Reay Jespersen

Earth follows Disney’s decades-long tradition of shooting footage of nature and letting the visuals tell their own stories, though in this case the narration by James Earl Jones guides us along the way. Following myriad animals as the seasons change all around the world, the film focuses on three animal familes in particular over the course of a year: polar bears, whales, and elephants. We share some of their first steps in the open, their trials of having to travel for hundreds or thousands of miles to find food and survive, and the triumphs of making it there alive, though as we’re shown, the circle of life can often be cruel on the journey.

The film is simply stunning in its cinematography and close-up detail of nature, to the point where I often wondered how a cameraman could possibly have gotten close enough to get some of the shots, along with the realization that cameras - including satellites - must have been placed for weeks or months at a time to get the fast-motion growth, flows of colour across fields of trees, and ice forming at the ends of the world. All the while, the accompanying narration by Jones is ideally minimalist, informative, and at times, playful.

If there’s one negative to the film, it would be the unexpected time spent on the struggle for life. Yes, it’s a nature movie and so it should fairly have both life and death portrayed, but as the prime example, the three slow-motion shots of a great white jumping from the water to snap a seal in its jaws seemed excessive (although, as ever, very well shot). Particularly with the polar bear family, the film edged a bit closer to the “climate change is causing these animals to have to adjust, and in adjusting, they’re suffering and dying” than I’d been expecting, particularly for a Disney film. Having said that, the point certainly did come across effectively, if perhaps a bit heavy-handedly. That was the only issue I had with an overall amazing film.

In short, simply a must-see for nature lovers, animal lovers, and those who can appreciate gorgeous, stunning film making. Young and old alike should definitely check it out when it hits theatres this Wednesday, Earth Day, April 22nd.