March of the Penguins

Yes, I saw the penguin movie! Besides the fact that I usually see one documentary a summer, it had been requested of me by others. No regrets on this side either, as "March of the Penguins" is one of the most relaxing and interesting movies of the summer.

"Penguins" is very simple in its story, following a herd of Emperor Penguins on their trek across the Antarctic on their mission to mate, lay an egg, and raise their baby penguin until it's strong enough to go out on its own. Okay, it's actually a lot more complicated than that, and the movie makers do an incredible job of educating the audience on their travails while also keeping it interesting. The Emperor Penguin herd walks over 70 miles to get to their mating grounds. The female goes for weeks and weeks without food. After passing the egg on to the male to keep warm, the mother has to walk 70 miles back to the water to feed. Meanwhile, the father is left to endure the Antarctic winter and go for a couple months without food. After that, the baby itself faces dangers of predators and climate. The entire adventure is very enthralling.

What is it about "March of the Penguins" that has made it one of the top three grossing documentaries of all time? It's not controversial like a Michael Moore movie. The story is interesting, and made even better by the smooth narration of Morgan Freeman. Even when a baby penguin dies, the cameras do not zoom in or show a predator attack, making this a great movie for kids. The soundtrack is incredibly calming and relaxing. I'm buying it for the office. Finally, I think there's something psychologically cooling when watching a movie set in the Antarctic while it's 90 degrees outside the theater.

Looking for something a little different in the theaters as the summer comes too quickly to an end? "March of the Penguins" should not be overlooked. I give it an A.

"March of the Penguins" is rated G with a running time of 85 minutes.