"Polar Bear Spotting" is one of the worst special features ever created for Blu-ray, or any other format for that matter. It is only six minutes long, but every one of those minutes is excruciating. A mini-episode from a show called Are We There Yet? World Adventure has two rambunctious kids taking a tour out to see wild polar bears. Not only are the children annoying, we just got done watching a film about the preciousness of life in the tundra and here they are driving out in a gargantuan monster truck of a machine, which doesn’t look the least bit environmentally friendly. This huge vehicle is then used to drive right up by wild polar bears so people can gawk over the rails at them. All the majesty, the rarity of these animals is washed away in these six minutes. This feature should be stripped from this Blu-ray and never shown light again. It’s pathetic, and undermines the entire film that you just watched.
The theatrical trailer is also presented here in high-definition. The other features are standard definition only.
Ending Thoughts
While not as involving or engrossing as March of the Penguins, Arctic Tale still has a lot to show us in terms of the raw beauty of the north. Queen Latifah’s narration at times can be grating, but for the most part is harmless. With a documentary on nature its hard to find any faults. You’re here for the beautiful images, and the heart-wrenching stories, and Arctic Tale has that by the boatloads.
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Article comments
1 - April Lorier
Wow, Aaron! You really covered all the bases in this review. Yes, this film is geared toward a younger audience, with Queen Latifah in the mix for a 'hipper' flavor. Don't get me wrong, I love her as an actress and singer, but I enjoy Morgan Freeman tremendously. Still, both films are great experiences in Nature, which is what I blog about every day. A well-done review, Aaron!