Today is Earth Day. Held around the globe, Earth Day reminds us that we all need to increase our awareness of how we treat this little blue planet, third from the sun. It's the only one we have.
In recognition of this annual event, here are some "green" movies that not only showcase our planet, but give us food for thought.
An Inconvenient Truth
Love him or hate him, Al Gore hit one out of the ballpark with An Inconvenient Truth. This film had a global impact on how we view Earth and the environment, particularly climate change. Whether you agree with him or not, I'll bet he made you think and debate this issue. He got you involved.
Planet Earth
Okay, so this isn't so much a movie as a documentary. But what a documentary! This BBC's series has 11 episodes, each focusing on a particular geological segment of Earth; Mountains, Fresh Water, Mountains, Oceans, to name just four. The cinematography is nothing short of stunning and it was the BBC's most expensive nature documentary ever. It was also the first to be filmed in High Definition. When released on DVD it became the USA's Discovery Channel's fastest selling DVD set.
Wall-E
Who could resist that little trash compactor with the Precious Moment's eyes? Certainly not me! A movie that both children and adults alike can watch, love and understand this is a movie about hope, perseverance and resilience. When Earth is abandoned due to the mountains (literally) of garbage, Wall-E is left behind to deal with the mess. Which he does, day after day after day. When he meets Eve, a robot sent to find signs of life on Earth, she finds a lot more than she bargained for. If you haven't seen it yet, run, don't walk to your nearest video outlet and rent the DVD. You won't regret it.
March of the Penguins
Antarctica has been called the last frontier on Earth, and it's a part of the world that not many of us will ever see. Thanks to March of the Penguins we have better understanding of what it takes to survive in this hostile environment. This film follows the journey of the Emperor Penguin from the march to the breeding grounds, the departure of the females, the banding together of the males to protect the eggs and eventually the birth of the young. Watch it, that's all I can say.
Erin Brokovich
Yes, it's a Hollywood movie, and yes, it stars Julia Roberts. And she's never been better. Based on actual events, Erin Brokovich is a legal assistant who starts work at a law firm where no one really takes her seriously. With her loud hair, loud voice and short skirts, Erin becomes an unlikely candidate to spearhead a lawsuit against a major corporation for environmental contamination that had deadly results.
