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In 2009, Disneynature took viewers on a breathtaking journey around the world with Earth, a nature documentary that explored everything from the arctic to the desert. The follow-up, Oceans, ventures out into the water to take an up close and personal look at life under the sea.
Once again, Oceans is filled with stunning footage that draws audiences in and immerses them in this wonderful, magical world of skittering crabs, majestic humpback whales, and leafy sea dragons. At times, in fact, it’s so magnificent, with strange sea creatures in all shapes, sizes, and colors, that you’ll swear it’s not real—but it is. From the comical antics of the otters and sea lions to the beautiful, flowing tentacles of a silky, red octopus, it’s all very real—and filmed in the creatures’ natural habitat.
Meanwhile, it’s all underscored by a soundtrack that’s sometimes subtle, sometimes whimsical, and sometimes dramatic. It makes the perfect complement to the awe-inspiring footage—as does Pierce Brosnan’s simple, soothing narration. Neither the score nor the narration is overdone, often allowing the sea creatures—or the thundering sound of rolling, crashing waves—to speak for themselves.
Unlike Earth, though, Oceans doesn’t try to tell a story. Instead, it’s a kind of slice of life drama, showing just snippets of underwater scenes that were filmed in different parts of the world. It isn’t loaded with facts, either—so if you’re searching for an in-depth, educational exploration of various points of oceanography, you’ll want to look elsewhere. Oceans, on the other hand, is a family-friendly film that will introduce audiences of all ages to the creatures found in the world’s vast oceans. You may not walk away with a better understanding of the underwater food chain—or the creation of a coral reef—but you’ll get to see all kinds of beautiful sea creatures that you’ve probably never seen before.
Of course, it isn’t all light and fun. The film eventually takes a more serious tone when it shows how unwanted creatures are caught and killed in fishing nets—and how trash and other pollutants are making their way into the ocean. But the message is handled well, making a strong point without making the movie feel too preachy.
If you’re fascinated by the world’s oceans—and you’d like to see more than the creatures that are on display at your local aquarium—Oceans is a gorgeous choice, with stunning high-definition footage that will make you feel like you’re right there, swimming along with schools of bright, colorful fish. No wetsuits and scuba tanks required.
Blu-ray Review:
The two-disc Blu-ray/DVD release of Disneynature’s Oceans gives viewers a chance to further explore underwater habitats through a number of facts, figures, and additional video footage from various locations around the world. You can also play the movie with filmmaker annotations, which offer even more behind-the-scenes footage. To learn more about Disney’s commitment to conservation, you can watch the short feature, Disney & Nature: Caring for the World We Share. Or, for something a little lighter, you can check out the music video for “Make a Wave,” starring Disney’s Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato.
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