Earth (Rhoades)

Disney’s “Earth” Is a Family Affair

Reviewed by Shirrel Rhoades

The new Disney nature documentary called “Earth” is being released on Earth Day 2009. But given its focus on three animal mothers, you might think of “Earth” as a Mother’s Day movie.
Narrated by James Earl Jones, you’ll meet an Animal Crackers array: Migrating flocks of geese, bears on ice floes, seals doing underwater gymnastics, belly-sliding penguins, stampeding goats, bouncing baby ducklings, mincing monkeys, and lapping lions – just about everything short of ten lords a-leaping.

Covering one year in the life of the creatures who share our planet, you will follow the adventures of three families of polar bears, elephants, and humpback whales.

The cinematography is eye candy, so dazzling you don’t dare blink. There are so many how-did-they-get-that? shots that you’ll barely believe your eyes. It reminds me of those old Disney True-Life Adventures, except this time shot in Hi-Def with all the technological tricks of modern-day filmmaking.

Directed by Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, the same team who gave us the Emmy-winning “Planet Earth” BBC series, this is the first in a new line of Disneynature films.

However, “Earth” is more than a nature film. It’s a celebration of life on this planet.

srhoades@aol.com
[from Solares Hill]