Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6756 in DVD
• Released on: 2008-09-08
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 86 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The frozen Arctic is home to polar bears and walruses, two very different types of animals whose struggle to survive against the elements is only being made more difficult by a changing climate. Directors Adam Ravetech and Sarah Robertson filmed walruses and polar bears in the Arctic for 15 years in order to create this amazing story about the lives of Nanu the baby polar bear and a newborn walrus dubbed Seelah. Striking footage from land and sea is combined with effective narration by Queen Latifah and pop music by Joby Talbot to chronicle these creatures' lives from the babies' first days of existence, through two years of training in hunting and fighting by their respective mothers and the changes in the icy world that are necessitating new adaptations by these animals, and a contemplation of the chances of both species' continued survival.

Like March of the Penguins, the footage of the animals of the Arctic and the formation and breaking up of the ice is exquisite, but perhaps even more striking is the clear evidence of climate change in the delayed formation of the ice in the autumn and its progressively earlier thawing and breaking up each spring. The polar bears' and walruses' resilience and instinctual ability to adapt and change in the face of the negative effects of global warming in order to survive is stressed, and viewers are left pondering why man cannot similarly adapt and change his ways in order to positively affect the world.--Tami Horiuchi

DVD Description

From National Geographic Films, the producers of March of the Penguins, and Paramount Vantage, the studio that brought you An Inconvenient Truth, Arctic Tale follows the story of Nanu, a polar bear cub and Seela, a walrus pup, through their exhilarating and moving struggles for survival.

Brought to life by narrator Queen Latifah, viewers will be entranced as she tells the story of two very different Arctic creatures who live in this vast snow kingdom at the top of the world. Armed only with their natural instincts and mothers’ guidance, these inspiring animals face countless trials and challenges in a beautiful icebound world that is rapidly melting beneath them.

The Arctic Tale DVD features some truly special extra features, including the "Making of Arctic Tale", a behind-the-scenes look at the years of extraordinary work that went into capturing the unforgettable images in the film. Also included is "Are We There Yet? World Adventure: Polar Bear Spotting," a production of Sinking Ship and National Geographic Kids Entertainment. In this episode, two children embark on a thrilling adventure to view polar bears up close. Offering child and family-friendly entertainment, this DVD makes the ideal back-to-school gift that all the family can enjoy.

In recognition of the changes happening in the Arctic that are connected to us all, a portion of Paramount’s proceeds from the sale of the DVD will benefit the National Geographic Polar Fund, which supports research, conservation and education projects designed to foster greater awareness of climate issues affecting the poles. In addition, the paper that Paramount is using in the DVD packaging is made from 30% post-consumer waste.

Synopsis
This heartbreaking documentary puts a face on the sad statistics of global warming--and though it's not a human face, it's the perhaps even more effective face of an adorable polar bear cub, Nanu, along with her mother, her brother, and her natural enemy, the equally heart-melting Seela the walrus. With breathtaking footage of life on the arctic tundra, the directors spin a highly emotional tale of the melting ice caps and the effect of their disappearance on every species in the ecosystem.

Since the film is essentially aimed at children, the cuteness factor is off the charts, aided by the slightly grating use of sound effects, a slangy voiceover by Queen Latifah, and a kid-friendly pop/folk soundtrack. And, as in a National Geographic special, viewers learn some interesting and neutral facts about polar bears, walruses, narwhals, foxes, and other northern creatures. The narrative, however, returns repeatedly to the grim conditions that are killing off our planet's wildlife, one family at a time. The directors take pains to create a hopeful ending, with a sweet pair of life-goes-on epilogues and a closing credit sequence featuring conservation tips, but the message of the film is sobering and hits its mark with kids and adults alike.

Customer Reviews

Incredibly moving!
A fantastic film. Funny and entertaining - Nanu's little brother was a little treasure - but very moving too, especially the death of Nanu's brother. The walruses are hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This film really opens your eyes about these creatures,especially the walrus. These creatures are more family orientated then some humans are today! What I will never understand though is how people film these films and just watch an animal die. I know you are not supposed to interfere with nature but one of the purposes of this film is to highlight the plight of animals like these and to follow and film a cub dying of starvation is to me inhumane, especially when at the end of the day it is going to earn the film makers BIG money. Also the bit at the end with the USA children,about how we could all do our bit about global warming and the environment etc is a bit hypocritical seeing as the US is one of the bigggest polluters!
Fantastic shots and arctic scenery though.

loved this...and the kids will too
a beautiful film in a similar vein to march of the penguins. Stunning scenery and camera work, an educational and fun treat for all the family- especially when the walrus pass wind!!! Great music and a super commentary from the very lovely queen latifah. Recommended for all ages- especially for Christmas

Sentimental trash, masquerading as a documentary
From the dreary monotones of the narrator, you might be fooled into thinking this was a bona fide documentary; however, pay closer attention to the opening credits and you will see that "Queen Latifah" is actually introduced as the "storyteller". And that's all this is - a sickly sweet, Hollywood story, with some animal footage carefully chosen to fit.

Thus we follow polar bears that virtually never eat, we see animals that have migrated to warmer climes for thousands of years presented as being "driven" from their icy homes and the most appalling cases of anthropomorphism that would have made Walt Disney blush.

This is "documentary lite", heavily sanitised for the kinds of people who don't (or won't) see the link between live animals and the shrink-wrapped meat they buy in supermarkets. Yes, there are a couple of deaths, but they are carefully blurred into a background of banality.

Cap it all off with a collection of adenoidal children recounting a bizarre selection of eco non-sequiturs over the closing credits, and you'd be forgiven for expecting Al Gore to pop up at the end, asking for donations to his somewhat misguided political crusade.

By the end, I felt thoroughly patronised and ready to vomit... which is a shame, because some of the footage in this "story" is truly charming and a joy to watch.

My advice: stick to proper documentaries made by people who don't have such a heavy axe to grind.