Movie Review Friday -- Grizzly Man

Escape to the movies with one of our Movie Friday selections. Each week we review a film with environmentally or socially-responsible themes that’s currently in theaters or available on DVD.

Seen a good eco-flick lately? Send us a review of 100 words or less and look for your review in the next Movie Friday!

Grizzly Man (2005)
Available on DVD

In 2003, Timothy Treadwell and his girlfriend were killed and consumed by a grizzly bear in the Alaskan wilderness. Prior to this gruesome end, Treadwell had lived among the bears for thirteen years, recording over a hundred hours of intimate video footage. Though Treadwell was a passionate activist, critics argue that these close quarters may have done the bears more harm than good. Indeed, the animal that ate Treadwell was ultimately shot for his infraction. Werner Herzog's mesmerizing documentary approaches the ordeal with restrained inquisitiveness. Archival footage of Treadwell's bipolar mood swings and naive, childlike love of bears begs a judgmental analysis, but Herzog opts not to air the juiciest footage--the audio recording of the deadly attack. It is this omission that ultimately grounds and humanizes the story.  

--Review by Della Watson

Comments

[Cynthia]

I've seen this movie several times, and each time I am mesmerized by Treadwell's passion and dedication. Yes, he was flawed- he was human. But he raised awareness of bear poaching and was a genuinely compassionate animal rights activist. And he became a part of what he loved most, briefly.

[K. Bandell]

...the statement which follows - that is, "....Herzog opts not to air the juiciest footage--the audio recording of the deadly attack. It is this omission that ultimately grounds and humanizes the story...." should, I believe, form the core of judgement about Mister Treadwell and his obsession....the symptoms of bipolarity, usually fairly benign, periodically migrate into loci in which personal risks are appropriated by the patient and are on others involuntarily imposed....let us not romaticize what transpired....let us not under any rubric characterise it as green.....thank you and in peace....

[Morris Wills]

This is a mesmerizing movie indeed, with a powerful soundtrack. I believe that we need to learn to live within the confines or our limited world. To me, this means respecting and understanding the differences between us and other forms of life. Mr Treadwell blurred those lines with disastrous consequences.

[Noah]

1) those who believe he did more harm than good are completely wrong, and have no understanding of Nature or the world.
2) there is no difference between us and other forms of life in the way Morris means. You can live within the confine of your limited world if you want, but i don't have to or want to.
3) k. Bandell: there is nothing more green than living among the wold creatures of nature, killed or not. that is what it's all about.

[Grizzlyfan]

I've watched this movie four times now and it just gets better with each watching. Catch it here if you haven't seen it yet http://www.watchclassicmovies.com/Site/Grizzly_Man.html