Disney’s newest earth day special, Oceans, explores the thought posed by a tiny blonde boy in the opening scene — “What is the ocean?” In an effort to answer the question Disney, guided by the narration of Pierce Brosnan, takes us into the sea to meet the characters that define it.
From the Galapagos to the arctic, we are exposed to breath-taking scenes of creatures thriving in their natural environments. Disney makes a successful argument in proving that the inhabitants of the high seas are not only mysterious and strange but also magnificent. From the ghoulish looking stonefish that makes the entire audience jump with his sneak attack on a passing fish to the blanket octopus that wows us with its oddities and grace, it is difficult to not be captivated by the images presented. The one flaw is that the images don’t stay with us for long enough. We are engrossed by the hunting tactics of the killer whale … but never get an adequate explanation of what they are. Brosnan’s narration lacks cohesion as it transitions from creature to creature.
The strength of the film lies in the brilliance of the footage and the impact of the moral. The final third is dedicated toward the destruction that man has had on the ocean. The green sea turtle that we have watched soar through the waves and hatch from the sand is now behind the grid of a fishing net trying to innocently chew his way out of a fate not intended for him — this is where the mood changes. If you’re looking for a beautiful scenes and a beautiful lesson, Oceans is the documentary for you.
