Shark Whisperer: this is a new documentary on Netflix and features an Australian woman named Ocean Ramsey who is looking to show a different way to view and study sharks. She is passionate about sharks from a very young age. This is her story.
Ocean had decided early on that she loved being in the water and she had spent some time in the ocean with some sharks (like nurse sharks) but she worked on holding her breath longer and spent more time with sharks. It was there that she spent more time with reef sharks and tiger sharks. Both are very prevalent in Hawaii and have been known to harm surfers and bathers. Ocean’s partner is her photographer. So he is in the water with her, filming her. Together she noted the behaviour of the tiger sharks as they interacted with her, and later how they interacted with each other. She places her hand on the snout of the shark as she swims with them and they approach her directly. Not everyone agrees with her methods and they believe that she should observe and not interact with the sharks. Later in the show we see that a dead sperm whale is offshore and she decides to see the sharks that she expects to gather. One of the sharks that unexpectedly turns up is a 25 foot great white shark. The pictures that she takes swimming with this massive shark are remarkable.
Part of me wonders if Ocean wasn’t blond and pretty whether this gets made. That may sound sexist but part of the debate about Ocean is her desire for publicity, her Instagram account and popularity. Not exactly what scientists generally do (although there is the notable exception of Jacques Cousteau in the 1970s). For those who are like me and enjoy sharks and wish we knew more about them I think Ocean has observed some unique tiger shark behaviour like mating behaviour that is adding to the general knowledge about these mysterious creatures. It’s worth a view.
How to Train Your Dragon (2025): I had watched the original animated film on a plane a little over a week ago. I wanted to know the story, as I had heard some good things about it and I knew that this “live” version was being released. Universal is taking a page out of Disney’s book by releasing the same story with live action as opposed to animated. Disney has had some wins with Jungle Book, and some misses with Snow White most recently. This live version is almost a shot for shot re-take of the animated film. From the opening sequence introducing the island where the Vikings live and fight the dragons who kill their livestock. The Vikings also curiously have Scottish accents. But never mind that. There are the elders, the classmates of young boy Hiccup (played by Mason Thames) and the townspeople.
I only noticed a couple of scenes that were different. One involved the young female Astrid near the end where she makes a very dangerous move that doesn’t add a lot to the story.
In the end a good story remains a good story. The CGI dragons are well done. The human actors do a decent job. Certainty the CGI for Toothless is very good and captures the character very well with eyes, facial expression and emotions.
I am not sure that I needed to see this twice (in effect) but I wasn’t disappointed. I did miss Jay Barushel who I felt was a perfect voice for the uncertain young man who was not a typical Viking who was ready to kill dragons but was more interested in learning more and finding different ways to interact with them. In the end there are some unexpected twists and many characters have an opportunity to grow. This would of course be a good film for children (I was in a packed theatre after school was out for the summer) but it is also good for adults who appreciate good visuals and a good story.
Mondays With Robbie 