Conservation on any level really doesn't stand a chance with these barriers but you have to admire those with less authority - who don't and wont give up the fight.
14 Reviews
Totally engrossing!
gparob1 September 2019
An excellent documentary about efforts to save a REALLY endangered species from poachers off the coast of Mexico. It follows investigators, a TV journalist, the Mexican Military; the story is well edited, and fascinating.
It's the beginning to the end....
ks-6050028 December 2019
Extinct rare whale rescues documentary. It makes us aware the dark side of bad money business and I love the conclusion at the end. It's very true what human being did to end our planet by all means for money. We should treasure our planet and Always - no demand, no supply.
A pedantic storyline that completely misses the boat
naq-14 December 2019
Unfortunately for this particular reviewer, the glowing reviews for this film do not stand up to examination.
The documentary is about the extinction of one special dolphin-like whale species, the vaquita, which is the species that will become extinct because of overfishing for another, highly valuable species of fish. (We never hear much about the other MORE valuable species, although one can assume that there might not be a finite number of those particular fish.)
So one species is now threatened for complete extinction and it happens to be a very attractive looking dolphin-like creature, which naturally inspires audience sympathy. Of course, we all want to save a doomed species; that goes without any argument. But the storyline of this documentary is a combination of showmanship and diversion: the actual 'Elephant in the room' is hardly never discussed in detail--that Elephant is the Chinese elite.
The filmmakers pride themselves on following the perpetrators who are the lowly fishermen, desperately doing whatever they can to survive (and one almost expects another documentary will be made next year, taking the point of view that this documentary is taking away the fishermen's livelihood). Up to this point, the fishermen have a livelihood based on these expensive fish bladders, and so we can understand why they don't want the filmmakers to take that lifeline away. And we hear that the local police force and even the military are in on the take, accepting bribes to allow the renegade fishermen to roam free in the waters, capturing and killing whatever species that gets in their way of making a big payoff. This is human nature, yet another documentary.
But what is missing here is the explanation of why this is happening in the first place: it is mentioned in passing in the doc that there is a certain belief among the Chinese oligarchy that the bladders of these fish are worth millions. Why is this so? We really never know. And the filmmakers never bother to explore this peculiar point that is central to the story. They also don't bother to follow up on a tip that brings them face to face with some of the Chinese oligarchs. Why? We don't know.
Now, one can only surmise from all this that the filmmakers, NatGeo, and Leonardo diCaprio have decided that it would not be in their financial interest in discussing the particular reason for the Chinese obsession with fish bladders. Maybe it's because Leo's films would be banned in China and therefore Leo loses a couple of million dollars? Maybe because they couldn't make a deal at Cannes unless they removed that information so the distribution deal would be a few hundred thousand less? This leads to one imagining a scene of the filmmakers sharing caviar and champagne on a yacht off the Croisette with the same exact Chinese billionaires who paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to obtain the fish bladders.
There is nothing inherently wrong with the film, which is filled with sympathetic characters: the handsome young Greenpeace Volunteer, who is a verified chick magnet (played by Zac Efron in the Disney adaption); the Jane Goodall-type earnest woman scientist with a heart of gold (Susan Sarandon); the good-looking daddy figure who leads the chase of the uncaring fishermen, (who would be played by none other than Harrison Ford), and the tough-talking, non-nonsense Journalist (Antonio Banderas) who goes on an investigative binge, only to fall down the rabbit hole when all the police and military he interviews are a part of the giant conspiracy. There is one point where the Journalist is earnestly grilling the heads of state and a senior military gent, which comes off as naive as we in the viewing seats realize that the very same officials who are supposed to be guarding against this crime are themselves on the take.
But the reason why the documentary does not hold any water (pun intended) is because the filmmakers continually go back to the low-lying fruit of the fishermen, as if they were the only ones who caused the devastation. In any honest analysis, the fishermen are only small pawns in a much bigger game, (as are the police and the military) and are being played by huge multi-billionaires, who are the ones pulling the strings and manipulating everyone like the Puppet Masters they are. Even the great Leo diCap himself is probably a puppet who was allowed out of the cage to promote this doc so that we can keep on scrambling after 'Shadows', and therefore, the real perpetrators who are in control are never to be seen or ever revealed.
The documentary is about the extinction of one special dolphin-like whale species, the vaquita, which is the species that will become extinct because of overfishing for another, highly valuable species of fish. (We never hear much about the other MORE valuable species, although one can assume that there might not be a finite number of those particular fish.)
So one species is now threatened for complete extinction and it happens to be a very attractive looking dolphin-like creature, which naturally inspires audience sympathy. Of course, we all want to save a doomed species; that goes without any argument. But the storyline of this documentary is a combination of showmanship and diversion: the actual 'Elephant in the room' is hardly never discussed in detail--that Elephant is the Chinese elite.
The filmmakers pride themselves on following the perpetrators who are the lowly fishermen, desperately doing whatever they can to survive (and one almost expects another documentary will be made next year, taking the point of view that this documentary is taking away the fishermen's livelihood). Up to this point, the fishermen have a livelihood based on these expensive fish bladders, and so we can understand why they don't want the filmmakers to take that lifeline away. And we hear that the local police force and even the military are in on the take, accepting bribes to allow the renegade fishermen to roam free in the waters, capturing and killing whatever species that gets in their way of making a big payoff. This is human nature, yet another documentary.
But what is missing here is the explanation of why this is happening in the first place: it is mentioned in passing in the doc that there is a certain belief among the Chinese oligarchy that the bladders of these fish are worth millions. Why is this so? We really never know. And the filmmakers never bother to explore this peculiar point that is central to the story. They also don't bother to follow up on a tip that brings them face to face with some of the Chinese oligarchs. Why? We don't know.
Now, one can only surmise from all this that the filmmakers, NatGeo, and Leonardo diCaprio have decided that it would not be in their financial interest in discussing the particular reason for the Chinese obsession with fish bladders. Maybe it's because Leo's films would be banned in China and therefore Leo loses a couple of million dollars? Maybe because they couldn't make a deal at Cannes unless they removed that information so the distribution deal would be a few hundred thousand less? This leads to one imagining a scene of the filmmakers sharing caviar and champagne on a yacht off the Croisette with the same exact Chinese billionaires who paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to obtain the fish bladders.
There is nothing inherently wrong with the film, which is filled with sympathetic characters: the handsome young Greenpeace Volunteer, who is a verified chick magnet (played by Zac Efron in the Disney adaption); the Jane Goodall-type earnest woman scientist with a heart of gold (Susan Sarandon); the good-looking daddy figure who leads the chase of the uncaring fishermen, (who would be played by none other than Harrison Ford), and the tough-talking, non-nonsense Journalist (Antonio Banderas) who goes on an investigative binge, only to fall down the rabbit hole when all the police and military he interviews are a part of the giant conspiracy. There is one point where the Journalist is earnestly grilling the heads of state and a senior military gent, which comes off as naive as we in the viewing seats realize that the very same officials who are supposed to be guarding against this crime are themselves on the take.
But the reason why the documentary does not hold any water (pun intended) is because the filmmakers continually go back to the low-lying fruit of the fishermen, as if they were the only ones who caused the devastation. In any honest analysis, the fishermen are only small pawns in a much bigger game, (as are the police and the military) and are being played by huge multi-billionaires, who are the ones pulling the strings and manipulating everyone like the Puppet Masters they are. Even the great Leo diCap himself is probably a puppet who was allowed out of the cage to promote this doc so that we can keep on scrambling after 'Shadows', and therefore, the real perpetrators who are in control are never to be seen or ever revealed.
stunning!
svenwestphal17 May 2019
At times you are tempted to forget that It actually IS a documentary, as the intensity of the drama makes you want the film being a fictional story... sadly it's not!
let's hope films like this DO have an long-term impact!
Save the vaquita!
donaldricco31 October 2020
A powerful film! The vaquita, the world's smallest whale, is near extinction as its habitat is destroyed by Mexican cartels and Chinese mafia, who harvest the swim bladder of the totoaba fish, the "cocaine of the sea." (the bladders can bring up to $100,000 each on the Chinese black market!) Environmental activists and undercover investigators are fighting back against this illegal multi-million-dollar business. Many of the naval officers/soldiers, the police, the customs officials, and government officials are bribed to let this happen. It's so horrifying what is happening in San Felipe, Mexico, just about a five hour drive from Los Angeles. The vaquita are going extinct so people can profit from a bladder that has not been proven to provide any medical 'help'. Yet the belief of it, and the fact that so much money can be made, has humans creating a situation that not only is killing the vaquita, but it also destroying sea life in the Sea of Cortez. All of the illegal fishing has polluted the sea with nets and destroyed whales, dolphins, and sea turtles. At the film's end, it said that over 800 illegal nets have been pulled out of those waters. So much needles death of these poor ocean animals. Just terrible.
A Difficult Challenge
westsideschl23 December 2019
Focused on the illegal trade of Mexico's Sea of Cortez totoaba fish swim bladders (for folk medicine) to China & the killing of other species (most notably the vaquita porpoise/whale) though indiscriminate use of vast ocean nets.
To the rescue:
Sea of Shadows (SOS) illustrates a few of the challenges the Sea Shepherd group & other groups face in saving the ocean environment from destruction & extinction. The adversaries are at times ruthless, well funded (some through organized crime), and always deceptive. Sea Shepherd & other groups on the front lines of saving the environment have at times been criticized for aggressive, confrontational tactics, but those committing the crimes are willing to even kill for their gains. Like the similar illegal drug trade it's literally a war.
absolutely about NOW. a single historic moment to save a whale species
wendydebeck24 September 2019
The depth of study the time taken to detective to the roots of the murder of nearly extinct species from a ' sanctuary'. the corruption the passion the dedication shown. most important doc out there now, as the vaquita are a metaphor for the survival of the planet.
I couldn't finish it
Delrvich30 January 2021
More of a crude crime expose than a documentary. Reminded me of Geraldo Rivera's The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults.
------------------------------ My IMDb ratings 1 Deliberately botched 2 I don't want to see it 3 I FF'd through it 4 Bad 5 I don't get it 6 Good 7 Great but with a major flaw 8 Great 9 Noir with moral 10 Inspiring with moral.
------------------------------ My IMDb ratings 1 Deliberately botched 2 I don't want to see it 3 I FF'd through it 4 Bad 5 I don't get it 6 Good 7 Great but with a major flaw 8 Great 9 Noir with moral 10 Inspiring with moral.
Exploring the barriers of nature conservation
cechova15 October 2020
Truly migndblowing movie. I have learned so much about the different processes that go into these rescue missions. There is also a lot of mistakes made that can teach us how to do better at saving our planet. I admire the drive of these organisations, like Sea Shepherds and Earth League International.
gripping National Geographic doc from Richard Ladkani
babybuletgani30 October 2019
This gripping National Geographic doc from Richard Ladkani unfolds like a thriller, investigating how a rare species is being wiped out as a consequence of the quest for profits. In the Gulf of California, off Mexico, fishermen paid by cartels use illegal nets to catch totoaba fish, whose bladders are valuable to Chinese traffickers; these same nets threaten the vaquita porpoise with extinction. Allowing a range of perspectives - journalists, environmental activists, marine biologists, army officers, fishermen - the dynamically assembled Sea Of Shadows possesses a powerful topicality.
Literally: SOS!!! This is an EMERGENCY!!!
a-roura20075 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Very moving, compelling and heartbreaking documentary about the vaquita and efforts to save it from extinction.
This last quote from the movie summarizes it perfectly for me: "The vaquita is getting extinct. Five hours drive from Los Angeles, in the 21st century. It is the global symbol of how we are destroying this planet and that's why everyone should root for the vaquita right now. Because if we can save the vaquita, then maybe we know how to save the rest of the planet. If we lose the vaquita, in front of our eyes, with all our money, and you know, power...then, we're done. Then it's the beginning of the end. It's the beginning of many other animals going extinct in front of our eyes."
I'm already trying to find ways to support this cause as much as possible, even if from a distance.
This last quote from the movie summarizes it perfectly for me: "The vaquita is getting extinct. Five hours drive from Los Angeles, in the 21st century. It is the global symbol of how we are destroying this planet and that's why everyone should root for the vaquita right now. Because if we can save the vaquita, then maybe we know how to save the rest of the planet. If we lose the vaquita, in front of our eyes, with all our money, and you know, power...then, we're done. Then it's the beginning of the end. It's the beginning of many other animals going extinct in front of our eyes."
I'm already trying to find ways to support this cause as much as possible, even if from a distance.
Down in old Mexico!
chrislawuk3 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Well, despite there being a significant number of people on the military, police and navy payroll, they seem to be largely symbolic standing figurines. When they are finally put under enough pressure from the news, crew, media and conservationists, to finally act, all hell breaks loose!
All this over Chinese snake oil that sells for $80,000 a hit. You got more chance of curing your arthritis from snorting a gypsies dandruff, that taking this supposed traditional Chinese medicine.
Better watch, there's only 17 of them left, its only a matter of time before they move on to kidneys. I'd sell up shop and declare the war lost while the going is good.
It really is desperate. We criticise the police here in the west, but you can see at least one possible alternative here on display, which ain't a pretty option. It really is a lawless, mob rule environment, where if your not bent then you should be. Too bloody dangerous to be a do-gooder. Sure they have to make a living, but its the high stake greed which is the factor in this sort of corruption.
All this over Chinese snake oil that sells for $80,000 a hit. You got more chance of curing your arthritis from snorting a gypsies dandruff, that taking this supposed traditional Chinese medicine.
Better watch, there's only 17 of them left, its only a matter of time before they move on to kidneys. I'd sell up shop and declare the war lost while the going is good.
It really is desperate. We criticise the police here in the west, but you can see at least one possible alternative here on display, which ain't a pretty option. It really is a lawless, mob rule environment, where if your not bent then you should be. Too bloody dangerous to be a do-gooder. Sure they have to make a living, but its the high stake greed which is the factor in this sort of corruption.
Naive Plan
bennettadam-3125911 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Ridiculously naive plan from a team of 'experts' to take a wild animal immediately into captivity, resulting in the unnecessary death of one of the species they were trying to save. Terrible plan, shocking scenes, embarrassing.
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