Simply A Masterpiece

A Masterpiece!

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

And with this fascinating underwater world, you won't even need the town of Atlantis to be amazed by all the things you see. Actor Jim Carrey narrates this journey written and directed by Howard Hall. The only bad thing about it is really that it only runs for no longer than 40 minutes and can even be considered a short film. Maybe, if you are a bit like myself, you will also wonder if this documentary will appeal to you as it has obviously no cute, fluffy, furry, little creatures. But that is perfectly fine. The underwater recordings of the various animals (fish, snakes, turtles, pinnipeds...) are absolutely amazing and definitely worth a watch, no matter if in 3D or just on your computer screen. This IMAX movie basically gives you all you would expect and hope for when you hear the title "Under the Sea". easily one of the best documentaries from 2009. I very much recommend it. Nice version of the Beatles' song "Octopus' Garden" as well at the end. Watch it.

Under the Sea is a documentary that brings us to the depths of the oceans to be introduced to the various sea creatures that we hardly see, unless you're an avid diver and being knowledgeable enough to know your undersea flora and fauna. To the uninitiated and non- divers like myself, this is one thrill ride that reminds us we're not alone in this world, and there are countless other species living in 70% of our world that we hardly ever see.Narrated by Jim Carrey, yes, that Jim Carrey, the visuals are spectacular, showcasing the vibrancy of colours underwater, and very strange fishes and creatures both predator and prey, stretching from the waters of Papua New Guinea to Australia's Gold Coast. I've lost count on the number of species on display, but for fans of the ocean you will get to see them in their natural habitat engaging in various activities from camouflaging, mating to pure survival in keeping themselves fed. Given the presentation in IMAX it's really in your face stuff, especially when it boils down to snapping at its own food chain, and what I really felt uncomfortable with, were the wriggly, venomous sea snakes swimming toward the screen. Yikes!Perhaps the primary weak point in the film is Jim Carrey's narration, as his voice was somehow drowned out by the soundtrack and ambient underwater sounds. Granted he's no James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman whose voices inherently have a certain booming, commanding gravitas, Carrey's came across as somewhat smart-alecky at some points, though of course fingers can be pointed to the writer of his lines, and as they say, don't shoot the messenger.Then there's not much of a weaving narrative attempted to tell a story here, other than to launch you into the visuals direct and describing what's going on, and if it's something a lot more educational you're expecting, then you'll be a tad disappointed. It skims the surface of the various species introduced, and of course the legwork of research and investigations into more detail lie with you the audience in digging up more information after the screening, and that is if you're bothered to.One can almost feel that this slightly under an hour film served its purpose as a presentation preview for audiences to the new IMAX 3D format, and would have certainly piqued the interest of many to make this presentation format the format of choice in films slated in its lineup, starting with this summer's blockbusters.

I got this DVD as a Netflix rental. While it is good, it isn't fantastic. The colors are brilliant, perhaps enhanced, and the picture is very sharp. But overall it is not a very exciting 37 minutes.Yes, only 37 minutes. The running time is listed as 41 minutes, but the first 2 minutes are just production logos and things like that. The last minute or so contains the credits. So the actual "program" is closer to 37 minutes.Jim Carrey seems like an odd choice for narrator, but he in fact has a very good voice for this. Kind of quiet, like underwater would be.There wasn't a blatant "conservation and impending doom" message, but it was mentioned that as mankind puts more CO2 in the atmosphere and the oceans warm, things like Coral reefs will begin to disappear more.But every film of this type does something neat, it introduces us to some undersea species that we have never seen before. It is impossible to imagine the diversity of marine life under the sea.

Well to start off, for being a documentary basing the majority of its appeal off of nice narration by a very talented actor and 3D cinematography, this is as fun to watch as you would expect. It was definitely a nice thing to do on an afternoon with the family, and it really gives you a feel for underwater landscapes and the unique motions and routines of some random deep sea creatures. It is filled with entertaining moments, and you will really feel immersed.The big negative for me was being somewhat ambushed by the global warming message several times when there was no indication to expect this (other than the seemingly true assumption that movie makers are propagating liberal political positions in titles that aim to draw children or families). I get that it is a theorized dilemma that means something to a portion of our culture, but I would also argue that it is widely dismissed among another portion with some sound, scientific reasons to form opposition. The point is- it has not been proved factual yet and has no relevance in a movie that touts a "fun" look at sea life. Plus, it is stated as fact several times during the film and implements the appeal of some heart-warming sea lions to sell the message.Outside of this and the brief fish sex, it is a good movie worth watching. However, if you don't agree that CO2 is polluting and corrupting our wildlife, maybe give your kids a quick heads up before they watch something they may take to heart, as this film appears to have been made with that in mind.