The Cove: Movie Review
By Mali Elfman
That’s it! I’m putting my foot down! I am so sick of people saying “The Cove, oh no I can’t see that film, it’s about dolphin killing.” You stupid person, you’re wrong and I’m not listening to you anyone. I’m saying this as simply as possible. You are a bad person if you do not see this film. Everyone, EVERYONE needs to see The Cove. Not because you all need to go out and save Flipper but because it will inspire you to do something (not necessarily with dolphins) good in your life and leave you feeling empowered. You can make a difference in whatever way you want just like the people in this film are doing.
So stop your bitching and get out and see this movie. Check out the review below…
The Plot:
The Cove is a documentary that tells the story of an elite team of activists, filmmakers and free-divers who embark on a covert mission to penetrate a specific cove in Taiji, Japan, where approximately 23,000 dolphins are killed every year. Former dolphin trainer Ric O’ Barry, the man who captured and trained the first five dolphins who played Flipper in the international television sensation, attempts to stop the deadly cycle he helped create.
Throughout the movie O’ Barry seeks redemption and tries to take down the multi-billion dollar dolphin entertainment industry with the help of filmmaker Louis Psihoyos (read interview) and the Oceanic Preservation Society.
The Good:
- The Violence: This film could very easily be a violent mess. As O’Barry and Psihoyos both told us they had plenty of other bloody footage— But they don’t show it, because they don’t need it. Their message is strong enough without having to show you the gore behind it. Yes, there are 2 minutes of footage that are hard to watch (they give you warning, turn away if you need) but the rest of the film alludes to what is going on without having to show you.
- It’s Not Just for Ocean Lovers: From, health reasons such as extreme levels of mercury poisoning to issues with the government that go much further than just dolphin killing — the film touches on subjects everyone should be aware of.
- It’s Fun to Watch: Yes it deals with a serious issue, but they do so in a fun and entertaining way. You are basically watching a real life Oceans 11 team in action.
- The Ocean Footage: It is absolutely breathtaking. They have some of the first every underwater shots in HD of a member of their team swimming (or rather playing) with a 50 foot whale and that’s just the start of it.
- The Team: These people quite literally risk their lives against the Japanese government to save these dolphins. All of them are amazing personalities that will have you rooting them.
- Ric O’Barry: Talk about a role model. If you need someone to inspire you to do what’s right, he’s your man.
The Bad:
- People are Scared of It: Don’t be.
Rating: 10/10
Overall:
Yes, you will cry. It’s impossible not to, but it will also inspire you and have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Don’t chicken out! Go and see the film today! In a way, it’s the most feel-good movie you could possibly see.
The film is in select theaters now. Check out the trailer below…
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Saturday, August 1, 2009 12:22PM
Good movie.. Great review
Sunday, August 2, 2009 11:13PM
I'm intrigued and I think I'll definitely go and watch it.
Monday, August 3, 2009 3:16AM
I read a few topics. I respect your work and added blog to favorites.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009 10:58AM
[...] you’ve read my review of The Cove, than you know that I am a huge supporter of the film. In fact, I thought I was one of their [...]
Saturday, August 8, 2009 5:30PM
I don't care…. It's needed
Friday, August 21, 2009 7:31PM
Great movie. I agree I think everyone needs to be aware of what is going on with our Sea Life, not to mention human as well. It's appalling that nothing has been done about that cove in Japan. Hopefully more people will wake up and realize they can do something to stop it.
Friday, August 21, 2009 6:05PM
I would like to help… i am trying in my community- what ever help/contribution that i can make, big or small… i hope i will be able to make some difference. Please let me know if you have any ideas- or need me?Thank you
Friday, August 28, 2009 5:56PM
Last line of the review: "In a way, it’s the most feel-good movie you could possibly see." How is this a feel-good movie? I don't mean that in a snarky way, it's an honest question. I'd really like to hear from someone who has that strange kind of optimism. For me, I'll be disturbed and depressed about the injustices exposed in the movie until I hear they have stopped.
Friday, August 28, 2009 4:31PM
[...] many of you already know from my first reaction to the film and later my review of The Cove, I believe that this is one of the most beautiful, well put together and empowering films [...]
Sunday, August 30, 2009 5:30PM
DON'T SEE THE MOVIE! It's a bunch of rich American men who found a way to invest their money while trashing other cultures – this time Japan with the excuse that they are doing it for the dolphins. We have no proof that the red is not dye they put in the water, that the little orphan dolphin was not the third they killed themselves for better shooting. They criticize the Sea World Performers but shoot a huge amount of jumping snuggling dolphins in shows in the movie which makes it more entertaining. How much money they paid Disney World to shoot, money with which they purchased more dolphins. And the Japanese look so ugly and stupid and ignorant putting dolphin meet in their kids lunches – come on! It's a con to make money just like any other movie, it's ok, just don't say it is a documentary – it's a well done thriller using women making out with dolphins.
Monday, August 31, 2009 11:45AM
I think it is a manipulative movie by white extremely rich men who wanted to profit from something terrible. They shot long pieces of dolphins jumping up and down in circuses that they condemned, but added an entertaining aspect to the movie. it is a good thriller but dont call it a documentary becasause there is no proof that they did not throw red dye in the water impaired baby dolphins to make a good scene and all to be (back) in the silver and large screen.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 11:40PM
You obviously haven't even seen this film….
Do you know how hard it is to make money on a film? Do you know how much they have LOST on this film? MILLIONS. What would be the use of creating a huge conspiracy to LOSE millions of dollars?
Aside for the logistics behind dying an entire ocean red, why would they care to?
"They criticize the Sea World Performers but shoot a huge amount of jumping snuggling dolphins in shows in the movie which makes it more entertaining." It's not entertaining it's horrific! And documentary film-makers rarely ever pay to shoot in a public place. They, like anyone, bring in a camera and shoot.
And the Japanese don't look stupid! They make a point of saying that the people in Japan don't know what's going on because the government has granted these people permission and because it's basically a group of 10 guys doing it.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 11:42PM
Do you know how much red dye they would take? And if you have seen the movie you SEE what's actually happening. Why would they bother doing that to (as I sad above) LOSE money
Thursday, September 3, 2009 3:11AM
You are clearly Japanese. Get over it.
Friday, September 4, 2009 2:38AM
I watched this yesterday, and i really like your honest & npretentious review about it. I couldn't put it any better really.
Friday, September 11, 2009 6:04AM
YOUR A JOKE DOLPHIN LOVER. Get with the real world. Take a trip there yourself and see for yourself, instead of posting negative views that have no substance.
Friday, September 11, 2009 6:13AM
I too am SICK of people saying they dont want to see the movie because its about the killing of dolphins. There are so many other facts in this film that the wrold needs to know. Like the Japanese are killing there own race by selling mercury absorbed dolphin meet as school kids lunches. The deformities from mercury poisoning is horrific. Think about the kids. And then the fact the dolphins are full of mercury. Our marine world is being destroyed by our ignorance, lets just pump sewerage into the ocean, lets omit carbon into the atmosphere and pretend it just goes away. Instead it gets absorbed into the earth's water supplies and is causing major problems, of which we will see in our life time. The people who refuse to see this film and those who are bagging this film, I bet will be the first ones to run crying when we make the earth inhabitable. As usual it is going to take a catastrophic event in our world before these ignorant people realise what is going on and then it will all be too late and millions of people will perish. This world really needs to wake up and this film is a great way to get people interested. I congratulate everyone associated with this film and getting into the public.
Friday, September 18, 2009 10:17AM
[...] more info on The Cove check out our movie review and our one on one interview with the director [...]
Sunday, October 25, 2009 8:36PM
This movie is having a big effect in Japan. Watching this movie is watching history in the making.
Have you ever seen a bad person caught, absolutely caught red-handed, in an evil lie on full screen? The jaw tightens. The eyes get tense. It's absolutely amazing. This is a VERY rare event, and you will see it in The Cove. This movie is really worth watching!
Great review – GO SEE THE COVE!
Sunday, October 25, 2009 8:45PM
ANY human being who puts mercury-laced dolphin meat in school children's lunches is bound to look ugly and stupid and ignorant. You know why? Because it is an ugly and stupid and ignorant thing to do! This has nothing to do with Japan or the Japanese culture. But this is all about human ugliness, stupidity, and ignorance, which I do not support, in whatever country in the world it is found.
It's time WE ALL joined the human race.
Friday, December 11, 2009 2:33AM
I never thought that the Japanese didnt eat dolphin. There is no nice way to kill an animal. People that had a hard time watching probably never worked in food processing. It seemed like a very systematic "slaughter" to me. I love my dog and if anyone tried to eat him I may get violent so I understand these people having a connection with an animal but yes, in some countrys it legal to eat dog. Im just sort of unclear if these fishermen were braking any laws according to THEIR counrty. Did the film maker shine a light? Yes, the U.N. and Global Tribunals are a joke
Saturday, December 19, 2009 12:38PM
I've just turned off the TV after watching this movie and called a friend who runs a wildlife sanctuary here in Australia's Gold Coast. I've also called one of the City Councillors as I'm hell bent on staging an environmental film festival – either at the Sanctuary or at the main tourist Mecca of Surfers Paradise – right on the beach.
I'm sure Australia Zoo would also be happy to stage the film there too as Terri's one of the fiercest Wildlife Warriors I've ever come across. Would like to see mass public showings of this movie across Australia (and other countries if possible), staged to all occur on the same day at the same time (rolling with time zones) to gain max publicity via the media.
If anyone wants to discuss how to get a movement happening with this, feel free to contact me at work: chantal.dunbar@ec3global.com
Saturday, December 19, 2009 11:08PM
I watched the trailer and almost felt like contacting the makers of this film and giving them my support. It's very powerful stuff! But LookUp has a very good point. The situation is totally perspective with culture and beliefs. Who am I to say one animal (or any living entry) has more right to live than any other! It's ok in our culture to kill and eat farm animals, but we find killing/eating dolphins alien.
Sunday, December 27, 2009 2:51AM
earl … you missed the part when Rick asked the Japanese public about the eating of dolphins and their culture. Dolphins are not and were not EVER on their diet!!!
Monday, December 28, 2009 10:51AM
I can't believe you could say that even with the proof RIGHT BEFORE your very eyes. Why the hell would they release something so horrific for entertainment. You disgust me! dolphin lover53 huh? You obviously a dolphin hater instead.
Monday, January 4, 2010 7:22AM
[...] The Cove Movie Review [...]
Friday, January 8, 2010 6:14AM
Great movie for awareness, I had no idea this was going on. Makes me want to go to Japan and kick those asseholes in the face
Monday, January 18, 2010 6:47PM
Absolutely god damn right!!! The imprisonment and slaughter of other obviously sentient being with whom we share this planet, the mercury toxic enviromental issues, the duplicitous corporate stooges…I'm on board with Alex…makes me want to go to Japan and kick those assholes in the face, too!!!
Friday, January 29, 2010 9:18PM
i just watched the film and felt exactly the same way. The Japanese were just killing the dolphins so unhumainly and just laughing about it, it makes me soooo mad!
Monday, March 8, 2010 3:34PM
You slaughter so many animals already.
Cows, sheep, goats, deer, pigs, birds, horses, rabbits, even human…(how many Iraqi were killed already?) ….What's the point of discussion?
Some people are open to only those who have similar value to them, but are so narrow minded and cruel to those who do not have the one. They often like generalization. They tend to be so hostile to those who have a different value, religion, culture, or those who are not speaking English. It is very sad and disappointing that the movie was made on such a biased views, and awarded..!!! (lol)
Monday, March 29, 2010 1:02AM
I just find it so hypocritical that the Australian wife of the co-producer who funded the making of the documentary Cove has called for the killing of practically indigent Japanese fishermen for eating dolphin meat (read this on Wikipedia today) all the while shamelessly marketing cow leather skin handbags with her name on them. These types (do as I say not as I do sorts) dump more fossil fuel in our oceans and degrade our environment with wasteful consumerism more than all the indigenous folks living in Japan and elsewhere in the world. Due to the blatant one sidedness of the movie, a lot of equally cracker Australians are engaging in anti-Japanese tactics and calling for the boycott of Japanese goods. Ironically, Japan purchases beef products that go into making hamburgers from AUSTRALIA. Australia has a very long history of human rights and animal abuses (marginalized Aborigines and the slaughter of millions of cows, pigs, sheep, kangaroo and other mammals yearly). It's just all done in such a hush hush behind closed doors so the atrocities are not seen. Go clean up your own backyard first before dumping on others.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 2:15AM
I wonder "Where did the profiets to the movie go? " I hope they will go towards more education that will help save those beautiful highly intelligent creatures unlike Al Gores profiets from his phoney books and movie to buy more houses and make money selling carbon tax credits to support his rich lifestyle, political friends and one world leftist agenda. We need real caring environmentalists winning Emmy awards and Nobel prizes this time around and yes the movie did make me cry. We are one with all the living creatures of this planet. We all have a lot to learn from all the creatures including each other.
Thursday, April 29, 2010 2:45PM
“You are a bad person if you do not see this film.”
Pfft. Lol. Idiot.
Friday, April 22, 2011 7:53PM
First of all Wikipedia is not a reliable source. Anyone can enter anything. No matter what The killing of the dolphins were in humane and the higher Mercury content were a major threat to those young children who were susceptible for mental retardation.
Ratha
Friday, October 14, 2011 10:13AM
I seriously hope you are joking. If not-your stupidity amuses me.