Movie Review: Jean Michel-Cousteau's "Sharks"
By Praise SantosMonday, Sept. 21, 2009
OTownStyle.com's Praise Santos reviews Jean Michel-Cousteau's Sharks. It is currently playing at the Orlando Science Center. Check back for her video interview with the film's director of photography, Gavin McKinney!
Jean-Michel Cousteau's Sharks is an eye-feast for Planet Earth and non-Planet Earth lovers alike. There are plenty of breathtaking shots of the predator that are worth the ticket price. Multiple oh-my-gawww moments swim across the screen, but nothing shocking enough to make you feel uneasy--or averse to ever going to the beach again. So to those who may harbor a fear of sharks (thanks Steven Spielberg!), Cousteau's film is nothing to burn calories worrying over. Just to warn you--the Orlando Science Center's Cinedome snow-globe-of-a-screen was too much for me and I felt a little nauseated. Key to avoiding said feeling, dear friends, is this: sit higher up.
Moving along: the film features several species of shark, and the diversity and variety found simply in this one family of fish is worth reflecting on. The introduction of the different types were a bit like a family reunion: you have your crazy aunt, the species with a weird set of teeth (read: large tooth sawfish), and you have your second cousin, the at-first-intimidating, yet gentle giant (read: the whale shark) who is harmless to everyone but plankton--yes, I realize 'plankton' veered from the analogy. I apologize, but just bear with me.
Then of course you have your suave uncle - Mr. Popular, the relative who constantly steals the scene and basks in the limelight, the one member of your family who has made the family name known for what it is today (that's right, the Great White Shark makes his climactic appearance - but don't worry, he has only a few minutes of reel). Personally, it was the whale shark--the creature that can grow up to an intimidating 60 feet--that was such a mesmerizing image. I can't get her smile out of my mind.
But it's not all just about sharks. Others besides those in the superorder of Selachimorpha make cameos. You'll find sea lions, dolphins, and other SeaWorld regulars in the documentary as well.
If you begin to wonder how it's possible to see a school of fish doing such a spontaneous, charming dance number or how they ever shot that hammerhead finding its vulnerable prey, know that it's thanks to the film's director of photography, Gavin McKinney. McKinney shot over 700 hours for this film while only 42 minutes of those golden moments made the final cut.
That's the other thing that earn this movie more starfish: it's light and short.
It's not too heavy so that you feel like you're brought back to 7th grade science class and not too short so that you'd feel more fulfilled watching Finding Nemo. You should leave with a different perspective of this misunderstood "lion of the ocean."
The purpose of the filmmakers is clear, but unlike Wall-E's anti-technology and anti-consumerism message, they don't beat you over the head with it. It's not preachy. How refreshing.
Watch this film. Sit high up. Stop eating Shark Fin soup. And make a sushi date afterward. Trust me, you'll crave it.
Sharks: A Close Encounter With the Lions and the Tigers of the Ocean - a film presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau - is playing at the Orlando Science Center daily at 12:00 and 3:00pm from now until Spring 2010. Dates and times subject to change. For tickets and more info visit Orlando Science Center's official website, www.osc.org.
