Last year, Disney Nature’s first film, Earth disappointed with its too loud score, ambivalent script [animals are like us; no, they’re not] and a tendency to talk about the circle of death but not show it. Other than its beautiful cinematography, James Earl Jones’ voice and some great clips of the crew actually filming the documentary, it was something less than a triumph.
Oceans, I’m pleased to report, has dialled the score down from Pink-Floyd-in-concert volume, the script doesn’t try too hard to anthropomorphize the sea-going mammals and fish the film displays. Even when the film turns to the problems with the ecology, Pierce Brosnan’s narration makes the point without belabouring it.
Even so, the film’s greatest strength is, once again, the cinematography. Every shot has an impact – whether it’s showing the cuttlefish as a master of disguise, humpback whales dining on krill or leaping from the water in play. There aren’t a lot of shots of life deeper down – no exotic fish living in the toxic eruptions that can be found at the bottom of the ocean – but there’s a some marvelous footage of a diver and a shark have a bit of a companionable swim.
Unlike Earth, we see various sea creatures living on smaller fish as Brosnan intones, “Bigger fish eat smaller fish.” And we see this happen over and over. In the case of the rockfish – which looks a rock formation, the resultant fine dining is proof that the filmmakers haven’t shied away from that other aspect of the circle of life. [Some of these scenes might be a bit intense for younger children].
While Oceans might have been better if it had reached for the creatures to be found on or near the ocean floor, it does create a mood by emphasizing the beauty that exists there – and the fight for survival. Although it doesn’t follow a set number seaborne family, it does give us the beginnings if the ocean’ majesty, beauty and power. And yes, there are cool shots that run through the closing credits.
Final Grade: A-