Movie Review: The Penguin King 3D ✭✭✭✭ (Release date 24th October)
The Penguin King 3D
Release Date: 24th
October
This is the journey of a typical King Penguin from awkward adolescent to adult. A visually stunning 3D cinematography takes us into an extraordinary sub-Antarctic island, home to majestic albatrosses, brawling elephant seals – and six million penguins.
The main character of the story; the bachelor penguin, returns to the place he grew up, Penguin City. He is back to find his mate and to start a family. Eventually he meets the penguin of his dreams, and together they start a family. The rest of the movie tells the story of bringing a chick in to the world. The Penguin King and his mate must do all they can to get their chick through its first perilous year. Together, they must feed it – teach it, protect it from the harsh weather and blood-thirsty predators. His story is often comic, sometimes tragic, and ultimately triumphant: a rite of passage set on one of the earth’s last great wilderness.
The movie is set in South Georgia. Almost 900 miles from Antarctica, it’s a mere 100 miles long, it is a wild and rugged landscape with mountain ranges, vast glaciers, and windblown plains, half-buried beneath snow and ice. This location is perfect, spectacular landscapes, enhanced by the movie being in 3D. “South Georgia is one of the most extraordinary and least appreciated places for wildlife in the world” says David Attenborough (writer/presenter).
Some would argue that there is no need for this to be in 3D; I’m not usually a fan of 3D, however after seeing this it was definitely the right choice. From the rugged landscape of South Georgia, to the scenes with the Elephant Seals and of course the Penguins, the 3D imagery makes you feel like you are there. Anthony Geffen (producer) says “3D allows you to literally step inside the Penguin King’s world. This is the natural way for us to see, and so you really feel it – you are there with him”, and I after watching, I agree.
If you are in to nature programmes, or maybe you’re a fan of the work Sir David Attenborough and Anthony Geffen’s work (i.e. ‘Flying Monsters’), then this movie is the perfect choice for you. It contains stunning visuals and a story that gives you a detailed insight in to the life of a King Penguin.
4 out of 5 stars ✭✭✭✭
Review by Christina Benneworth
