The Cove (2009) User Reviews

This Movie is not without it's flaws, but is Inspiring

[earl_sibley · 8/10 · 25 November 2011]

There are few movies that I can say resulted in lasting change in my life or personal behaviour, but a couple of days after watching this movie the visceral response remains with me. I will never set foot on a marine mammal park again. If that was part of the goal of this movie then mission accomplished Louis Psihoyos and Ric O'Barry.

This movie is about the exploitation and brutality man has shown towards a gentle, intelligent and harmless creature. It can be added to a long list of films with a simple message - man is raping his environment, exploiting life, and quite frankly caring for little else than the profit nature holds.

The movie will hold you to the last 10 minutes, at which point it becomes apparent to all why Ric O'Barry's life has changed. It must be seen as the story tellers wanted it to be seen.

If I have any criticism of the film it's the amount of time dedicated to dramatizing the message with the Special Ops segments. I appreciate the risk taken to get this footage however I think the danger element was overstated by the film. You gain the belief all through the film the OPS is being followed closely by authorities, that they're every move is being noted, their purpose known, they're faces ingrained in the minds of the people, yet on two occasions they load up a van full of crew and high tech equipment and head unchallenged into the "great secret". This aspect of the film, along with the early segments showing paranoid Ric O'Barry moments in which he says things like "they would kill me if they could" leads me to believe the filmmakers we hedging between taking the viewer on a adrenaline fuelled trip of espionage and a journey of education and awareness.

It has it's moments of contradiction as well. It goes to some great length to show that Japanese don't eat dolphin meat but this is not adequately reconciled with the fact that the Taiji school program served dolphin meat to it's children as part of it's mandatory lunch program.

An obvious cherry picking of interviewees in the cities of Japan with questions about their food supply chain elicited responses that I would expect to find in most urban centres. I live in Toronto, where I suspect many people would be surprised to find restaurants here serve alligator and other exotic protein. I know that slaughter houses provide my area beef but I would be hard pressed to tell you where they are or the methods employed. The effort to show the Japanese as oblivious to the scandals going on right under their nose failed to be convincing in my opinion.

Still, a very informative and inspiring film. I would recommend it to anyone who cares about these creatures. I have had the benefit of encountering these wonderful animal at open sea and know them to be curious, intelligent, playful, with strong ties to the family unit. They are better than we are and this film helped me realize this.

A call to arms.

[crappydoo · 9/10 · 10 July 2009]

Something tells me that this heartbreaking documentary is going to stay with me for a long, long time. This movie depicts in painful detail the horrors of dolphin fishing (yes, you heard me right) which has been occurring for a long time in a secretive place called Taiji in Japan. How secretive? Even the common Japanese do not know that it is taking place in their country. The film takes its time in unfolding the horrors and conspiracy layer by layer and ends with a bang. It plays out like a suspense thriller but is far more effective than any suspense thrillers because this takes place in real life. I certainly will do my best to promote it to the others and support the cause. The direction is fantastic and several underwater shots seem to be taken right off Earth or National Geographic, which looks great on the big screen. This documentary has been made by activists that have been crying out loud to deaf ears for the past three decades. I am certain that this is not the last we will hear of it. This film should certainly make an impact and change a few things in the world.

Provoking and shocking documentary about activists againt the cruel massacre of dolphin in Japan

[ma-cortes · 8/10 · 6 June 2019]

Gorgeous , thrilling and pulse-pounding documentary with strong ecological denounce against Dolphin slaughter , fish food full of mercury due to its high concentration that results to be a serious threat to human health , the Japanese government's methodical buying off of poorer third world nations for their support of Japan's whaling industry and others thorny issues . A great documentary that Won 1 Oscar and another 38 wins & 17 nominations . In Taiji, a location with 3,500 residents. Japan, local fishermen hide a gruesome secret : the capture and slaughter of dolphins . And at a hidden , glistening cove, surrounded by barbed wire and "Keep Out" signs, lies a terrifying and dark reality . Man is their bigger threat when being underhanded market for mercury-tainted dolphin meat and at the same time Man is their only hope .

This thought-provoking film is itself a act of heroism , well produced by actor Fisher Stevens , it stars Richard O'Barry who gives a peculiar view point of cetaceans in captivity and while a very profesional team playing a cloak-and-dagger game with those who would have them imprisoned . And exposing the ruthless practice, risking life and health in the process . Since that time, he has become one of the leading advocates against cetaceans incarcerated in small tanks , pools , ponds and reservoir and for the preservation of cetaceans in the wild. Richard O'Barry was the man who captured and trained the dolphins for the television show ¨Flipper¨ (1964) , though he also trained sea animals as sharks in films as ¨Beyond the Bermuda Triangle¨ , ¨Island Claws¨, and ¨The jaws of death¨ also titled ¨Mako sharks¨ . His sight point about sea animals changed from that experience when as the last straw he saw that one of the dolphins playing Flipper - her name being Kathy - basically committed suicide itself in his arms because of the stress of being in captivity . Richard joins forces with filmmaker Louie Psihoyos and the Ocean Preservation Society to carry out this surprising and interesting documentary . As filmmaker 'Louie Psihoyos ' go about attempting to expose one of what they see as the most brutal acts against wild dolphins in the world in Taiji, Japan, where dolphins are routinely corralled, either to be sold alive to aquariums and marine parks, or slaughtered for meat. O'Barry and Psihoyos are well known as enemies by the authorities in Taiji, the watcher cops who spy and chase and they will use whatever tactic to expel the two from Japan forever . O'Barry, Psihoyos and their team covertly attempt to photograph as a document of engaging proof this cruel behavior. The primary secluded cove where this activity is taking place is heavily guarded . It is here, under cover , masked , discreetely at night, hidden from the fishermen of Taiji, , engage in an unseen hunt to film conclusive evidendeces . The nature of what they do is so chilling -- and the consequences are so dangerous to human health -- they will go to great lengths to halt anyone from seeing it. With a state-of-the-art equipment they go undercover to film the hair-raising , horrifying images about Mular dolphin massacre . They employ among others Hollywood cameramen from George Lucas' ¨Industrial , Light and Magic¨ and deep sea free divers . As ILM technicians created special camouflaged, rock-like, cameras that helped capture some of the footage in the cove . Along the way they are pursued by the Japanese Police and mistreated by fishermen . As an expert team of marine explorers , water-sound and cameramen , special effects artists, , adrenaline junkies and world-class free divers who will carry out an undercover operation to shoot the off-limits cove .They also highlight what is deemed the perilous consumption of dolphin meat which is often sold not as dolphin meat and driven by a multi-billion dollar dolphin entertainment industry and considering the important support most specifically at the International Whaling Commission.

The film won several prizes such as Academy Awards, USA 2010 Winner Oscar Best Documentary, Features ,Louie Psihoyos ,Fisher Stevens . Alliance of Women Film Journalists 2009 Winner EDA Award Best Documentary Feature Film Louie Psihoyos . American Cinema Editors, USA 2010 WinnerBest Edited Documentary Geoffrey Richman . Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival 2009 Winner Audience Award Louie Psihoyos . Awards Circuit Community Awards 2009 Winner ACCA Best Documentary Feature . Boston Society of Film Critics Awards 2009 Winner BSFC Award Best Documentary . Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2010 Winner Critics Choice Award Best Documentary Feature .

The tin-foil-hat-wearing hypocrites are out in force

[bushido79 · 10/10 · 8 October 2009]

One-sided? Yes. Superbly crafted? Most certainly. A practical joke or fantastically manufactured lie? Despite what many of the conspiracy theorists here would tell you, no, it is not.

The campaigning elements of the film may not sit well with some people, but the facts are the facts, and there's simply no denying the emotional impact this film has. It is a prime example of constructed film-making with an overt agenda, filled with elements that at time make it feel like a heist movie or spy thriller.

Having said that, there's no doubting just how real the horrors are. The annual slaughter of thousands of dolphins in an isolated cove near Taiji is sickening, heart-wrenching and unnecessary. After select dolphins are taken for the world's aquariums, the rest are left for brutal and barbaric butchering. I for one appreciate the risks taken by the film makers in attempting to get this story out, and I would place good money on this documentary being a front-runner for next year's Oscars.

One of the marks of a powerful documentary is the response it generates from the hordes of nay Sayers. Some of the absurdly laughable comments listed here on IMDb are begging to be called out and exposed for the pathetic lies that they are.

Conspiracy theory/lie no.1: The premise of dolphins being slaughtered en masse in Taiji is a complete fabrication.

This belongs in the same volume of crackpot collections as those who deny the dangers of global warming. It is indeed real, and there is a plethora of information available to anyone with 3rd grade research skills. An article by Minoru Matsutani appeared in the Japan Times on Sept 23rd this year covering the issues raised in The Cove. The practice of mass dolphin slaying is indeed confirmed.

Falsehood no.2: That the scenes from Taiji's infamous cove were in fact filmed in Ottawa.

People will fabricate lies without any thought of at least giving the lie some credibility. There is no evidence to support this ridiculous claim. And having personally travelled along the east coast of Honshu in 2001, I can tell you that this is indeed filmed in Taiji.

Falsehood no.3: Dolphins are not native to Japan.

Wrong. Dead wrong. Bottlenose dolphins, for one, inhabit all warm temperate seas worldwide – including Japan. In fact, Mikura Island has a permanent colony of bottlenose dolphins.

I'm utterly delighted that this film is stirring up so much emotion, as this is exactly what is needed to spark change. Most people in Japan aren't even aware of this atrocity, and had it not been for this film, I seriously doubt many of them would have ever known.

A Nutshell Review: The Cove

[DICK STEEL · 10/10 · 23 August 2009]

It saddens me to watch The Cove, because unless your heart is made of stone, it's unlikely not to become unaffected by it, when it shows how evil man can be. It also boggles the mind when you mull over whether the perpetrators know exactly what they're doing in committing such atrocities, that extinction of species boil down to those who are indifferent, inhumane, and corrupted by the smell of profits that highlights Man's propensity for destruction. To claim superiority over another by explanation of the preservation of culture, is bullshit at best, and it just shows how consciously ignorant we can sometimes get due to either lack of understanding, or just simply refusing to change incorrect mindsets.

I'm sure many of us will agree that dolphins are very beautiful water-based mammals, and the lucky few who have gotten to chance upon them in their natural habitat will attest to the fact that it's awe-inspiring to have seen them in action. From time to time we read about the heroic nature of our mammal counterparts in saving human lives, so what would warrant such untold cruelties toward those blessed by Nature with a smile and an extremely gentle, docile nature, or cursed as the filmmakers would say, because they are unable to project outwardly their feelings of pain, sadness and betrayal by humankind?

Director Louie Psihoyos had crafted an incredible documentary which isn't just another save- this-species film, or just another wildlife conservation flick. Somehow, The Cove stands above those that I've seen which have run along those lines, in that it contains footages that the team had managed to wrangle out in a quest for the truth. It contains scenes of murder most foul, which will start again in the month of September, unless people around the world make some noise beyond puppet worldwide organizations fueled by corrupt bureaucrats bent on smug thinking that half-baked nonsensical answers can keep the truth under wraps.

What also added that emotional weight to the film, is the inclusion of Richard O'Barry, who could be infamously credited with sparking the interest in dolphin-aquariums and shows around the world, simply because of his involvement in the Flipper television series, where he had responsibility in capturing and training 5 dolphins used for that successful series, and henceforth spawned an industry of sorts where dolphins are captured en masse by confusing them and leading them into man-made traps, then allowing trainers around the world to come and choose those with potential. Think of it like the slave trade which we have abhorred, but now transferred to the animal kingdom, with a murderous act of slaughtering thousands of those which don't make the theme-park cut. Who are we to decide those that cannot entertain, only deserves to be chopped up in cold blood for the supermarkets?

O'Barry is now an activist set on releasing every dolphin in captivity, but only because of a personal, profound loss of a dolphin in his arms that have jolted him into action. He's quite forthright in his interviews, and his transformation as explained is nothing less than heart- wrenching. His crusade led him to Taiji, Japan, which is the source of the trade, with over- zealous Japanese fishermen bordering on counter-surveillance, muscling in on local police influence, to try and keep O'Barry at bay from interrupting their profitable trade, and of course putting a dampener on O'Barry's search for redemption.

Most of the film then centered on the filmmakers and their assembling of a few good men and women with specific skill sets, such as free-diving and prop-making, acoustics experts to covert camera operations, in an attempt to expose the truth from The Cove, an area designed by natural geography and exploited by the fishermen to perform their most heinous acts. It's akin to a heist movie with intense preparation work and danger lurking around every corner, but the images obtained are nothing less than shocking – the indiscriminate slaughter without remorse and plenty of laughter, a very affecting sea waters filled with red from the bloodbath, and frenetic cries for help and unsuccessful flight from death. It'll make the most stoic of men, shed tears.

The film also had touched upon another aspect of how Man is offending Nature through our polluting ways, but Psihoyos deftly included that portion in because it's also related, but never letting it detract its focus from the main story. While dolphin meat doesn't appeal, being slyly packaged as something else is nothing less than cheating. Also, the high levels of mercury found in the meat not only endangers whoever is putting it on their dinner plate, but just emphasizes the entire polluted food chain with the fact that we are the #1 pollutants on this planet, and poisoning of marine life, or rapid consumption of food from the sea, is something that will impact us in time to come very soon, unless we wake up.

One of the world's most intelligent creatures getting slaughtered indiscriminately, and you can do something about it. Undoubtedly as a film this is very well made, and have received countless of accolades, but if audiences were to stop at this point then nothing will change and everything will be lost, starting from the efforts from the activists. This film is set to break into my top films of the year as well, but even that rings hollow.

What we can do, at the very least, is to vote with our wallet. Make some noise, talk about it, spread the word and get people go watch the film, and take affirmative action. With demand and attendances to sea-world-like or dolphin theme parks come crashing down because we choose not to patronize them, then demand for dolphins to perform at these locations will no longer be viable.

Disturbing and eye-opening

[leiser18 · 10/10 · 12 August 2009]

Enough has been said about this excellent documentary, but I wanted to comment on the negative responses, some of which are posted here and which also can be read on the message board. If you have not seen this movie, DON'T PAY ANY ATTENTION to the moronic comments, view this film and judge for yourself. If you are an intelligent, caring person, concerned about the environment and the animals, you must see this documentary. The film was made with great risks involved and all who took part in making it have to be commended for their courage and desire to show the truth. I saw the film several days ago and I cannot get it out of my head. It is the most disturbing film I have seen since "The Witness" (not to be confused with the one starring Harrison Ford). When I saw the movie, the theatre was practically empty, and that was disappointing because people should be made aware of the horrors documented in this film.

Important movie, powerful and beautifully shot

[iris-izumi · 10/10 · 23 August 2009]

This is an important movie, not only because of the content matter, but also because it demonstrates the capacity for people to care with such passion and conviction. The movie is cleverly presented, taking you on an emotional and eye-opening journey, and building to a powerful climax.

I personally found the movie to be moving and beautiful, and by far one of the most exciting and powerful documentaries I have ever seen. I am hugely impressed by the film makers ability to translate their experiences and passion into a very well made movie, and hope they inspire others to do the same.

They are self-aware like humans are self-aware.

[lastliberal · 9/10 · 17 December 2009]

Winning almost every award it was nominated for, including the Sundance Audience Award, this film tells the tale of dolphin abuse throughout the world, but especially in Japan.

If you love dolphins, as I do, this film will bring tears to your eyes. You will find all those dolphins you love are not happy. You will find out what happens to the thousands that are not selected by dolphinariums. You will find out the extreme measures Japan takes to make sure you never see this film.

But, due to the incredible work of some dedicated individuals, you are seeing what happens in The Cove.

It is not an easy film to watch. I had to pause it and leave the house several times during the film. But anyone who cares about these creatures must watch it.

Powerful, disturbing and will make you want to take action

[animalz619 · 9/10 · 28 November 2009]

Words can hardly describe how powerful this documentary is, and the lengths to which human cruelty can extend to. Louie Psihoyos and his team infiltrate a secret cove near Taiji, Japan and expose a brutal instance of animal cruelty. This film opens your eyes to the truly devastating fates of thousands of dolphins, who are slaughtered without remorse.Being an animal lover, and my dream to become a zoologist, this film has really inspired me to be active and do whatever necessary to protect the beauty of our planet. Alongside Ric O Barry, Psihoyos is able to clearly point out the error of these marvelous creatures in captivity, and how they deserve to be free, just like any other creature.

If you are one of those people that see my ways, then you'll be affected deeply too to take action. Forget the damn critics, this isn't a Hollywood blockbuster, this is a way of life for us and what we've become...what we've turned into.

Support the cause to stop this.

Not Exaclty...

[tintman2 · 15 August 2009]

I've just got in from seeing the film today with my girlfriend and I'm afraid I cannot concur with the previous users apathetic views. If he really did see the film, he would know that the director mentions several times that this area of Tiajiji has always been highly off limits and hidden from visitors, so it would seem logical to me that they were not spotted in his "20 years" of visiting the area. The Japanese go to great lengths to make sure nobody can see the atrocities.

I happen to think it was well directed, and definitely worth the money. Prepare yourself for some gory scenes, but they do not dominate the film. Definitely exceeded expectations.

For those who are still horrified

[daveygandthekeyboard · 7/10 · 20 August 2009]

The man who gave us Flipper (who was actually played by 5 female dolphins) spends 10 years of his life launching a multi-million dollar dolphin industry, then spends 35 years trying to bring it down, which then leads us to the even more sinister plot about killing dolphins for meat. Welcome to the horrible world of whaling and dolphin-killing! Dolphins are trapped off the coast of Japan, picked over for sale on the market, then the less-desirable ones are taken to The Cove and killed for some heavily mercury-laden meat, which is packaged with other fish meat and in some cases even given to schoolchildren in Japan. This film is the story of how some brave activists have attempted to stop this, employing some covert techniques, such as making cameras that look like rocks and using free divers to set up underwater cameras. It ultimately plays out and results in a heroic achievement--not so much the movie itself, which is just fine-- but in what is actually caught on camera and exposed for all the world to see.

Anyone who has seen any of the string of documentaries that have come out in the last several years and been shocked and offended will probably be equally shocked and offended at how accustomed to this sort of thing we have become: people putting profit above all else and the consequences to the planet, the animals, even other people be damned. But The Cove works as a call to action for anyone who is still horrified.

What ever you say about this film.

[pearshaper · 10/10 · 21 April 2012]

No matter how subjective or against the grain you want to go. If you want to compare this to African tribes eating gorillas or south Georgia's whale killing history. Or how we eat meat, or how its traditional for certain cultures to eat for survival. You can go on and on. But the point is that this is inhuman slaughter. There is no attempt at minimizing the suffering. Its just plain evil slow killing. No attempt at all. Would you like a spike stuck in your genitals, mouth? then left in the water to bleed out in agony? If you cant see the cruelty you are a misguided individual? The point of this film is to make aware of the barbarity of this practice, which has morphed from traditional custom into an evil commercial execution. that's the point, Don't try to justify it, put your latte down. I have shown friends in japan the link and they are as shocked too. And it isn't a couple of dolphins for a village to sustain itself. Its hundreds.

important subject, questionable approach

[Radu_A · 3/10 · 18 January 2010]

'The Cove' should be more bewildering to watch in its cultural context than for the subject matter it deals with. For me, the questionable approach of this film outweighs its ecological importance.

The exposition of the film presents environmentalist Ric O'Barry. As dolphin trainer for the 'Flipper' TV series, he felt responsible for what he calls the 'captivity industry' based on the desire to be close to dolphins which was inspired by the series. His emotional involvement makes perfect sense when he describes how the original 'Flipper' committed suicide. His focus on Taiji also makes sense as the town is explained to be the largest supplier of dolphins for maritime parks, which also means that it is here where dolphins are herded for slaughter.

In Taiji, the film starts to feel difficult. Japanese interviewees only speak awkward English which sounds automatically evasive. One would think that with a project like this there would be a translator involved. The Americans are being followed around by local people who try to provoke them into violent action so that they can have them arrested. I think it's not exactly hard to understand this defensive behavior when strangers in a rural community are so obviously up to something. O'Barry asks about missing activities of Japanese outlets of environmental organizations like Greenpeace but there are no representatives, just 'Whale Wars' host and Sea Shepherd CEO Paul Watson, i.e. yet another American.

There is some theorizing on why the Japanese government allows or encourages the trading and slaughter of dolphins to happen. It is claimed that mercury-tainted dolphin meat is being sold off cheap in supermarkets under different labels. This is linked to the Minamata-Disease scandal of the 60s, stating that the government would try anything to hush up any similar case. While it certainly true that Japan's government exerts a lot of pressure on the media, Japanese journalism is a competitive industry as elsewhere, sensationalist and driven enough to grab an opportunity to expose a scandal.

The quantity in question (23'000 annual catch of dolphins at a selling price of $500 each means a commerce of 11.5$ million) isn't enough to build up lobbying power. It is therefore suggested that the government support for an uneconomic industry like whaling is a remnant of nationalistic pride of imperial times; Japan tries to hold on to this one point to show that it is tired to have Western countries telling it what to do. I wonder why no local sources are interviewed for this film to back up these claims. We have a Japanese nutritionist proving mercury content, some pedestrians in Tokyo saying they never heard about dolphin meat for sale, and two town council members of Taiji, but that's it; maybe 30 seconds of footage.

Also, the subjects of whaling and dolphin drive hunting are actually quite different. It's suggested that dolphins are becoming an endangered species, which is true for China, India and South America, but not in the Pacific or the Sea of Japan. That means the dolphin drive hunt is as of yet legal - one may wonder and contest why, but I find it rather irritating that the film constantly alludes to illegal actions when this is not the case. The scandal is actually just THAT. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) or Regional Fisheries Managements Organisations would be bodies to talk to about this, but certainly not the International Whaling Commission, as their chart does not include dolphins, which is actually mentioned in the film. Interesting fact on the side: Red Tuna (used for maguro sushi) is de facto on the verge of extinction, with the EU being a main exporter and Japan being the principal buyer. Any legislation to prevent that extinction will most likely come too late.

It's important to act against the decimation of sea mammals and help preserving them. It's a serious problem, but not exclusively Japanese. It would have been much better to point this out. Why show the slaughter footage to a government official to film his face in shock? Why not hire an exhibition spot in Japan, show it to the people and catch their response? The intrusive approach chosen here makes it very easy for political bodies in Japan to evade criticism. Since this reasoning is actually not so hard to come by, it makes me wonder whether the real issues at hand in 'The Cove' may not be a means of expression for Western supremacy thinking - an argument frequently used by emerging countries (China, for instance) to avoid being 'pinned down' by ecological law-making. 'The Cove' can certainly be interpreted this way, and may therefore do more harm than good in the long run by intensifying secrecy, obstinacy and distrust.

Excellent drama, too bad it's real!

[karolinnu · 10/10 · 6 December 2009]

I believe it is a disgrace for culture as Japan's to slaughter dolphins.

There are many voices here, that claim that we should make another documentary's on cows, pigs etc. Of course, you are more than welcome to do that. That's the freedom of speech and opinion.

I believe this movie shapes our awareness on what goes on in the world. And of course, there are many more terrifying things that happen everywhere every day, but we should not use that fact as a justification for not taking any action.

We came to this world to leave it as a better place. I don't have much money, but I can sign the petition against dolphins' slaughter and hope that my voice can make a difference.

The movie is very interesting and strong. It's powerful.

'The Cove' is covert, gorilla film-making

[lajournalist · 10/10 · 3 August 2009]

The Cove begins in Taji, Japan where we first meet former dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry. O'Barry was the man responsible for capturing and training the five dolphins that played Flipper in the international TV sensation. When the cast and crew went away, it was O'Barry who remained on the set, he lived in the famous house on the lake with the dolphins until the shows end. It was here he learned how sensitive, self-aware, and highly intelligent these creatures are, and more importantly how harmful it was to keep them in captivity. One fateful day his dolphin Katherine, committed suicide in his arms. Every breath a dolphin takes is an intentional, conscience effort, Katherine laid in his arms, took one breath and went under forever. This was the catalyst for Ric O'Barry's journey, to undue what he created, to stop the capture and captivity of dolphins world wide. Sound like a typical "save the whales" boring documentary? This is not your granddaddy's documentary! The Cove unfolds more like a spy thriller than a hug the trees documentary, think James Bond meets Jacques Cousteau .

Ground Zero is Taji, Japan. From the outside the town seems to be devoted to the majestic creatures swimming off it's shores. Statues are erected, boats designed to look like dolphins cruise the shore, and a whale museum is the pinnacle of the town. But in a remote area we find a cove surrounded by barbed wire, keep out signs and security, it is here that the town's dark secret lies. Every year from September to March, fisherman motivated by the multi billion dollar dolphin trading industry and an underground market for mercury-tainted dolphin meat, gather in this cove for the hunt. How this hunt is conducted is so grossly inhumane and dangerous to human health, that the fishermen go to great lengths, even murder, to keep anyone from seeing it. Ric O'Barry needed someone who could put together a team to infiltrate the cove. In walks filmmaker Louis Psihoyos and the Ocean Preservation Society. With the local authorities tipped off to the project, the filmmakers put together an Oceans11 style team. The cast of characters include a Hollywood special effects artist, two world champion free divers, an adrenaline junkie, and an electronic expert from the Canadian Air Force. Their mission: to plant and recover the HD cameras on the cove and under water. To get past guards and police they conducted missions in the middle of the night using diversionary techniques and military grade high definition cameras that picked up on body heat. The husband and wife free diving team placed the cameras under water while the adrenaline junkies scaled the rocky face of the cove to plant the cameras in fake rocks. Several times we see the team seconds away from being caught. Their efforts paid off in a big way, the audience is taken into the cove to see first hand the horrors that happen there. The footage is some of the most powerful imagery I have seen.

This gorilla journalism style of film-making may be what we need to spark the interest of the new generation. I believe this documentary may spawn a new uprising in the "save the whale" movement, starting with shutting down the cove in Taji, Japan. The Cove infiltrated my dreams the night I saw it, that never happens to this jaded Angelino. This film will stay with you and it will make you want to help the cause. 23,000 dolphins are due to be hunted and executed starting in September, what will you do to stop it? The Cove opens in select cities August 7th.

Immensely Inspiring

[knudson313 · 10/10 · 7 August 2015]

I've loved dolphins and animals in general my entire life, and when I was 11 years old I was planning to do a dolphin swim during a vacation to Mexico. I was looking more forward to this dolphin swim than just about anything, and had no knowledge of the horrific industry that drives it.

So five years ago, just a few months before my vacation, I saw a preview for this film premiering on Animal Planet. I didn't understand the preview much, but knew it had something to do with the killing of dolphins. The next time I saw it, I showed it to my father and asked him what it was about. He didn't exactly tell me, but encouraged me to watch it. I was hesitant since I love dolphins and am very sensitive when it comes to animals, but we agreed to record the premiere and watch it together.

So watched we did. I understood everything perfectly, with the help of a little explaining from my parents. By the end, I was crying too hard to even speak and was completely baffled by the cruelty displayed in the film. I canceled my dolphin swim and decided that day that I would never support the captivity of cetaceans. I even started an ultimately unsuccessful blog attempting to raise awareness about it.

I'm now 16 and my feelings are the same. I believe that watching this film was a huge jump of maturity for me, it truly changed me as a person. I encourage everyone to view this film and really think about it and what it means. I think that The Cove and other great documentaries about animal cruelty should be shown in schools, and maybe the world would become a better place.

If you love them, set them free

[robin_rubin · 10/10 · 4 August 2009]

In the 1960's, Ric O'Barry made a fortune as the dolphin trainer for the "Flipper" films and television series. "I could buy a new Porsche every year," he says now, in the new documentary, "The Cove." But if he could do it over again, he would set free the five dolphins who played "Flipper." Thanks to "Flipper," people fell in love with dolphins. They loved these beautiful, sensitive, highly intelligent sea mammals literally to death. People wanted to get closer to dolphins, leading to a proliferation of marine zoos and "swim with the dolphin" enterprises where, day in and day out, the animals were exposed to screaming humans and forced to dwell in tiny tanks. In the wild, dolphins may swim some 5,000 miles a day, and their hearing is almost preternaturally sensitive. Dolphins navigate by sonar, and communicate with one another by sound. When they are exposed to loud noises for a long period of time, they die from the stress. At the National Aquarium in Baltimore, several dolphins died because the constant din of the water filtration system killed them.

But even worse than the lives these captive dolphins lead is what happens to the dolphins who aren't chosen by the trainers and aquatic zookeepers, the dolphins who have the misfortune of being too old, or too young, or male -- and are hacked to death in the secret Cove of the movie's title.

O'Barry blames himself for the deaths, all of them, and for the dolphins' continuing plight in the 40-year wake of "Flipper." However, "The Cove" is more than a chronicle of O'Barry's efforts to make amends. The film, which deserves every one of the many accolades it has already garnered, and many more, is an amalgam of caper flick, nature documentary, and investigative journalism at its finest: Imagine a combination of Jacques Cousteau, "Mission: Impossible," "CSI," and "60 Minutes" -- and one of those films like "Old Yeller" where a beloved animal dies at the end, because, to be sure, the last 20 minutes of "The Cove" are very, very hard to take if you have any heart at all.

This is a Holocaust, and with my ethnic background I don't toss around that term lightly. But we can stop it. Getting the word out will help shame the Japanese authorities into curtailing the slaughter, which will start again in September unless we help stop it. Once again, it is within our power to say, "Never again!"

The Cove (2009)

[SnakesOnAnAfricanPlain · 10/10 · 13 September 2012]

The Cove is a hard hitting documentary that focuses on dolphin hunting in the seas of Japan. Probably the best espionage thriller of the last 20 years. It just so happens to be a documentary. The Cove succeeds in delivering it's important message by knowing when to crank up the intensity. One of the documentarians compares his group to Ocean's 11. As his group assemble reconnaissance information in order to place cameras so they can film the slaughter of dolphins. There are a lot of messages that come with this film and it isn't all 'tree hugging hippy crap', there are the cultural and health implications as well. It builds to a shocking and disturbing ending, but one that will hopefully make a difference.

ultimately there's not much we can do, but it's a powerful indictment (and cool 'thriller') all the same

[Quinoa1984 · 9/10 · 24 August 2010]

The Cove is kind of a hybrid of environmental/animal-rights polemic and a thriller in the mold of a heist movie, only more along the lines of Inception: instead of taking something out, these people (camera technician wizards from ILM) are putting something in. In this case it's at a cove in a small village, Taijii, where fishermen are (somewhat not so) secretly killing dolphins en masse, and the cameramen are after a simple thing: put believably disguised rocks that have cameras inside that can film outward and capture on tape what is going on, due to the strict lack of access during the day. We get the background on Richard O'Barry, the original trainer of Flipper, and how he spent thirty years of his life after the first ten of working for dolphin training trying to redeem himself for what he's seen as horrific, inexcusable negligence of dolphins. I mean, after all, they can commit suicide for Pete's sake.

The segments with O'Barry, and the delving deep into the world of dolphin abuse and their captivity around the world, but most of all the sort of unspoken horror that goes on at the cove of Taijii, are fascinating and moving. And we get a good point of view into how O'Barry operates in this small village (he has to, for one, always have on a mask over his mouth as he drives to not attract attention as a non- Japanese non-fisherman). He is notorious, but his points are almost all valid. His conviction is so strong that it almost competes to take over what is, arguably, even more fascinating: how he gets together a group of tech-savvy people and divers and so on to make these cameras and do whatever it takes to plant them at the cove.

If the film possibly gets off track at any time it's just one or two minor places, like a diversion into the fishing industry and how it ties in with the dolphin saga (it just barely does, mostly by proxy of it being one of Japan's economic mainstays). But this is so minor a point that it's forgivable. What puts The Cove over the top as a must-see is the merging of the passionate subject matter with the purpose of artistry in the filmmaking. Perhaps by accident, the images of the climax of the film are staggering: the red of the blood of the dolphins pouring out into the water, it overtaking all of the blue of the ocean, and the harsh, Japanese-violent images of dolphin slaughter. It's like we're witness to a massacre that has a haunting beauty to it because of the juxtaposition of colors and how the cameras capture it. In the more conventional sense, there are also those wonderful scenes showing the film crew at night, in dim light and infra-green, sneaking around and freezing at the slightest sound or figure, even if it's a marmot.

The film provides a shocking topic that will get people talking, which is important, but it also needs to be a well-directed and told film, which it also is. The message is clear- so clear some may contest how truthful everything in the movie is, though it's hard for me to see what would be obfuscated all things considered (i.e. an Oceanic Preservation Society Production)- and film buffs looking for a strikingly shot documentary, with glorious images of dolphins at sea and their personalities (yes, personalities) shining through, will be excited.

A shocking truth exposed

[Gordon-11 · 12 November 2010]

This is a documentary to expose the systematic dolphin mass slaughtering that goes on in a cove in Japan.

"The Cove" is a daring statement to expose the lies and cover ups that goes on in an innocent looking cove in Taiji, Japan. The film starts with how the animal rights activists get treated in Taiji, namely being questioned and followed by police, and being constantly provoked and filmed by locals. It then progresses to expose the inability of the only international organisation, that is supposedly protecting dolphins, to protect dolphins. It's ironic that some sea mammals are protected but some are not. Sounds like "Animal Farm"? The ending is the most shocking. The images of crimson sea paralysed me. We are not talking about patches of redness in blue water, but a whole cove of only crimson water. It's powerful beyond words. This finale has to be seen by everyone.

Some say "The Cove" has only one side of the story, and the Japanese side is not well represented. I do not fully agree with that, as there are interviews with Japanese officials and lecturers, and also footage of Japanese representatives making twisted speeches in IWC. I think both sides of the story are represented, and it's just that both sides of the story makes people believe that killing dolphins is wrong.

Eye opener

[missa_sissa · 7/10 · 21 May 2012]

This is definitely an eye opener. I never knew this was happening. It should definitely be taken care of. The world is not aware of what is going on and needs to be aware. If the world was made aware there would be less killing of dolphins. Rick O'berry did an excellent job showing the world what happens in the little cove in Japan. People like him need to do more of that. By doing this the world will know of the killings because i for one didn't know about these until i saw the video. And the fact that there selling the meat. Who wants to eat dolphin meat? I for don't want to. This video is very inspirational and makes you want to help the cause.

This one goes to eleven.

[Nic_Dread_Wolf_Marling · 10/10 · 7 January 2010]

The Cove (2009, Psihoyos) Rating: 10/10.

Never before has a film shown as much heart and soul as "The Cove". A visceral journey of emotions that transcends the human depth. The most important film of the year, and possibly, of the decade. I have never been as moved as I was during my viewing, nay my experience, that is "The Cove". If there was ever an instance where I would rate a film an eleven this is it. This one goes to eleven. There are so many things to be said and expressed about this film, but only one of them rings true enough to be muttered: See this film now, with everyone you know. Spread it like a plague of truth. The only infection I willingly received. Nothing will change unless you stop it. No review or rating justifies the experience of this film. Do yourself and the world a favor and watch it.

More than the sum of it's parts...

[Skinshark · 7/10 · 11 December 2009]

The Cove is an interesting examination on the culture and killing of small cetaceans (dolphins in particular) in Taiji, Japan.

What makes this harder to accept than most ocean farming is that dolphins are incredibly intelligent aquatic life. In fact the U.S. military is reported to have been using dolphins in sonar experiments for years. Along with Sea World and other "captive" examples of dolphins for human entertainment it's considered a cruel act that actually fuels the economy of Taiji, Japan.

The film builds up the grisly mystery of this remote fishing village and the people behind the farming of dolphins. It does a good job laying out the mission of the film crew and all the players involved on both sides of the issue. It does lean quite heavily on the last 1/3 of the movie which didn't have as much impact to me as I thought the "thermal imaging" of the opening sequence had--which was creepy as hell.

What can't be denied here is the powerful messages.

Killing dolphins doesn't do anyone any good even culturally speaking. The levels of mercury in dolphins are astronomically high and dangerous for human consumption. Yet it's slipped into the food system in Japan without regulation or even correct labeling. At its very basic it's a public health issue that is not being addressed and may have larger consequences on a culture than not farming dolphin.

Even if you can't get behind the cruelty of dolphin farming, you'd certainly be able to understand the larger consequences at hand. The film does a great job of laying it all out. It's beautifully shot and edited. The extras are great, especially the short doc on mercury in fish and in vaccines...do not miss this any part of this doc.

Deceptive, lazy, and a chauvinistic oversimplification of an extremely complex issue

[christopher-carr1984 · 2/10 · 23 January 2010]

Most reviews of The Cove, even negative ones, seem to praise the art of the film while ignoring the laziness and self-righteousness of the argument.

Japanese consumption of whale and dolphin meat and Japan's general spurning of International Whaling Commission resolutions are extremely complex issues that should be examined soberly. Unfortunately, the activists in The Cove—like many of the louder, more self-righteous environmentalists—skip the part where they take time to consider the multifaceted, layered issue and rush blindly in convinced the world is comprised of evil, greedy men for them to battle. Even more unfortunately, this attitude turns off many naturally skeptical people (the support of which the environmental movement sorely needs) from real and important causes.

From the Japanese perspective, whales and dolphins are not particularly special. There is a significant body of scientific evidence to support the Japanese position: while cetaceans do have large, complex brains, much of their neurons are devoted to the maintenance of large bodies and energy-intensive sonar lobes. Much of dolphins's charm is attributable to their "smile"—an accident of evolution—and the fact that they live in the ocean: limited encounters with human beings (who historically have killed most animals they came across) has made dolphins noticeably social and docile.

In certain parts of Japan, dolphins are food, just as cows are food in America but not in India. Imagine if a group of devout Hindus snuck into a Chicago Jurgis Rudkus-style slaughterhouse and pieced together a documentary about how Americans were a bunch of savages for murdering holy cows, complete with graphic shots of cows's heads being cut off, spliced Michael Moore style with out-of-context footage of slaughterhouse workers laughing, complete with a Samuel Barber soundtrack. When the ensuing mob crowds the slaughterhouse and attempts to shut down business, the humble meatpackers would surely be perplexed.

Much of Western Civilization's image of dolphins as superbeings originates in the work of John C. Lilly , a 1960s counterculture physician convinced that LSD was a magical drug capable of enhancing consciousness. Lilly, who described himself as a psychonaut, used to drop acid and swim with dolphins then write "research papers" on the ensuing awesome spiritual journeys and the wisdom bequeathed by the noble cetaceans. It should come as no shock that most of the rest of the world does not have the same mystical perspective of dolphins as westerners.

The problem is not that killing dolphins and whales is inherently immoral. The makers of The Cove seem to take this as fact and jump right into a Joseph Campbell-esquire good vs. evil narrative. In the process, the filmmakers unfortunately repulse many thoughtful, potentially sympathetic viewers. The real problem with Japanese consumption of whale and dolphin meat is that the Japanese are taking more than their fair share of a resource that belongs to everybody despite unanimous censure as well as humanitarian, ecological, and public health concerns. Their reasons for doing so are poorly articulated and spurious. The consumption of cetaceans deserves treatment as a serious issue, not as the sensationalistic propaganda for which the environmental movement is sadly notorious.

Read more at www.theinductive.com

Watch the ugly side of mankind.

[lamhoon33 · 10/10 · 12 December 2012]

I wish to thank for those involved in producing and bring this film to the public. I believe there are those who tried to stop this film from surfacing to the mass market. At least, your effort pays in the end. As this film was seen by millions and receive good respond. At least, I am one of them. Dolphins are not the only victims, sharks are killed for the fins, whales are hunt for research as an excuse, tiger for skin, even other animals are captured for circus show. As humans which considered as on top of the food chain, we harm or kill the silent ones (Animals) for greed, fun and profit. Where is our heart or feeling? Is this to satisfy one's desire is enough to explain for this killing? We are not the only one living on this earth and showing kindness to those defenseless animals will make us better and kinder.