Just got back from seeing "Chimpanzee" with my girlfriend and our two young boys. They loved it, and so did I. The first viewing in a long while that received a standing O. I cannot wait till the Blu-Ray transfer.This is the story(narrated by Tim Allen, "Toy Story", "Home Improvement")of a newly born chimp named Oscar. We watch him grow up with his Mother and the other Chimps among the clan. Freddy, the Grandfather-leader is my favorite.
You cannot watch this without thinking of how unbelievably human they are. Look at their eyes, their communication and feelings; its all on caught on film and wonderfully done. I loved the footage of their tool and decision making, so, so human. Though the story of Oscar is its focus, other stories such as Scar and his clan who are at a territorial war over food sources and the communication and the execution of hunting their prey is genius.
Wonderfully told by Tim Allen as he takes us through the story of the chimps with his comedic style.
My kids loved it and so did I. Its nice to watch something real and educational for a change, making this a perfect family film.
Short film but very sweet and well worth it.
Please note that I DO give away some of the plot details, although this info is also included in nearly every advertisement or trailer for the film. If you haven't seen those, you may not want to read the rest of this review but I think those with young children might want to have enough information to decide if their children are ready for the film.
Before getting into the basics of this movie, I do want to note that it is probably best suited for older children since it does have some sections that could be frightening to younger ones, including the death of a baby chimp's mother (although this is not shown but rather narrated by Tim Allen).
There are also other events which involve violence, including attacks by rival groups of chimpanzees, but as with the death of the mother chimp most of the details are left to the imagination. Still, I certainly wouldn't take a young child to this movie. Just my take.
Shown in documentary form, this is the tale of a very young and adorable baby chimp named Oscar. The earlier parts of the movie revolve around Oscar's close bond with Isha, his mother. Both kids and adults who watched this with me found the early scenes to the slower part of the film. As one kid put it " There is too much talking" and I have to agree that the narration could have been edited for better impact.
Still, there was plenty of interesting info about how chimps use tools to open fruit and poke sticks in old branches on the ground to find termites and other bugs. Scenes of baby chimps playing or pretend fighting with each other brought smiles to our faces.
It takes awhile before the crucial event in this movie occurs....and Oscar's mother dies. This info has been broadly advertised in the promos for this movie but I'll leave out more explicit descriptions here. Young children probably couldn't handle even the narration of these events. I have to admit that I found it difficult to watch Oscar's mournful search for his mother and the challenges he faced without her.
In true Disney form, there is a nice abd comforting resolution and one that is likely to surprise and amaze viewers. I certainly wouldn't have predicted it.
There is also a bonus bit at the end of the film which reveals how the film was made and some of the humorous as well as frustrating experiences faced by the documentary's creators. I do wish there had been some different and more engaging music throughout the film, similar to that used during the ending scenes.
If you are the sort who detests movies or books where chimpanzees or other creatures are given human names and their feelings are described, you will probably want to avoid the film. After all, who really knows the exact details of another's mind, including human minds? But naming the baby chimp Oscar as well as imagining his possible feelings may make the film more accessible to children and perhaps help spur a lasting enthusiasm for nature. I can certainly see the advantage of this, even though I am ambivalent about it. However, the movie does have the blessing of noted chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall and part of the proceeds from the opening week went to the Jane Goodall Institute, designated to help protect chimpanzees and their habitats.
After watching the film, perhaps viewers will also consider how they might help ensure the future of chimpanzees.
Buy Disneynature: Chimpanzee (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging) (2012) Now
This was really a great movie! I got it for my 6 year old (he loves nature documentary type movies) and we both loved it. It was a little sad, but it was really neat to see what happens and how Oscar perceivers. I would recommend this to anyone who likes nature movies. I've read reviews putting the narration down, but I honestly liked it.When the filmmakers who brought the Disneynature feature film Chimpanzee to the movie screen, they may have expected some hazards (wait until you see the eye-popping bonus feature in which they're constantly tormented by bees), but they never expected a rare and amazing story to tell itself right before their cameras.A young chimp, named Oscar for the film, suffers a difficult loss and a astonishing gain. Sorry if that's too much of a spoiler, but that is only one of the experiences you will share in this, perhaps the most remarkable of the Disneynature film series. Tim Allen narrates with a fine blend of warmth, concern and humor as this chimpanzee troup lives through various challenges, searches for food and has fun -like most families.
The film is so engrossing, the 78 minutes seem to fly by. Generous bonus sequences that chronicle the creation of the film, though not as plentiful for DVD users, are almost as fascinating as the film itself. If you see this on Blu-ray, prepare for a breathtaking ride. Some of the scenes are so lush and painterly, they look as if they came from a classic Disney animated feature -particularly a stunning long upward pan resembling a fantastic mulit-plane Disney sequence.
Young children may be unnerved by some of the material, and there is a disclaimer about the bee sequence -it's that intense.
it's nice to be able to watch this from a comfy chair in a climate-controlled room and be grateful to the filmmakers for going to such extreme lengths to capture all of this for all of us to experience.
Want Disneynature: Chimpanzee (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging) (2012) Discount?
If you love animals, you'll LOVE this story about an orphaned chimpanzee. It's enough that the little guy is absolutely cuter than anything, but then the story will completely warm your heart. And if that isn't enough, you have Tim Allen giving his classic wit and cheeky narration. He makes you laugh with his inimitable style and you are sure to be entertained. And the cinematography is right on par with IMAX's Planet Earth. This is a must-watch!Save 28% Off
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