Arctic Tale (2007)

61% of critics liked it
(96 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(20,200 ratings)

March of the Penguins producers National Geographic Films team with An Inconvenient Truth producers Paramount Vantage to take viewers on an epic journey into the arctic wilderness in a documentary that explores what happens when the beautiful frozen world occupied by two majestic creatures gradually… More March of the Penguins producers National Geographic Films team with An Inconvenient Truth producers Paramount Vantage to take viewers on an epic journey into the arctic wilderness in a documentary that explores what happens when the beautiful frozen world occupied by two majestic creatures gradually begins to melt away. Seela is a mother walrus thriving in the chilly waters of the Great North, and Nanu is a polar bear with curved claws that make it easy to maintain her footing on ice. As director Sarah Robertson follows these two remarkable creatures from birth through adolescence, maturity, and, ultimately, parenthood, viewers will bear witness to the cycle of life as it unfolds in a vast frozen landscape that could pose problems for all of humankind if it continues to thaw at the current rate. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: G, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Sarah Robertson
Genres: Documentary, Special Interest

In Theaters: Aug 17, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Dec 4, 2007
Studio: Paramount Vantage

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
A well-intentioned film that isn't a documentary and isn't a very good adventure story.
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle
It's aimed at kids, and it hits them squarely: My 6-year-old and his friend sat stock still, hypnotized.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Arctic Tale does afford us some beautiful landscape cinematography and up-close looks at creatures in the wild...
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
There's no Jane Goodall required. And the absence of humans proves we needn't be onscreen to make our presence known.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
See this in a cool theater on a hot summer day.
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Whether you're more attuned to adorable animals or environmental issues, Arctic Tale is pretty cool.
Peter Canavese, Groucho Reviews
Arctic Tale isn't a documentary. They say it right there in the title, see? It's a tale. [Blu-ray]
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures
The photography of Arctic Tale is what makes it so good. The nature documentary style of this movie is brilliant and breathtaking at times.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Arctic Tale doesn't really offer a whole lot an adult hasn't seen or heard before. (Blu-ray Edition)
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...the movie is mainly for the benefit of children, a good thing because the world will soon enough be in their hands.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
The filmmakers probably thought the truth would be too upsetting for children, so we get walrus farts instead.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
The DVD version looks great in the movie's original widescreen format.
Brian Webster, Apollo Guide
Well intentioned, spectacularly filmed, and packing a vital message, Arctic Tale is worthwhile, even if its old style presentation leaves us less than thrilled.
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
Capitalizing on the successes of both March of the Penguins and An Inconvenient Truth, the sappy Artic Tale is more akin to a commercial for a McDonald's Happy Meal.
Prairie Miller, NewsBlaze
The striking visuals sweep across the landscape and awesome natural world beneath, fusing with the film's critical ecological cautionary warning pertaining to the careless harming of the planet that is spelling doom for these exquisite creatures.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Red L

What do we learn watching this movie? Fuzzy baby bears are cuter than baby walruses. Being a wild animal is tough. Its made tougher when the walrus' breeding grounds are melting away.
Leigh R

So sad. Have tissues handy... Made me realize just how desperate it is to stop global warming. I have taken an active role in fighting this cause since watching this movie. This needs to end now.
William G

Gorgeous vistas are undermined by narration, message, flatulance.
Sarah P

The footage was amazing and so were the stories of the animals they followed. It's very cute, but also really sad...
Barry L

Very cutesy but fantastic scenery and a great heartwarming story.
Audrey L

A beautiful but tragic documentary (15 years in the making) about the struggle of polar bears and sea lions to stay alive with the drastic changes in the arctic environment.Queen Latifah does an excellent job of narrating this heartbreaking doc.
Richard F

"March of the Penguins" meets "An Inconvenient Truth", albeit this film is not as well crafted as either of the aforementioned. Hats off to the cinematographers though, they provide some amazing footage here. The documentary loses its focus at times by… More
"March of the Penguins" meets "An Inconvenient Truth", albeit this film is not as well crafted as either of the aforementioned. Hats off to the cinematographers though, they provide some amazing footage here. The documentary loses its focus at times by unsuccessfully trying to provide some comic relief (in the form of flatulence in one scene). Unfortunately, some of these come at critical moments in this film, undermining the message of the movie. And as much as I enjoyed Queen Latifah in "Stranger than Fiction", and although she did a satisfactory job in this film, I much prefer Morgan Freeman as a narrator in documentaries about cold-weather animals.