownst to me before this week, the planet I live on is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

...and yes, I will admit: "I (heart) baby-ducks-jumping-out-of-trees for-the-first-time." I may make a bumper sticker. Or better yet, as a progressive, I may start a caucus.

Earth is a stunning masterpiece that will leave even the most ardent coal lobbyist in awe of our planet and yearning to see more -- and to preserve it.

The Earth team spent 5 years and over 2,000 hours in the field, and in so doing have brilliantly captured the incredible mystery, wonder, horror, and beauty that is our Home.

Even the trailer will give you chills:

For those that are fans of the Discovery/BBC Planet Earth documentary series, you will see some familiar footage, though weaved into a narrative with three lead characters: a polar bear, a humpback whale, and an elephant.

Cliche characters all, it's true, but in this film you will see them in an entirely new and never-before-captured light.

Noticeably absent from the film is the blood and gore side of the circle of life typically depicted in other nature films. Rather, the directors artfully tackle life and death as though the nature film was a dramatic ballet. That is to say, there is clear indication of the ultimate outcome, but instead of noticing it, you will be transfixed by nearly-perfected bodies in motion.

As a cheetah runs down a gazelle or as a two thousand pound great white shark leaps 10 feet out of the water while clashing its jaws around a seal, one cannot help but marvel at the impossible beauty of two predators at the height of their evolutionary development ...and slowed down 40x.

Throughout, this film is simply breathtaking.

Also noticeably absent is any message of impending doom or destruction. There is clearly an underlying tone that our planet is warming and that the climate is changing, and that is having an effect on the film's stars (particularly the polar bear) -- but the filmmakers do so without political bent and in stark contrast to films like Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth and DiCaprio's 11th Hour.

Again, this film is aimed to inspire. And it does.

So whether you are 7 years old or 97 -- and yes, even if you are a twenty-something dude from Columbia, TN -- on April 22nd, do yourself and the planet a favor, and let Earth inspire the hell out of you too.

Comments

[macrumpton]

My wife (a second grade teacher) took her class to see this movie, and left it sobbing along with most of her class. This is definitely not a movie for people who have problems watching struggling animals going to their death, and definitely not for young children alone.

[normathumb]

I would recommend the gorgeous and wordlessly provocative trilogy from Godfrey Reggio. Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi, Hopi words that mean 'life out of balance', 'life in transformation' and 'life as war'. Reggio spent a couple decades traveling the planet filming scenes of both natures timelessness and the modern humankinds interaction with it. The juxtaposition is both beautiful and disturbing. Some of the same crew put together another beuatiful film, "Baraka". These films have no characters, dialogue or plot but are full of meaning and resonance.

[FreedomTruth]

Okay,so ummm how was this video supposed to be scarry in any kind of way!

[quidam56]

Appalachia is being bombed, blasted and bulldozed right into 3rd world America, we can't stand anymore of the prosperity thanks to Bush/Cheney and THE COAL INDUSTRY.

http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=138

[melmoid]

This why I don' understand the opposition to nuclear energy. It is far less disruptive to the earth and creates far, far less volume of waste. The waste can even be largely recycled and with breeder technology, it isn't even necessary to mine for uranium.

[KillTheMessenger]

The opposition to nuclear energy stems from the observation that nuclear power plants are being operated by the same kind of people who blast Appalachia to pieces. If that does not frighten you, nothing ever will. And your kind expectation that everything that can be done right with nuclear fuel will be done right collide with the reality that nothing ever has been done that wasn't the cheapest and most lucrative. The recycling and breeder technologies are not among the cheap and lucrative.

[macrumpton]

I think the main problem most people have with nuclear power is that it is very unforgiving of mistakes and sabotage. The consequences of a major nuclear disaster are so far reaching (Chernobyl) and so far in excess of any conceivable disaster with any other kind of powerplant that even if it was much cheaper to run (which it is not ) one has to wonder if it is worth the risk.

As far as breeder reactors are concerned they use a process that creates Plutonium out of Unranium 238. The downside is that less than a pinhead of the stuff is a fatal dose, so it is not very forgiving. Breeder reactors also run very hot so the strain on the materials of the reactor is greater.

[greystoke]

I believe you need to up your dosage. If you make this film into a commentary on religion you have to be missing the whole point. It amazes me how posters like to focus on irrelevant or misleading issues/statements. This is a beautiful film that captures the wonder and majesty of the world around us. From my experiences in trips to Anarctica and to the Galapagos Islands(with one scheduled for the Rain Forests of Costa Rica next month), this type of film is the next best thing to being there: since most are no so fortunate to actually visit the animals in their native habitats.

[melmoid]

Maybe sampled too much of the pharmacy.