March of the Penguins [Blu-ray]

Overview

While many people think of penguins as comical birds who look like they've been decked out in tuxedos, the truth is they're among the strongest and most resilient creatures in the animal kingdom. And they have to be -- each year, the emperor penguins of Antarctica travel through the most punishing environment on Earth to their nesting grounds, and after the females lay their eggs, the males keep them warm while their mates walk 70 miles back to the sea to fatten themselves with fish for themselves and their young. Filmmaker Luc Jacquet spent over a year braving the frigid temperatures of the South Pole to film this annual ritual of the penguins, and March of the Penguins documents their brave struggle to survive, as well as the close emotional bonds between the penguin families. March of the Penguins was first screened in France as La Marche de l'Empereur, with a handful of French actors providing a voice-over in which they expressed the "thoughts" of the penguins; for the American edition, Morgan Freeman was brought in to deliver a more straightforward narration.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/27/2007
UPC:	0085391145530
Original Release:	2005
Rating:	G
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:20:00
Sales rank:	6,688

Special Features

Of Penguins and Men; National Geographic's crittercam: Emperor Penguins; Classic Looney Tunes cartoon 8 Ball Bunny; Theatrical trailer

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Romane Bohringer	Narrator
Charles Berling	Narrator
Jules Sitruk	Narrator
Morgan Freeman	Narrator,Narrator
Jeff Schindler	Conductor
Emilie Simon	Composer
Alex Wurman	Composer
Emile Simon	Composer

Technical Credits

Luc Jacquet

Michel Fessler

Luc Jacquet	Director,Screenwriter
Yves Darondeau	Producer
Ilann Girard	Executive Producer,Producer
Christophe Lioud	Producer
Emmanuel Priou	Producer
Willy Allen	Sound Effects
Kevin E. Carpenter	Sound Effects
Pascal Dedeye	Sound Effects
André Dias	Sound Effects
Michel Fessler	Screenwriter
Laurent Quaglio	Sound/Sound Designer
Clavicorde	Sound Editor
Gerard Lamps	Sound Mixer

Editorial Reviews

One of the year’s most unexpectedly moving films, this French-made documentary about the mating cycle of emperor penguins took moviegoers by surprise and became a box-office blockbuster in the process. Small wonder: March of the Penguins is cinema vérité at its purest, an unsentimental yet intimate depiction of one of nature’s true marvels. As narrator Morgan Freeman explains, every year these indomitable creatures leave their ocean habitat and make a long, arduous journey over the treacherous Antarctic ice to their traditional breeding ground. Guided by instinct and undeterred by the harsh climate or lack of food, the penguins trudge single-mindedly to their destination, engage in their unique mating ritual, and labor tirelessly to provide for the helpless offspring they bring into an unforgiving ecosystem. Director Luc Jacquet -- who can’t be over-praised for marshalling a crew with the patience, skill, and dedication required to capture these unforgettable images on film -- presents a simple but compelling story that’s every bit as focused and dignified as the penguins themselves. He draws us into their world and celebrates their unflagging resolve, making us care to a surprising extent about these waddling critters. It’s a remarkable achievement, and one you’ll want to experience over and over again.

Those who loved the movie will clamor for March of the Penguins based on the film by Luc Jacquet, text by Jordan Roberts, photos by Jerome Maison. Inset photos chronicle penguins, sliding on their bellies or diving from ocean to land, while a full-spread image shows the dramatic parade of penguins at the film's core. The passing of the egg from one parent to the other is here, the predators are absent; this will likely send families right back to the newly released DVD. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly