Cady's Take:

When my dear friend Kyle told me she had received the March of The Penguins, DVD for Christmas and that she would like to watch it this week for our review I must admit I felt pretty indifferent about watching the film.   My expectations were neither high nor low, as I had heard great things about the film, but honestly never thought that I would actually watch it as nature documentaries are not my cup of tea.   I am happy to say when I popped the movie in last night I got a pleasant surprise.

The 80 minute documentary chronicles the mating rituals of the Emperor Penguin, of Antarctica. Each summer the birds feed until their heart is content and then pop up onto the ice and begin their “march” across 70 miles of frozen tundra.  Several various tribes of these penguins then converge instinctively to one mating ground the place where each and every one of them was born.  Here they find a monogamous mate (at least for that year) and they go through a lovely mating ritual, eventually resulting in the mother producing an egg.  The mothers then return to the sea to feed, leaving the fathers to guard the eggs through the most brutal winter conditions on planet earth, not eating for months.   Eventually the eggs hatch and the mothers return to feed their young – which are just about the cutest little things ever.  Eventually all the birds return to the ocean to begin another summer long feeding frenzy.  

The film is a beautifully filmed tale of survival that has it all, from violence and blood, to love and comedy (nothing is funnier then penguins sliding around on their stomachs and falling down).   Narrated by Morgan Freeman, the photography and the compelling story of the March of the Emperor Penguins, make the documentary an enjoyable, touching, eye-opening and educational experience for audiences of all ages.  

I am pleased that my fabulous fellow reviewer, Cameron (remember - Cady is out for a bit and Cam is filling in temporarily) enjoyed March of the Penguins because when I handed it to her she looked less than thrilled. And when she forgot to take it with her - twice - I thought maybe, just maybe, her psyche is trying to tell me something. But I knew that once she watched it she would enjoy the movie as I had. Now clearly she has not enjoyed as much as I did, but still - she gave it more than three buckets. Say it with me now: I was right.

I think I have mentioned before my Morgan Freeman Rule: A full 80% of movies could be improved simply by having Morgan Freeman narrate them. I love his voice. Does he do books on tape? Does anyone know where I could get one? Anyway, March of the Penguins provides unbelievable glimpses into this ancient mating ritual of the emporer penguin. The photography is simply breathtaking. I was not watching the film on a hi-def television but I know that I have to see this movie again and in hi-def this time. There were times where I literally was unable to determine whether we were watching filmed or CGI-enhanced images. It's just beautiful.

I was perusing the FingerLakes1.com forums recently and noticed that several people expressed dissatisfaction with the state of films today. I agree that it is harder and harder to find family-friendly fare, especially in the choices offered to us by bigger studios. March of the Penguins proves that the family movie is not dead. Long Live the Penguins!