Disneynature, Disney's new documentary label, follows three animal families in this gorgeous feature about a year in the life of our ever-changing planet.
If you've seen Planet Earth, the Emmy Award-winning series from BBC/Discovery Channel, you've already seen much of this amazing footage but that shouldn't stop you from taking the family to see it anyway. This abridged version will keep children enthralled, mainly because the focus is on the animals. It's not all kid-friendly, though, as a number of scenes deal with what narrator James Earl Jones so eloquently calls "the drama of hunter and hunted," and what young viewers will recognize as the circle of life. Make sure to stay through the credits at the end: these behind-the-scenes segments prove that the actions of humans can be as awe-inspiring as those of nature itself.
This movie is intended for older children.
Although preschoolers will love watching the animals on the big screen and getting to see their faces close-up, they may find some scenes too intense at such close range, including a pride of lions attacking an elephant, a father polar bear dying of starvation, and a gazelle killed by a cheetah after a long, slow-motion chase. They may have seen similar actions in Disney animated films, but these are real animals and the scenes are more disturbing. Be prepared to answer sensitive questions and explain concepts like the food chain and survival of the fittest.
This is probably the group that will most appreciate what they see on screen because they're still curious about the world around them and not jaded about it yet. They'll laugh when the narrator says, "Unlike humans, polar bear cubs don't always listen to their moms!" and they'll feel reassured to see that even the baby Mandarin ducks fall when they first leave the nest. They'll be awestruck by the great white shark and its massive jaws, as well as the astounding 4,000-mile journey undertaken by a humpback whale and her calf.
Some tweens may not be interested in watching a nature documentary and may be bored at the sections not involving animals. Most, though, will be amazed at the miracles of nature, and will realize the truth of the narrator's statement that our world is "full of harsh realities but sometimes it's just paradise." They'll realize it's up to all of us to take care of the planet, and they'll be fascinated by the photographers shown during the end credits.
