March of the Penguins

Studio Warner Independent pictures and National Geographic feature films present

Starring: Emperor Penguins

Directed by: Luc Jacquet

Genre: Documentary

Rating: *****

Plot: We follow large groups of Emperor Penguins as they literally make their march over treacherous landscape of Antarctica so they can mate safely. They must deal with starvation, the cold and windy weather and predators, but they go through it all, a brilliant survival story and yes even a love story and many cute shots of penguin chicks. If you enjoy penguins or animals in general, or you liked the film Winged Migration. This movie should be on the top of your must list.

Acting: There was none. I will talk about the penguins though. I love them, not the Penguin from Batman Returns, he was disgusting. These are the bird penguins, and they are just awesome. I remember when I was little going to the zoo or sea world and I would be fascinated by them. So following a large group of them for an hour and half in this film was fine by me. There is something about these birds, the fact they can't fly is interesting but the way they walk and how they swim, I find it all very interesting and not boring to watch at all. You watch this film and you'll see things you never knew these birds could do, I'm not going to tell you so you'll just have to see it, or if it is not playing near you this is a must buy on DVD. Not just for you but if you have kids this movie is perfect for them. Since the birds are cute and funny to watch but you learn a lot too.

Directing: These film makers simply had balls. During the credits you see brief moments of what these guys had to go through while filming these birds. They sat in snow suits during some of the worst storms you can think of, and they kept filming. They stayed with these birds for almost a year. That shows determination in a director who can sit that long in freezing temperatures just to film birds sitting around. You have to admire their efforts, without them we could never really be able to see what goes on in these birds world. We only know of them through watching them in a controlled environment in a zoo, or quick images on nature channels. In this film you get to see them in their home and see how they work and struggle and it simply is amazing. You also find yourself connecting with them, because in many ways they are not that different from us and in what we do in our life times.

Overall: Great visuals and just a good time through out. Morgan Freeman does a perfect narration through the film. This movie is simply a must and if you have a family this should be the first thing you take your kids to see forget that animated garbage Madagascar or the violent summer action films, this movie will teach you something and make you watch a world you might not have known existed.