In addition to its breathtaking underwater photography, Sharkwater has a convincing, impassioned argument of how the plight of sharks affects everyone.
In addition to its breathtaking underwater photography, Sharkwater has a convincing, impassioned argument of how the plight of sharks affects everyone.
Profoundly disturbed to discover just how much damage mankind is doing to one of natures most majestic and misunderstood creatures, filmmaker Rob Stewart sets out on a passionate mission to debunk stereotypes about sharks and show just how important a role they play in the planet's fragile eco-system. Setting out to marine reserves in Costa Rica, Cocos Island, and the Galapagos Islands, Stewart and renegade conservationist Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society arms themselves with
high-definition video cameras in an attempt to expose exploitation and corruption by poachers who earn a hearty living by ruthlessly slaughtering the creatures that could hold the key to mankind's ultimate survival. Rammed by pirate boats, threatened by organized crime, and eventually drawn into a corrupt court system that thrives on greed, the determined conservationists are forced to flee or face death as they reveal that the creatures resilient enough to withstand mass extinctions may be wiped out at the hands of humans in just a handful of years. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Sharkwater delivers an important message, and its underwater photography is breathtaking. But Stewart lessens the impact by focusing much too much on himself. Did he really have to go into detail about his own health problems?
Undersea photographer Rob Stewart, who directed, wrote, narrated, stars in, and helped shoot Sharkwater, really, really loves sharks. He also fears for their future on the planet. His lively documentary makes you see why, on both counts.
This beautiful and horrifying debut feature by the underwater cameraman Rob Stewart of Toronto characterizes the depletion of the world's shark population as an ecological catastrophe with dire consequences for humanity.
Stewart is his own star, a would-be Speedo model and whoa-dude narrator whose droning reflections get in the way of his stunning underwater cinematography.
If the film sometimes gets choppy, the filmmaker's passion for the subject and the disturbing revelations to be gained from watching the film make it more than worthwhile.
Here's a documentary with teeth and a bite that should leave a nasty scar on the conscience of the illegal fishermen who continue to brutally plunder sharks for their fins %u2013 and those ignorant fools who consume shark fins
With its stunning photography this would be a righteous and magnificent documentary were it not for the on-camera presence of film-maker Rob Stewart, marine biology's answer to Tom Cruise.
Planet Earth saturation and the bludgeoning political stance pull it down, but it's still a consistently engaging, partly thrilling look at a misunderstood species.
Stewart's 'personal journey' format isn't entirely successful, and verges on the egotistical, but the message of this film, and the imagery and statistics it tells it with, is angry, credible and worthwhile.
Stewart's point is that the shark fin industry, in its short-sighted quest for financial gain, may trigger an ecological disaster beyond the extinction of the sharks themselves. This is depressing, but important, stuff.
Faintly egotistical biologist-turned-filmmaker Rob Stewart spent four years making this investigative doc and the result, despite his tendency towards over-earnest, stoner-esque commentary, is enlightening, shocking and more than a little worrying.
As I thought, this was an eye opening movie, with a lot of good and sometimes unsettling footage. It was well done and I think there were some technical nuances that could have been made to streamline the picture, but it had my attention the entire time. Although a lot of people are not interested in this type of
film, or its subject matter, I think we really do need to be educated about issues such as this one. There are a lot of things going on in the world that are blatant abuses of people, animals and resources around the globe. I believe that everything on this earth if for humanity to use and care for, but I am strongly against the abuse of these resources, living and nonliving alike. See this movie and similar ones like it.
A counterpoint to most of the sensational shark documentaries out there, this one introduces sharks as shy and amazing. It focuses on the fishing, finning, and depopulation issues. Even the mob and Greenpeace are involved.An interesting film for those looking for another side to sharks and our global aquatic
ecosystem.
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