WaffleMovies.com - March of the Penguins

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Back Shelf Beauties
by Willie Waffle

March of the Penguins

The penguins are cute. Do you really need to know more than that? OK. The penguins are cute, and you get a fascinating look at their world including the mating season, roles of males and females, and the dangerous conditions that leave life hanging in the balance at every turn.

It comes off as a big screen National Geographic or Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom special, which makes March of the Penguins a compelling story about a year in the life of Antarctica's emperor penguins. Director Luc Jacquet creates a wonderful tale about natural, rugged, instinctual determination and courage as we watch the lovable penguins make the long winter migration, struggle to keep their eggs and chicks safe from the blistering cold, and battle predators. Jacquet and editor Sabine Emiliani cut the scenes together to give the penguins personalities, create a romantic love story between a few and win our hearts over by showing the natural cuteness of the penguin chicks. Yes, you and everyone who goes to the movie will want a penguin chick for a pet, but I don't think they are available at PETsMART (yet). Jacquet and Emiliani have shaped too much of the film for it to be a documentary, but it's an informative and entertaining piece.

I do have one warning for parents who might be thinking this could be a nice movie to take the little tykes to see. It is rated G, but Jacquet doesn't shy away from showing the darker side of life in the Antarctic. Several penguins, including little chicks, suffer from the cold, age, weakness and predators. Jacquet shows two bloodless scenes of a penguin being captured, and several frozen penguins, which might be a little too much for the youngest of audience members. With Morgan Freeman's narration, it's clear what has happened to the penguins, so you won't be able to talk your way around this one.

March of the Penguins is a captivating film. You'll never look at the penguins in Madagascar quite the same way again.

4 Waffles (Out Of 4)