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Film Title: Arctic Tale

 Best for ages: 6 and up.

Movie Website: Click Here

Year Released: 2007

Rated: G (US,Canada) U (UK)

SYNOPSIS

    Arctic Tale is more of a documentary on the wildlife and geology of the artic circle or as most kids love calling it ;the north pole. The story follows a two kinds of animals in the artic a mother polar bear and her two cubs, and a mother walrus, her calf and the calf's aunt whom is the protector of the calf.  There are also other animals which we learn about such as artic seals, artic foxes, belugas, penguins, and narwhals to name a few. But the main plot revolves around the polar bears and the walruses and the trials and tribulations of survival in one of the harshest environments in the world.

    The Documentary is narrated by Queen Latifah with a great musical score by Joby Talbot. The film was shot by a crew who works in part with National Geographic Film whom also bought us the award winning film March of the Penguins about the emperor penguins living in Antarctica. 

VIOLENCE/GRAPHIC CONTENT/language

   Lets throw away what we as humans deem violent and look at it from a survival point of view.  Yes Arctic tale does have plenty of animals fighting one another. But we can't look at animals fighting as being violent as we know the only reason why animals fight among one another has to do with their survival or territorial instincts. The film does have some graphic images, and their are animals that are killed for food, the good thing is that the filmmakers edited to move in such a manner that we don't see the whole kill in a graphic manner. Sure we see a polar bear kill a seal, a walrus and even see an artic fox try and kill some birds. But it's edited in such a way where it's not to graphic that we need to turn away from the screen. So of the carcasses are shown from a distance and are bloody, but it's nature folks and it's up to you if you think your child will be able to comprehend and understand that this is what some animals do in order to survive in the wild.

   On another note, there is death involved in this film and not all the animals we grow to love in this picture will make it. This could be an issue with your child and can raise many questions about life and death. So as a fare warning while watching this film be prepared to discuss this issue with your young children should you choice to watch it with them.

OVERALL VIEWS

    While I found March of the Penguins to be a much better movie I still found myself enjoying Arctic Tale, its different and follows more animals throughout the artic circle.  While watching this movie I learned many things about the animals that live in the artic that I never knew before, and this film was very educational and beneficial not only about the wildlife, but it also focused on the geology of the artic, the sea life, the different seasons in the artic and even covered a little bit on global warming. Your children not only will enjoy some of the humor that this film brings which does include a great scene with a bunch of walruses with bad gas after having a meal of sea clams, but they will also learn something while enjoying the great shots and visuals that the film provides.

   National Geographic films brings us another gem about the world around us with Arctic Tale; and brings life in the arctic right into our homes.   I really enjoyed the great shots and visual landscapes and beauty that is the arctic. There is some great underwater photography in which we are able to get up close and personal with a polar bear in the water as well a herd of walruses and some creatures of the sea. There are also some beautiful aerial shots of migrating birds, whales, fish, belugas and narwhals. The photography as a whole in this film is phenomenal, and I highly recommend it for nature lovers.

   All in all, Arctic Tale is a family film that you can sit down with your kids and watch it as a family. Like I mentioned above some younger children might have a lot of questions about a few of the scenes and situations that take place in the film, so be prepared as a parent to talk to them about the likes of why animals kill one another and why some of the animals in the film died so young. It's a great film that will entertain your children while giving them an education on the artic circle at the same time.

BUY THIS MOVIE.