'Chimpanzee' recalls old school nature films but adds new school cinematography
Disneynature’s “Chimpanzee” evokes memories of Marlon Perkins and “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.” The film starts with shots of the rain forest that are so beautiful, they appeared to be computer enhanced. There just doesn’t seem to be anyway that any place on Earth could be that breath taking. The cinematography is truly the reason to see this film.
The story of Oscar, an orphaned chimp who has to find some way to survive, is no less intriguing than the scenery. The film shows Oscar at play with his mother nearby and uses a cool Jazz track to ramp up the emotional impact of the romping.
As the narrator, Tim Allen tells the story. His style doesn’t interfere even while the audience is waiting for the inevitable nod to “Home Improvement.” Allen provides some clever fun during the course of the film.
“Chimpanzee” is worthy of everyone’s theater dollar. It elicits ooos, aaahs and laughs from the audience, and every shot makes one question how the camera people got it. (They reveal some of what the camera crew had to go through to get those shots near the end of the film.)
There are bad guys to provide an appropriate amount of tension, but the real draw here is the story of Oscar, and the beauties of the rain forest.
“Chimpanzee” opens this weekend in celebration of Earth Day. For every opening week admission purchased, Disneynature will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute.
“Chimpanzee” was shown as part of the Tumbleweeds Film Festival in Salt Lake City.
This article was originally published at examiner.com. Links updated Feb. 2017.
The story of Oscar, an orphaned chimp who has to find some way to survive, is no less intriguing than the scenery. The film shows Oscar at play with his mother nearby and uses a cool Jazz track to ramp up the emotional impact of the romping.
As the narrator, Tim Allen tells the story. His style doesn’t interfere even while the audience is waiting for the inevitable nod to “Home Improvement.” Allen provides some clever fun during the course of the film.
“Chimpanzee” is worthy of everyone’s theater dollar. It elicits ooos, aaahs and laughs from the audience, and every shot makes one question how the camera people got it. (They reveal some of what the camera crew had to go through to get those shots near the end of the film.)
There are bad guys to provide an appropriate amount of tension, but the real draw here is the story of Oscar, and the beauties of the rain forest.
“Chimpanzee” opens this weekend in celebration of Earth Day. For every opening week admission purchased, Disneynature will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute.
“Chimpanzee” was shown as part of the Tumbleweeds Film Festival in Salt Lake City.
This article was originally published at examiner.com. Links updated Feb. 2017.