The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

I first saw this film when it came to the IMAX in the Museum of Natural History in NYC. I was impressed with the beauty of the scenery (years later, my wife and I were fortunate enough to visit the Island of Morea) and the soundtrack of the music. I remember, as been very familiar with most of the songs by CSN, that it sounded very different than the original recordings, like the songs were recorder specially for this film. Well, the other day I bought this documentary in order to refresh my memory of it and, again, I was very impressed. I have a question that I hope somebody will be able to answer it, IS THERE A CD WITH THE COMPLETE SOUND TRACK of this film? Thanks

Coral Reef Adventure (2003) *** (out of 4)Liam Neeson narrates this IMAX documentary taking a look at the coral reefs of the South Pacific. Underwater filmmakers Howard and Michele Hall try to explain the importance of the reef as well as explain why it would so damaging if Global Warming destroyed it. CORAL REEF ADVENTURE, obviously, is best seen on an IMAX screen but even on a smaller screen I think people are going to be entertained simply by the beauty of the subject matter. There are a few problems with the film including the fact that it includes a lot of preaching about the doom and gloom of Global Warming. I'm sure if you believe in the great warming debate then you're not going to mind more preaching but as someone who doesn't want to be preached to constantly, the subject started to wear on me. One of the mixed things is that Crosby, Stills and Nash does the soundtrack, which includes a couple of their hits like Teach Your Children and Our House. The cool nature of their vocal tone really works nicely with the visuals on the screen but where the music doesn't work is when these songs are sung by some children. Those unfamiliar with the reefs are going to get a good history lesson on what they are, how they work and what diseases they help fight. I think it goes without saying that the greatest thing about the film are the visuals, which are just downright beautiful. The cameras get you so close to the action that you almost feel as if you're down there swimming. The vivid colors really jump off the screen as words can't describe how beautiful all the reefs are.

Coral Reef Adventure: 3 out of 10: Do you like pretty pictures? Do you hate Global Warming (boo hiss)? Do you like the music of Crosby Stills and Nash? Let me repeat that last question again because this is very very important.... Do you really like Crosby Stills and Nash music? Even if it is remixed and sung by starving children to a Peter Gabriel back up band? Then you might enjoy Global Reef Adventure. Everyone else above 12 should check there eyeballs before watching, as rolling them this much could cause permanent damage.This is the story of a husband and wife team who investigate the death of a village’s reef in Fiji. It turns out the villain was.... Hold on before I give away the big surprise let me explain a few things. My girlfriend and I had just finished watching John Hurt in Michael Radford’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and I put this documentary on because I thought a nice short colorful coral reef film might be nice after such a grey depressing movie. (Plus a piece of coral was a feature object in the former drab film so I was going for a subtle synergy).Little did I know I was putting on a piece of propaganda so heavy handed that Big Brother himself would have blushed. Look no matter how you feel about global warming the villain in this piece was clearly those nice Fijians who were logging and overfishing and killed their own damn reef. The movie clearly shows this and then completely ignores its own findings to declare global warming the boogey man (Though in this particular case it was obviously innocent. As local reefs not near the GIANT SILT RUNNOFF and not located IN THE FISHING GROUNDS were thriving.) But the Fijians can’t be guilty of course cause the look so cute in their Sunday best and they have quite a haunting rendition of Marrakesh Express. Such propaganda, no matter how well intentioned, needs to be called to the carpet. In particular when it is aimed towards children.The film has other faults as well. It is over produced by half with wipes and sound effects that look like they belong in a Disney Ducktales movie. Top billed Liam Neeson narrates for all of a minute and top billed Jean-Michel Cousteau appears for about as long.It probably isn’t that bad a film with the mute on. For one thing you would miss the appeal at the end to support politicians who hate global warming (boo hiss). Apparently 2 plus 2 does sometimes equal 5.

This film gives a beautiful display of how wondrous and beautiful the worldscoral reefs are. It also shows how the worlds coral reefs are dying. The reefs are dying for a number of reasons. 1. Over fishing, because fish eat the alga that grows over the coral, and will engulf the coral if there are no fish to eat it. 2. is because of global warming. If the ocean gets too warm the will not be able to withstand the warmth and will gradually die out. 3. Is because of pollution. The pollution can come from a number places. It could come from seweragedumped into the sea, it could from rivers that have turned muddy because oftree logging. Also the removal of mangrove trees, because mangrove trees help to consume the pollution and prevent it from reaching the sea. This film shows not only the Great Barrier Reef, it also takes you the coral reefs of tropical island such as Fiji Tahiti and Bora Bora. For some of the Fijianpeople, the reefs provide much more than just a beautiful paradise they alsoprovide food because of all the sea creatures that live there. So if the reefs were to die, many Fijians could starve. So the basic morals this film teaches is how beautiful and important the worlds coral reefs are and that they could all die in the next three decades unless we do something about it.