Nature: Wolverine: Chasing the Phantom (2010)

This movie was a complete disappointment! Instead of being filled with non-stop action and cool mutant powers they just followed animals around. However, once I settled down and figured out it was a program about actual wolverines instead my favorite X-Men character I had an enjoyable enough time.

All kidding aside, this was a pretty cool little documentary about the lives of wolverines. Apparently they are rather understudied. I can't ever recall seeing them in a nature program, and I watch a lot of nature programs. They're a pretty interesting animal, if hard to track down. Plus the way they run looks really funny and that makes me smile.

If you enjoy nature programs from time to time you'll probably enjoy this one. It's also kind of funny to laugh at the researchers because they make studying the wolverine sound completely hopeless. If you feel like getting in touch with nature without leaving your couch, queue this baby up.

Click here to add this documentary to your Netflix queue.

According to Netflix this movie will stop streaming on 1/25/12. Of course, sometimes they lie.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I like nature, even though I never leave the city.

Is it artsy? Nope.

What stood out the most to you? Listening to people who seem to have unhealthy obsessions with wolverines.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Outdoorsy but too lazy to go outside.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 3 Stars. 

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Wild China (2008)

I love watching nature/wildlife shows and I have to start this review by saying that the BBC's Wild China might just be the best one I've ever seen. A big problem with nature shows today is that we've seen most of it before. I was blown away by The Blue Planet and Planet Earth but by the time Life got to the discovery channel I felt like I'd been there and done that. Wild China is fascinating because until recently China has been a very closed society that wouldn't dream of allowing a film crew in. Now that China has loosened up a bit we're able to see things that were rarely seen before in this type of program and the results are spectacular.

Another thing that separates Wild China from the rest of the pack is that it focuses not just on the wildlife but the interplay between man and nature that has been going on in China for over a millennium. The documentary spent nearly as much time focusing on the ancient ways of the Chinese people as it did the animals. It gave the documentary a very complete feeling and I feel like I learned quite a bit about China, not just about it's animals.

Sadly, this documentary could not have been more timely. As China's march towards modernity carries on it's natural beauty faces great peril. Hopefully China will recognize the wonderful natural assets it has and adjust it's path accordingly.

If you have any interest in nature shows or just like seeing beautiful vistas I cannot recommend Wild China enough. If that isn't enough to get you to add it to your queue I'll tell you that one of the episodes in this stunning documentary shows a baby panda drinking from a bottle. Awwwww.

Click here to add this show to your Netflix queue.

The Standard 5:

Why is it in your queue? I love nature shows and I've always been curious about China.

Is it artsy? No, but some of the views could be considered works of art.

Best thing about the movie? The fishing birds.

What mood should I be in to watch this movie? Ready to be blown away by the majesty of the Chinese wilderness.

What rating did you give it on Netflix? 5 Stars! 

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