Disney's Oceans is the most important film of our time

Most of our planet is ocean. And our ocean is in big trouble.

But nearly all of the ocean is out of sight and mind for nearly all of us.

Jacques Cousteau, whose 100th birthday is celebrated in June, said that people protect what they love.

The best way to fall in love with the ocean is to get in it, on it and under it as much as possible. But that's logistically challenging and impractical for most people.

The next best way is to see Oceans in a theater, opening on Earth Day.

If you open your heart up and take in the spectacularity of this film, it will change your life. Seriously. I saw it happen yesterday at the Turning the Tide pre-screening at Cavallo Point.

Let the images of walrus love, the beautiful swimming blanket octopus, spider crab orgies of extraordinary magnitude, great white sharks, orcas, humpbacks, sea turtles and dugongs feeding and waves upon waves upon waves wash over you.

Avatar was entertaining, but it's fake. Hollywood at its absolute best. This film is real and every bit as mind-blowing. Our ocean planet at its best. What James Cameron spent years creating in a studio, the Disney Oceans team spent years patiently waiting to film, in the ocean. And the result is pure joy. A reminder that we share this blue marble called Earth with such a diversity of creatures and forms, all of us connected. But the future of many requires us to adjust our activities.

Make no mistake, ours is an ocean planet. Get to know it again. Take everyone you know to see Oceans on the biggest screen you can find. Fall deeply in love with the ocean, our planet, again.

Then, most importantly, live like you love the ocean. Be part of the ocean revolution.

 

 

 

Follow Wallace J Nichols on Twitter: www.twitter.com/wallacejnichols

Comments

[Wallace J Nichols]

07:32 PM on 04/21/2010

The only thing missing from the film, right at the end it should say:

Take Action!

pluckfastic.org

; )

[HighlightDC]

04:31 PM on 04/21/2010

people protect what they love -- great quote. Just wanted to add another incentive to see it sooner rather than later - Disney is giving money to protect coral reefs in the Bahamas. It's part of their See Oceans. Save Oceans. program and they are giving a portion of each opening week ticket to The Nature Conservancy. Good reviews and a good cause - I am in!

[ccairnes]

06:15 PM on 04/18/2010

Disney did a bang-up job promoting outer space in the 1950s and 1960s. Here's hoping Oceans will be able to do the same for inter space, as we used to call it in the outer space program. It is exciting to note that Disney is also expanding its cruise line into the Inside Passage of Alaska where people will be able to see the connection between the oceans and the forest. Stopping deforestation is one of the most important things we can do to address the issue of ocean acidification, a major threat to our ocean world. The trees of the Tongass National Forest that the Inside Passage cruises will run through absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and sequester carbon in lush vegetation. Cruise passengers will notice a striking resemblance between the Alexander Archipelago and the floating islands of Pandora. Not only is the Tongass National Forest real, but it is owned by the citizens of America and open to the public.

[Intelinside]

02:15 PM on 04/18/2010

looking very forward to it- i was a sailor as a young man and had some of the most magnificent experiences at sea that stay with me always.

i highly recommend some time in the oceans to anyone that has the opportunity.