Antarctica (1991)

This large format film explores the last great wilderness on earth. It takes you to the coldest, driest, windiest continent, Antarctica. The film explores life in Antarctica, both for the ... See full summary »

Director:

John Weiley

Writers:

Les Murray (script), John Weiley (script),

Stars:

Alex Scott

2 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Alex Scott	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

This large format film explores the last great wilderness on earth. It takes you to the coldest, driest, windiest continent, Antarctica. The film explores life in Antarctica, both for the animals that live there and the scientists that work there.

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Plot Keywords:

antarctica | ice | exploration | global warming | penguin | 

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Taglines:

The last place on earth

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Genres:

Documentary | Short

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 October 1991 (USA)

Also Known As:

Antarctica: An Adventure of a Different Nature

Filming Locations:

Antarctica

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Heliograph Productions, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

Technical Specs

Runtime:

40 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.44 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Eight Below (2006)

User Reviews

Very good photography, very shoddy script

The film "Antarctica," which I viewed today in IMAX format, is a documentary about the continent of the same name. The movie opens with an excellent shot of an icebreaker plowing through sea-ice like a hot knife through butter. Then a narrator starts talking, which kills the mood. This pretty much sums up the entire movie: great cinematography, mediocre to poor narration.

As other reviewers have pointed out, the writers seemed to try to cram as many subjects as they could into the 40-minute running time. This had the result of being the viewer being yanked away from a topic just as she was getting interested in it, such as during the visually spectacular underwater caverns sequence. Many of the subjects were just plain dull, such as the semi-obligatory pronouncements about the harm humans are doing to the earth and its climate. While most likely true, this is always a downer when viewed in a documentary one paid $9.50 to see.

In addition, the film had several factual errors, not the least of which was saying the Scott Expedition met its tragic end "eleven miles from safety." In fact, they were eleven miles from an unmanned depot, hardly safety. Also, as any serious student of Antarctica knows, the ceremonial "barber pole" at Amundsen-Scott Station is NOT the true South Pole, as was strongly implied in the movie.

In conclusion, I can recommend this for Antarctica buffs only, and even for them only with the above caveats.