| DEEP BLUE |
 2003 – UK / GermanyDirectors: Andy Byatt, Alastair Fothergill
- Reviewed by Linda
If that wasn't enough, we see another baby seal snatched. And another. And another. Each time it is accompanied by the amplified sound of what practically sounds like a tsunami wave. Finally the seal-carnage ends with the last victim, an adult, getting snatched from the beach. The seal panics and screams and thrashes as the orca tosses it in his mouth like the tasty snack he is. And the final shot shows said seal getting flung in the air at least 100 feet like a limp rag doll, with a huge cookie-shaped bite where half his body used to be. I practically wanted to burst into tears. I lay awake that night, thinking of the seal (or sometimes myself) flying through the air, only to get caught by pointy teeth and gulped down in a satisfied swallow. So, parents: Be warned. Nature is pretty and nice to look at, especially when photographed so lovingly as Deep Blue is, but Nature is also very mean and nasty. If your kids aren't traumatized by the seal-carnage or the shark-frenzy, you yourself might be. I'm just warning you. Deep Blue, despite its name, tends to wander its attention to not just creatures of the deep blue sea, but also focuses an inordinate amount of time on the land and air creatures that live near it. As we see albatrosses, then polar bears, then penguins, I started to wonder when we were going to see some actual fish and sea creatures. And therein lies the flaw of Deep Blue. Despite having inarguably stunning photography of critters like jellyfish and neon-lit beasties that live so deep that they provides their own firework-type illuminations, the film didn't seem to have any focus. Pierce Brosnan's smooth voice quickly lulls you into a stupor. The narration sometimes tells you what creatures you are looking at, but more often does not. The narration informs you that you are looking at a polar bear, for instance, which any grade-schooler can name, but stays frustratingly silent when we are watching what looks like a lovely plant suddenly open its eyes and swim away awkwardly. What the heck was that? I want to know! Deep Blue is indeed a handsome movie, but it is surprisingly dull. If you can stay awake, you will be treated to some stunning images (both good and bad). But I couldn't help but think that what this film really needed was good editor and a major rewrite on the narration. Sorry Pierce. You're smooth, but almost too smooth. (Snore) |
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There is a part in Deep Blue that made me scream and cover my eyes, a reaction that I was wholly unprepared for while watching this "family"-advertised ocean documentary. We see scenes of cute, furry little pup seals waddling awkwardly on the rocky beach. They play and tussle, and stand innocently at water's edge. Then Pierce Brosnan's smooth 007 narrative voice pipes in, reminding us of their inexperience when it comes to the dangers of the sea. Suddenly what looks like a huge wave crashing towards the shore turns out to be a killer orca that snatches the little seal by the head and pulls him into the water. Thrashing. Screaming. Struggling. And the whale is HUGE, frightening and horrific in a way that startled me (as I think of friendly, pretty, gentle Shamu and his ilk).
