March of the Penguins 2005 Review

When this movie first came out, I was convinced it was yet another boring animal documentary.  One of those with the monotone narrator that practically puts you to sleep.  When I finally rented this movie I was very surprised how wrong I had been.  The narration by Morgan Freeman was spectacular.  He made it fun and captivating, not monotone and boring.

This movie takes you through a year in the life of a penguin.  It shows how much these animals go through just to mate every year.  It was amazing to learn about everything the penguins go through and how hard they work.  They walk hundreds of miles to get to the breeding grounds every year and then walk back and forth all those hundreds of miles, to find food.  I think this movie, and the penguins, really put life and love into perspective for me.  There are many heartbreaking moments and even more inspiring moments. 

The cinematography is amazing especially if you watch the making of the movie on the dvd.  It's even more amazing what the film crew went through to take all of the wonderful shots to make the movie.

I definitely have a whole new appreciation for penguins!  I had no idea penguins went through all of this in the wild.  And wonder if they're totally bored when in captivity since they aren't able to walk all of those hundreds of miles every year.

I'm not sure this movie is for small children though.  There are some graphic scenes, particularly when they show a frozen baby penguin or a penguin being stalked and eaten by a seal.  Although, older children would probably learn a lot from this film. 

For the most part this is a great movie, but sort of leaves the viewer a little sad and/or depressed and feeling sorry for the penguins.  I think the lives of these penguins could have been presented in a brighter light.