Oceans parents guide

Oceans Parent Guide

While the narration contains some information about this watery world, there are more questions left unanswered than not.

Overall A-

This French documentary/drama brings the wonder of the sub-aquatic world to the big screen as filmmakers explore the strange and unique creatures that inhabit the planet's oceans.

Release date April 22, 2010

Violence B-
Sexual Content A
Profanity A
Substance Use A

Why is Oceans rated G? The MPAA rated Oceans G

Run Time: 82 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

Disneynature’s Oceans is the second installment in a series of theatrical releases that explores the planet. (Earth released in 2009. Currently two other films are in the production process, African Cats: Kingdom of Courage and Chimpanzee.) Unlike Earth, which followed three animal families during the course of one year, this documentary introduces a whole boatload of aquatic life including some very unusual and rare specimens.

Set to a beautiful score and narrated by actor Pierce Brosnan, the movie takes viewers underwater where they meet, among other things, a marine iguana, several types of sharks and a myriad of smaller fish that tag along with a big buddy as a kind of protection insurance. The script explores other self-preservation techniques employed by sea creatures—fading into the ocean floor, imitating rocks or inhabiting abandoned shells. As well, the film portrays feeding and migration habits along with mothering practices.

Some of the more disturbing images for young viewers may include the depiction of birds diving down to catch and eat scores of newly hatched turtles as they race across the sand in hopes of reaching the ocean. Audiences will also see sharks dining on seals and other fish being eaten by porpoises and sea birds.

While the narration contains some information about this watery world, there are more questions left unanswered than not. Hopefully the DVD release of this movie will include an audio track that fills in more of the details about these sea animals and the creatures that rely on them for their existence—polar bears and birds to name a few.

Despite the increasing impact of pollution and other human interventions on the ocean, only a little time is spent showing animals swimming through garbage-filled waters. Later viewers see brief depictions of fish and other ocean dwellers caught in trolling nets and ropes. (One scene shows blood oozing through the water from an injured animal.) Even the effect of river runoff and the dumping of deadly chemicals don’t receive the amount of screen time they likely deserve.

Rather this production, for the most part, is merely a leisurely tour of some of the most pristine aquatic areas still found on Earth. Luckily downloadable educational activities and an educator guide will help make this film a useful media presentation for the classroom. In the meantime, audiences can sit back and enjoy an up close tour of the world that lies beneath the surging waves and languid waters of this planet’s Oceans.

Directed by Christophe Cheysson, Jacques Cluzaud. Starring Jacques Perrin. Running time: 82 minutes. Theatrical release April 22, 2010. Updated

Oceans
Rating & Content Info

Why is Oceans rated G? Oceans is rated G by the MPAA

The film includes depictions of animals hunting and eating others without any portrayal of blood. A seal swims through dirty, garbage-filled water. Sea creatures are caught in a large net and entangled in the ropes. Blood is shown from an animal struggling to get free. There is a brief discussion about animals that are caught and killed in the process of tuna fishing.

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Oceans Parents' Guide

What rarely seen creatures does this film introduce to audiences?Does a greater knowledge of sea life impact one’s interest in preserving it? What individual things can you do to improve the state of the ocean?

What is the order of the food chain for these animals? What happens when one chain in the link disappears?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Oceans movie is October 19, 2010. Here are some details…

DisneyNature’s Oceans release to DVD and Blu-ray on October 19, 2010.

Oceans on DVD offers:

- Music Video: Make a Wave featuring Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato.

- Disney & Nature: Preserving The World We Share

- Deeper In The Ocean (videos from living menus and filmmaker annotations).

Oceans on Blu-ray includes:

- Living Menus (a fully interactive experience)

- Filmmaker Annotations

- Music Video: Make a Wave featuring Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato.

- Disney & Nature: Preserving The World We Share

Related home video titles:

Other documentaries that portray the animal kingdom are March of the Penguins, Winged Migration and Aliens of the Deep. Two Brothers is a dramatic film about two young tiger cubs separated early in their lives. The animated film Finding Nemo follows a little clown fish as he tries to find his way back home after being captured by humans and placed in an aquarium.

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