Animals in War (2025) opens Friday

ANIMALS IN WAR is a multi-part film made up of short films focusing on animals in the Ukraine Russia war. All are nominally based on true stories. Each story is made my a different filmmaker.

This is an uneven affair. Some of these stories are better than others, with the film's desire to have each film make a point not always working, the opening film with Sean Penn mixing the sound on footage of an eagle when war breaks out is the most pointed and is there to simply provoke a reaction. Others, like the story of a cow wandering in the landscape, or another about a rabbit that gets lost  work better.

The animals represented in the film are an eagle, a cow, a rabbit,a dog (this is heart breaking tale), fish, a goat and cats.

While I don't think any of the pieces are bad (which is a rare thing in anthology films) I don't think the films being togethe  help them all to shine. There is an expectation that their being together represents and I'm not sure that that all work together as well as they would seperately. I don't mean that as a knock, but more that their being together doesn't let each tale breath the way it should.

Worth a look for those who are interested.

American Zoo (2026) Tribeca 2026

A look at the now closed and once legendary Catskill Game Farm  which was operated by the Lindermann  family from 1933 until 2006. It was place where people could get up close to the animals. It was also a place where there were odd experiments being attempted to bring back extinct animals and stuff.

AMERICAN ZOO was high on my must see list for this year's Tribeca. When I finally saw it I was rather disappointed since the film was less interested in the history of the zoo, then in the questionable science that was being done by the man running the zoo who was named Heck and he came out of Germany in the 1930's. This wasn't what was promised in the write up. 

The problem is that the experiments are kind of the least interesting part of the story. I was more interested in the running of the farm more since the experiements were only part of the story of the zoo. Additionally other than connecting to Nazi Germany they weren't as ominous as we are lead to believe. I mean nothing bad was really ever said about the place. interesting up to a point but are not as ominous as the write up for the film suggests.

Is the film bad? No,  but it's nt as compelling as it thinks it is.

(The grounds are currently open to tourists and is being turned into a resort with themes tied to the game farm)

Virunga is playing Tribeca 2026 as a free screening

Documentary looking at the problems in Congo affecting the Virunga National Park. The park is the home to some the last remaining mountain gorillas and its also recently been discovered to be the possible location of oil.  The film follows the events that transpire as the British company Soco comes into the country and attempts to exploit the rsources and the various rebel forces attempt to make a play in order to take the government and thus the resources for themselves.

I will not argue that this may very well be the most beautiful film at this years Tribeca. The images are stunning and the images of the gorillas iin the wild are sure to win them a great deal of support...

...unfortunately the rest of the film is a very big mess thanks in large part to the six or seven listed editors. How can any film have so many people editing it? How could it not turn out to be utterly unfocused?  The mind boggles.

The film begins with a history lesson regarding to the Congo. Its a lesson that is over much too quick and leaves out a great deal of history. Its an attempt at context that never really materializes.

After that the film takes several different tracks as we follow a young French journalist, a park ranger who cares for orphan gorillas, the head of the park and a few other characters. We watch as they try to deal with Soco trying to buy their way into the reserve and the rebels trying to take over the country. There are videos of clandestine meetings, trips into the bush, battle scenes and lessons on the past deals of Soco. The problem is that the film bounces between them somewhat randomly. Worse it never completely links them up the way they should. Who is doing what and how are they all connected is never fully explained.

For me this was a long haul and I had trouble remaining upright and awake. There is a scribble in my notebook that this is constitutes the longest 90 minutes of the festival.

Why couldn't this have been reported by someone like John Pilger who could have made it all make sense?

I know that one woman was sobbing at the end of the press screening and several others were moved. I'm not arguing against what the film is saying is bad or wrong only that they film makes its point very badly. I do not agree with the one young woman who was comparing this to the film Black Fish about killer whales at Sea World. This film isn't even close.

I'm guessing that this film is preaching to the choir and if you feel strongly on the subject my negativity about the films functionality as a film is irrelevant. On the other hand if you want a film that actually makes sense and wins its points you should look elsewhere.

I would like to take umbrage with the film in putting Soco's response to the film at the very very end of the film several seconds after the end credits have rolled. Why include the response there when 99.99% of people seeing the film will never see it. Why feel like you're being fair if you're effectively not showing the response at all.

Captured (2026) Mountain Film

Heather Keepers, former head trainer at Triple-D Wildlife, and Melissa Groo, one of leading wildlife photographers come together to try and see what can be done to protect the animals in the wild and in the various animal zoos and sanctuaries from being abused in the name of getting great wildlife photos.

Revealing the dark secret that some animal images are staged (And yes, they dismantle the Disney nature films) the film looks to make sure that we all know that some of the cute animal images we see are not always kosher. The film shows us some of the tricks that photographers and regular people use to get a great shot. It’s a film that shows the problems caused by staging the shot.

I really liked this film. It clearly shows why striving to get the next picture for Instagram my get you likes but may be bad for the subject of your photo. For example, calling an animal closer to you may make them subject to predators you don’t see.

Growing up, my brother was doing photography professionally and he was very much into telling the nudnicks not to do stupid things when taking pictures. You would think people wouldn’t need to be warned but they do.

This is an excellent documentary. See it when you get the chance.

GROUNDSWELL (2026) Cannes 2026

GROUNDSWELL is a not so much a documentary but a polemic that seeks to have us curb climate change by altering how we grow food and stop the destruction of the forests. It is a film that is full of eye-catching images, rapid fire tidbits in the way of facts flashed on screen, a soaring score, peppy narration full of hope and a complete and total insincere tone that made me want to turn off the movie  early on.

This is a well-meaning film with a desire to make it clear that we can fix the problems of the world. It is also  is an over produced film that is going to beat us into submission and pull us over to its side by throwing everything but the kitchen sink at us in a style so slick nothing sticks. This  the glossiest public service announcement you can imagine. Its full of so many rapid-fire facts that most of them fall by the wayside. I completely love that the filmmakers trust their audience to take in all the needed information but things move at such a clip that we don’t have time to process anything. I know much of this material from reading and from other films and I got lost and overwhelemed. 

This might have worked but the film gives us zero context for anything. We have facts but no context to hang them on. We are given the facts but nothing to impart the understanding of what they mean in relation to anything.

I got some bits:

The destruction of the environment is bad. Fine.

Thefilmmakers know how we fix it. Okay.

(raises hand) Are you going to tie any of this into the real world in a way that  it hits home and hits our guts so we get off our asses and do something?

No?

What what are you going to do instead?

"We are going to give you more facts, and more happy narration by rich celebrities who probably could do more than narrate a film that probably won't get seen widely enough and seems to exist to simply make them feel like they are doing something when they really aren’t doing anything."

I’m sorry for being snarky but this is an f-ing important issue and being made to watch a 100 minute feel good PSA that doesn't grab us by the genitals and make it clear that if we don't act, we are doomed, is not going to save to world. 

Again, I'm sorry but while all the facts are here (no really everything you need to know is here), but the presentation thinks more is more, that how fast we are fed all the information doesn't matter so long we are given it and that making it hopeful, doesn't work. 

There are other better and meatier documentaries on climate change (and go find one of those instead of wasting your time on this film.

We Are Guardians (2025) hits streaming on Earth Day

This is a look at the indigenous population of the Amazon who are creating teams of guardians to protect the rain forests. While sections of the forest are supposed to be protected more and more loggers and other nefarious groups are invading the forests and destroying the ecosystems for their own gain.

Full disclosure I have seen a number of the recent films on the guardians and on the populations living in the jungle. I mention this because for me watching the film I did mental comparisons to those other films… 

Normally that would be a bad thing, all films should stand on their own, however in this case it’s a very good thing.  The reason I can say that it’s a good thing is that if you want to know about the situation in the Amazon and you don’t want to see a number of films WE ARE  GUARDIANS is the film you want to see.  This film tells us about who is coming into the jungle, who is fighting them and it gives us a view of the people fighting to maintain their way of life.  It’s a film that gives you enough information so that you clearly understand what is going on.

This is a solid film on a dire situation. Highly recommended.

Underland (2025) opens today

 This is a look at the world beneath our feet, a mine turned into a research facility, a cave complex and some man-made constructions.

The people doing PR for this film did everything they could to make sure the press saw this on the big screen. They insisted that the images needed to be seen big. And they were right. There are some truly spectacular images in this film.

The problem is that the film is more essay and mediation than a straight documentary, so the film is put together so as to be somewhat hypnotic. We drift off on the images and the music and the result is that despite the film being beautiful to look at we begin to drift off. It's all so low key as to put us to sleep. I fought keeping my else open.  Yes, I was enjoying what I was seeing, but at the same time it's not exciting... even if the discovery of human handprints deep deep into a cave complex blows out mind (How did they get that deep with just torches?)

This is great to look at, but it may put you to sleep.

Brief thoughts on STORMBOUND (2026) SXSW 2026

This is the story of storm chaser Jeff Gammons as he finds out that his kidneys are failing on the eve of what looks to be a storm season of record proportions.

I am going to be honest and say I am all over the place concerning this film. Being released in the IMAX format the film is going to be pushed as a big screen experience and to be honest when those storm sequences hit this film will blow you away. At the same time a great deal of time is spent telling Gammons’ story, which if fine, but I’m not certain it needs to be done in IMAX. And you will forgive me about being bothered by the split nature of the film, but I watched the film from a screening link and began with the IMAX count down, which had me adjusting what I was seeing so that I would consider it as an IMAX film. I kind of wish that this was two films- a shorter film that just focused on the storm chasing moments and another feature- minus the hype of Gammons story.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a solid film, it is just its billing as a super screen film is over doing it.

Brief thoughts on DAUGHTERS OF THE FOREST CPH:DOX & SXSW

A look at two mushroom specialists and the relationship between people and mushrooms.

You will forgive me if I keep my thoughts on this film brief. I really liked this fim, but having recently spent a couple oif hours with my niece who loves mushrooms I feel like she should have been the one to be reviewing it so that you could get  a real sense of the wonderful  things that are in this film.

For me this is a great look at mushrooms and people, in particular the indigenious people of Mexico. Its a film that reveals how important mushrooms are. Its a film that connected me to the love my niece has forms them. 

Do yourself and take a trip.

Recommended.

Ghost Elephants (2025) Has a special screening Feb 26, hits theaters Feb 27 and then on Nat Geo March 7

Werner Herzog  profiles Steve Boyes who is trying to see if he can track any relatives of the elephant known as Henry, aka the Fenykovi elephant who was shot and killed in the 1930’s and is in display at the Smithsonian. Henry is the biggest elephant known to have been killed by a human being, and Boyes thinks he is part of an unclassified species of giant elephants. Herzog and Boyes go into wild to see what they can find.

I’m kind of confused that National Geographic would have Herzog make a documentary for them. It’s not that there is a problem with Herzog’s documentaries, rather they tend to be about things not so much in the frame. Herzog is always reaching for a greater understanding of the universe by looking beyond the normal. Here Herzog isn’t just looking for elephants but examining, among other things, why we would gout and search for elephants. There is this moment about 38 minutes into the film where, where Boyes said that things don’t matter if they actually find the elephants and that perhaps it would be better if it remained a dream. If this was any other documentary by Herzog the film would have ended there. Boyes after all gives us the great revelation which is the sort of thing Herzog normally looks for.  However, in this case the film keeps going for another hour. What follows isn’t bad, it’s a National Geographic documentary filtered through the hands of one of the greatest directors ever, which if you know Herzog’s docs means you know what you are getting- something you think you know but really don't.

Herzog knows he must do a lot more than his typical soul searching and as a result we get a film that goes into a lot of interesting places.  For example, in trying to explain the scale of the destruction of the elephants over the years he turns to the infamous film AFRICA ADDIO so that he can use the footage of the helicopter elephant hunts and the endless carnage left behind. It’s a stunning moment that anyone not familiar with the earlier film is going to find rocks their world.(For a discussion of that film go here) Herzog makes his point and then some. He also gives us a look at the trackers they use to find the elephants (and which could have been a film untoi themselves)

To be completely honest I’m not sure all of this works. While never bad the mystical nature of Herzog’s style doesn’t always mesh with your typical Smithsonian films. The tone feels off. Yes the information is great, but at the same time it isn’t as smooth as it should be.

At the same time it’s a Herzog film which makes it better than almost any other film out there.

Recommended.

Wonders Of The Wolf (2025) Santa Barbara 2026

This is a look at the wolf packs that were reintroduced into  Yellstone National Park.

This is a beautiful film about the efforts to correct the ecology of Yellstone by restoring the balance of  nature by return the apex predator to the park. Its a film with a lot of great images that will make you want to see it on the big screen.

Over all this is solid film.  Its definitely worth seeing. It reminds me of of the the Imax documentaries that I have seen at museums over the years.  If my reaction to the film is subdued it is because I recently saw a feature film that was specifically on the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone and there are  was some over lap.

Recommended, especially if you can see this film on a big screen.

Ariel Rubin on Nuisance Bear (2026) Sundance 2026

 

Nuisance Bear is a documentary set in Churchill, Manitoba—known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World.

The film explores the destruction of the natural environment, how polar bears impact the town, as well as the ways Indigenous lives are forced to change as the town becomes gentrified. 

As climate change delays the freezing of the ice, polar bears are left without access to food, and so they venture into town in search of food, which brings them into constant conflict with humans.

The documentary is narrated by Mike, an Inuit, who speaks about how the presence of polar bears has disrupted daily life. He also expresses frustration over hunting restrictions, explaining that polar bears can now only be hunted a limited number of times per year. (I was surprised and upset to learn that polar bear hunting is still legal.)

The film follows the polar bear patrol, showing the measures they take to keep bears out of town: setting off fireworks, using traps, and, in one case, tranquilizing a bear, putting a tracker in him, putting dye on his fur, and relocating him via helicopter farther away. These scenes show how tense the coexistence between humans and bears has become.

What I found interesting was the audience reaction. At my screening, people seemed to be rooting for the polar bears. (People cheered at one point when a polar bear outsmarted humans) Yet the film itself felt more focused on the Inuit perspective, and how the bears are “nuisances”. In fact while the world says the polar bear population is decreasing, Mike says that isn’t the case. I’m not sure which direction the director was hoping people to go in, or if they were simply showing both sides without judgement.(Although the movie is called “Nuisance Bear” after all)

Visually, the documentary is stunning. The close up shots of the polar bears, as well as the videos taken from above (perhaps via drone) are beautiful. They really showed the beauty of the animals. However, it was hard for me to really love a documentary that seemed to showcase the burden polar bears are causing.

IMAGES FROM TUVALU (2025) DOC NYC 2025

 

IMAGES FROM TUVALU is one of the best films at DOC NYC and one of the most important films of 2025. Dylan Werkman‘s short look at global warming and how we view the situation is telling and quietly crippling. It is a film that says volumes not only about the threat to the environment  but also our attitude towards it.

The film is a dual film. The film is nominally Werkman‘s footage of the Pacific Island of Tuvalu which is slowly disappearing thanks to the rising waters caused by global warming.  In it we see how the islanders deal with the crisis and try to remain in their homes.  At the same time Werkman shows us a several groups of people as they sit and watch the film. We see the audience’s reaction to the film.  The footage of the island is heartbreaking… as is some of the footage of the audiences since it’s clear that some people don’t care.

I was rocked. There is so much to take in.

The most important thing about the film is that for the first time that I’ve seen some one has made a piece of art that makes clear just how dire the crisis is on every level. Not only do we see what is happening to the world  but we also see how those not instantly affected by the rising waters are apathetic to the problem. It’s a film that shows us painfully clearly that we are doomed.

IMAGES FROM TUVALU is a master piece and it demands to be seen.

THE ARK (2025) Woodstock 2025

When Russia invaded Ukraine Zhenye and Anatoliy Pilipenko opened up their farm to people who needed a safe place for their animals. Rapidly everything from dog, chicken and cows all the way to emus and crocodiles were brought to the farm so they could remain safe. Did they know what to do? Sometimes, and somethines the Googled. As Anatoliy traveles back and forth to the front, his family took care of their charges.

A worthy companion to CHECKPOINT ZOO from last year, THE ARK is one of the great films of the year. A glorious story of people taking care of animals (and people, the farm was opened up to people returning from the front so that the animals can help them decompress) this film will make you feel good.  This is good time with good people.

I really don't know what else to say. My desire is not so much to talk about the film, but rather just take a copy of the film and press it into your hands.  That desire actually says more about the film more than any words.

See this film

Underland (2025) Tribeca 2025

This is a look at the world beneath our feet, a mine turned into a research facility, a cave complex and some man-made constructions.

The people doing PR for this film did everything they could to make sure the press saw this on the big screen. They insisted that the images needed to be seen big. And they were right. There are some truly spectacular images in this film.

The problem is that the film is more essay and mediation than a straight documentary, so the film is put together so as to be somewhat hypnotic. We drift off on the images and the music and the result is that despite the film being beautiful to look at we begin to drift off. It's all so low key as to put us to sleep. I fought keeping my else open.  Yes, I was enjoying what I was seeing, but at the same time it's not exciting... even if the discovery of human handprints deep deep into a cave complex blows out mind (How did they get that deep with just torches?)

This is great to look at, but it may put you to sleep.

AMERICAN CATS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE CUDDLY (2024) On VOD June 17

Comedian Amy Haggart (Full Frontal With Samantha Bee) looks at the cats in America, focusing on the drive to declaw the cats.

A funny and amusing film with a very serious under current AMERICAN CATS has some really great things in it. The trouble with the film is going to be how you react to Haggart and he acerbic snark. As much as I was enjoying the images and the discussion I  found I didn’t much care for Haggart’s personality. She simply rubbed me the wrong way.

My reservations aside this film is worth a look.

Polar Passage (2025) hits You Tube today

See this as big as possible with as big sound as possible. This is one of the most arresting things you will see. Put it on your big screen at home.

This is a record of an expedition to travel through the Northwest Passage. Its a film that covers the expedition, the age of exploartion and the changing climate. 

Its staggering tale that should have been a feature film. There is so much here and such a great story that 24 minutes is not enough. Yes what here will delight, but you'll be like me and want more ( a chunk of this is just about getting trapped in the ice)

This is one of the great unexpected finds of the year.

See this film.

INCANDESCENCE (2025) screens at DocLands Sunday, May 4

I want to say right up front that INCANDESCENCE is a must see film on the big screen. The visuals of the wild fires are going to take your breath away even as they scare the hell out of you. This is going to be one of the most visually arresting films you’ll see all year.

Beyond the visuals the film  is a heady and well thought out look at wildfires. Not just what is causing them and the immediate damage they cause to the places they burn, but more importantly the film shows us how the fire change the ecology and the land they go through. When you have large scale wild fires the whole fabric of nature is altered.  While there are some places where occasional burns are part of the ecology of an area (the Pine Barrens on Long Island for example) the truth is that these wild fires in most places are not natural and the alterations made by man make them worse. This film ponders all aspects of the fires and leaves us with a great deal to consider.

I was rocked. While I had thought about some of the topics discussed I either had considered some or thought about others deeply enough. While the images rocked me, the ideas shook me.

I really loved this film and as such it’s very recommended.

RESIDENT ORCA (2025) plays Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema on April 12 on Crave starting April 22

This is a look at efforts to move the killer whale named Lolita from the Miami Aquarium where  it had been brought after being captured in 1970, back home to the Salish Sea where is was born as a member of the a pod of whales called resident.

This is a bittersweet film about trying to do the right things a half century after the fact. You see the remorse in the eyes of the people who were there when Lolita and the other whales were taken. It’s a film that makes clear the connection of the whales to people in the land where they live. In this case the Lummi Nation who have fought for years to bring her home.  It also makes clear what a terrible thing it was to capture the whales and send them across the globe.

I’m not going to lie and tell you this is a happy tale, it is not. This is a film filled with sadness. It’s a story that needs to be told and needs to be heard. I say that because while there have been numerous stories about orcas in captivity, there has not been one that focused on the people and the place where the whale came from. Yes, there is a whale at the center of this story, but at the same time this is a human story about the humans affected by a whale who was stolen from home a half century earlier.

This film will move you, no matter how you feel about animals, the tale here is one we can all relate to.

Aquariums :The Dark Hobby (2021) hits VOD 3/25

 Dark Hobby is a look at the aquarium industry. More specifically it’s a look at the salt water aquarium industry which is stripping the reefs of Hawaii of the colorful fish. The trouble is that for 50 bucks and no training you can get a permit to collect fish. The trouble is that so many people are doing it the fish are disappearing and going extinct.  Worse the removal of such vast quantities of fish is destroying the echo system.

As someone who has had aquariums for much of his life, this is a shocking story.  I never realized that most fish last less than a year in their tanks and have to be replaced. (I say this because the fish that we had tended to last for years.) As pretty as the fish are I no longer see the reason to have something that is going to die so quickly.

While very much a one sided film, there really isn’t any talk about why putting the fish in a tank is a good thing, the film still makes its point if only in that it reveals how out of control the harvesting of fish is.  And it also reveals how dangerous can be  as the collectors violently try to stop the anti aquarium activists via means that are deadly.

If you care about the environment  this film is worth a look.