Review: Oceans
Disneynature OCEANS, is available for purchase, TODAY, October 19, 2010, as a Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack (Bluray+ DVD) and 1-Disc DVD, and is the extension of the “See OCEANS, Save Oceans” efforts –an initiative, which has been developed, between Disneynature and The Nature Conservancy, to help establish new marine protected areas.
In continued efforts, Disneynature has committed, to carry on the “See OCEANS, Save Oceans” initiative by contributing a portion of sales to The Nature Conservancy, through Disney’s Worldwide Conservation Fund, for every Disneynature OCEANS, Blu-ray Combo Pack or DVD purchased between October 19 and 25.
As one of the world’s leading conservation; organizations, The Nature Conservancy, is widely recognized for its efforts to protect vital marine habitats. OCEANS, on Blu-ray Hi-Def, takes viewers on a breathtaking and unprecedented high-definition journey, to discover nature’s mysteries, showcasing creatures, captured on film for the first time. State-of-the-art imagery, of the colorful symphony that lives under the sea, is captured,with a crystal clear picture, and theater-quality sound. OCEANS, puts audiences in the very heart of the action. Taking you there, and racing along, amid a school of traveling tuna, leaping with dolphins and swimming shoulder-to-fin with whales. It does a superb job of entertaining kids, and parents alike.
By purchasing a Blu-ray Combo Pack, or DVD of Disneynature OCEANS, between October 19 and 25, viewers can help conserve our world’s oceans and the species that depend on them for survival. In honor of each Blu-ray and DVD purchased during that period Disneynature, through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, will help establish new marine protected areas in The Bahamas, with The Nature Conservancy, one of the largest conservation organizations in the world.
Here are the Details of what you get:
DVD:
“Make a Wave” Music Video- Disney Friends for Change music video Featuring Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato.
Disney & Nature: Preserving the World we Share – Viewers get a deeper look into the conservation projects around the world being sponsored by the Walt Disney Company.
Deeper in The Ocean 5 pods from the Blu-ray Living Menus and Filmmaker Annotations that go behind the scenes taking a deeper look at the filmmakers, and the animals that make up Disney nature OCEANS.
BLU-Ray:Everything on the DVD plus
Living Menus- Where you can Explore the world on an interactive globe. It’s BD-Live, new video pods and pop-up facts that are accessible as they become available, hosted by the world’s leading conservationists and the Disneynature OCEANS filmmakers.
Filmmaker Annotations- An in movie feature that allows consumers to watch behind-the-scenes footage of the film being made and hear stories from the crew who spent several years making the film, around the world.
Suggested Retail Price:Blu-ray combo pack -Us $39.99,Canada $44.99
DVD – US $29.99, Canada $35.99
Featured Run Time: Approx 84 minutes
Rated: G Bonus Material not rated in the US
Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Languages: English/French Canadian /Spanish
In The Bahamas, The Nature Conservancy and its local partners,including the Bahamian government, are establishing a new marine protected area along the west side of Andros Island. Currently, new marine protected area boundaries, are being defined that will expand the part from 300,000 acres, to over 1 million acres. These areas will contain miles of vital coral reefs that provide natural habitat,nurseries and feeding grounds for hundreds of marine species. For more details on Disney’s collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, please visit: www.disney.com/oceans.
About The Nature Conservancy:
The Nature Conservancy, is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters, for nature and people. The Nature Conservancy, and its more than 1 million members, have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide.Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.
OCEANS is narrated by Pierce Brosnan (The Ghost Writer, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Mamma Mia) who has long been affiliated with environmental causes and campaigns including programs such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s “Save the Whales Again!” campaign.
In celebration of the 10/19 release of Disneynature OCEANS, on Blu-ray Combo Pack & DVD, world renowned oceanographer, explorer, scientist, author and lecturer, Dr. Sylvia Earle, hosted a virtual roundtable event! Dr. Earle is an advisor for Disneynature, and specifically for OCEANS. I was glad to be a participant in the event.
Here also, is a little information on her many accomplishments. A National Geographic Society Explorer in Residence, Dr. Sylvia A. Earle, called Her Deepness by the New Yorker and the New York Times, Living Legend by the Library of Congress, and first Hero for the Planet by Time Magazine, is an oceanographer, explorer, author and lecturer with experience as a field research scientist, government official, and director for corporate and non-profit organizations including the Kerr McGee Corporation, Dresser Industries, Oryx Energy, the Aspen Institute, the Conservation Fund, American Rivers, Mote Marine Laboratory, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Rutgers Institute for Marine Science, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Research, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, Ocean Futures and Ocean Conservancy.
Formerly Chief Scientist of NOAA, Dr. Earle is the Founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research, Inc., Founder of Mission Blue and SEAlliance, Chair of the Advisory Councils of the Harte Research Institute, the Ocean in Google Earth, the Marine Science and Technology Foundation and the SRVInstitute. She has a B.S. degree from Florida State University, M.S. and PhD. from Duke University, 19 honorary degrees and has authored more than 175 scientific, technical and popular publications, lectured in more than 70 countries, and appeared in hundreds of radio and television productions.
Dr. Earle,has led more than 100 expeditions, and logged more than 7000 hours underwater, including leading the first team of women aquanauts during the Tektite Project in 1970, and setting a record for solo diving in 1000 meters depth. Her research, concerns marine ecosystems with special reference to exploration, conservation and the development and use of new technologies for access, and effective operations, in the deep sea and other remote environments.
Her special focus is on developing a global network of areas on the land and in the ocean, “Hope Spots.” to safeguard the living systems that provide the underpinnings of global processes, from maintaining biodiversity and yielding basic life support services to providing stability and resiliency in response to accelerating climate change.
Of course, I was thrilled to participate in the roundtable event. Here are some of the questions and answers from the event for you to enjoy:
Q – You have a most remarkable biography, seeing the ocean as well as dealing with the politics on the surface that affect it. Can you tell us what do you think are the significant milestones that have been reached since your career began and can you tell us what now should be the top priority going forward to continue becoming better stewards of this planet?
A – Dr. Sylvia Earle: Since the 1950s, more has been learned about the ocean than during all preceding human history. At the same time more has been lost. Many large fish species have declined by 90 per cent; about half the coral reefs are gone or are in serious trouble; hundreds of “dead zones” have formed in coastal waters; plankton has been reduced by 40 per cent, and now a new issue is arising– ocean acidification. Bad news! But the good news is that people are becoming aware of the importance of the ocean, in addition to everything they care about — the economy, health, security, and most importantly, the existence of life itself. Films such as “Oceans” help enormously to create awareness — that leads to caring, and action. Most encouraging are recent moves to establish large areas in the ocean where ocean wildlife — even the fish — are safe. Taking care of the natural systems, land, air, ocean and wildlife everywhere is a top priority. They form the basis of what makes life possible.
Q – Given the timing of this release and the repercussions of the BP oil spill disaster, how has your perspective of OCEANS changed with repeat viewings?
A – Dr. Sylvia Earle: I don’t tire of seeing OCEANS again and again, especially when I am far from the sea and want to remind myself of what is out there, under the surface of the sea. Seeing the avalanche of oil flowing into the Gulf of Mexico this summer was painful, especially since I have been diving in the Gulf since the 1950s and know that life there is as beautiful as in the scenes shown in the film.
Q – Viewing the underwater footage is almost like being in a dreamlike state. Do you still pinch yourself when you are submerged in this seemingly alien world?
A – Dr. Sylvia Earle: For me, the ocean is not alien at all . . . Being there feels like going home.
Q – What types of changes have taken place in the last hundred years?
A – Dr. Sylvia Earle: Profound changes have taken place globally since the start of the 20th century — to the air, the world’s waters, and life everywhere, land and sea. For the past ten years more than 2700 scientists have been assessing the state of life in the oceans, past, present and future, during the “Census of Marine life.” While thousands of new species were discovered, the sharp decline of many creatures was cause for great concern. Industrial fishing has had an enormous impact, pushing some species to 10 per cent of their numbers from 50 or 60 years ago. On the positive side, protection for the ocean is beginning to increase as well. About 1% of the ocean is now protected within a park or sanctuary of some sort, and many nations, including the United States, recognize the need to take a new look at policies that will help restore health to the ocean.
Q – Have researchers begun to examine the effects of the deep water spill off Louisiana?
A – Dr. Sylvia Earle: Some research began almost immediately following news of the Deepwater Horizon spill this summer, and the pace has picked up in recent months as concerns have grown about the magnitude of the spill, the use of toxic dispersants, and the consequences to life in the Gulf. Long-term studies are needed, and both private and government institutions are gearing up to do just that.
Q – Dr. Earle, what do believe is the greatest threat to the world’s oceans currently?
A – Dr. Sylvia Earle: Obvious threats include what we are putting into the sea (millions of tons of pollutants) and what we are taking out (millions of tons of ocean wildlife), as well as profound disturbance to natural shoreline systems — mangroves, marshes, sea grass meadows, kelp forests, coral reefs and even healthy, natural sandy beaches. But far and away the biggest problem is ignorance, something that OCEANS helps to solve. When people understand how important the ocean is to their lives, and how much damage we are causing, they can respond with action. If people don’t know, they can’t care.
Q – I would imagine every trip down below is a completely new adventure. But if there was one singular instance that stands out above the rest while filming OCEANS, what would you consider it to be?
A – Dr. Sylvia Earle: The film team had unparalleled experiences while filming OCEANS from pole to pole. Using new techniques, they were able to keep pace with dolphins as if they were a part of the pod themselves, but probably their infinite patience is what made possible some of the best moments — such as the scenes of blue whales feeding. Many weeks were invested just waiting for the right moment.
Q – You mentioned that a new issue is arising– ocean acidification, what exactly is that and does it come from pollution?
A – Dr. Sylvia Earle: Ocean acidification is caused by excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere — that in turn comes from burning fossil fuels. The ocean absorbs enormous amounts of CO2, but increasingly, some is converted to carbonic acid. The trend was first noticed about ten years ago and is increasing at an alarming rate. There is concern that creatures such as corals, oysters, clams, many kinds of planktonic organisms with calcium carbonate shells may be harmed. Actually, acidification can affect the chemistry of the ocean as a whole. Some call the phenomenon the terrible twin of global warming/climate change — with excess CO2 at the heart of both problems.
Q – I have always felt that many of the questions about life, can be found in the oceans. Yet, for decades, we have been focused on searching for answers in space. Do you see a trend or new focus on more ocean exploration for answers?
A – Dr. Sylvia Earle: Exploration of the universe is vitally important to provide perspective and to help answer some of the “big questions” . . . where did we come from, who are we, where are we going? But exploration of this part of the solar system, this part of the universe, is vital, too, and also necessary in order to answer those same big questions. Yes, I think awareness of the importance of the ocean is growing — and I am confident that OCEANS will help inspire people to want to know more about this amazing blue speck in the universe that is vital for our survival.
This film is worth, every minute, and is valuable to the survival of our planet. Be sure and get yours!