Merveilles des mers (Wonders of the Sea)

Merveilles des mers (Wonders of the Sea) takes an alternative approach to combing oceanic depths, one which primarily explores coral and species living within, as opposed to more flashy larger creatures such as dolphins, seals, or whales.

Fascinated by lifeforms that have perhaps never been the focus of a nature documentary, Jean-Michel Cousteau and his family patiently showcase stunning submerged ecosystems overflowing with incredible diversity.

If you're looking for a nature documentary that doesn't concentrate on traditional forms of aquatic character, Merveilles des mers surpasses expectations, its delicate caring enthusiastic cinematography nimbly capturing vital enriching expanses, in miniature, in select underwater habitats around the Aquarian globe.

From octopi to giant clams to shrimp to barnacles, Cousteau revels in seabed scintillation, his 3-D film beautifully exhibiting his discoveries, with inspiring interest in curious exotic life.

However, the narration is somewhat puzzling, perhaps due to its English translation.

It's certainly written for children aged 5 to 8 but still includes jokes that assume its audience is familiar with The Terminator.

It presents miraculous examples of life in various unheralded forms but rather oddly emphasizes its cold predatory nature.

Especially the coral, the coral is definitely not presented as if it's aesthetically appealing resplendent ambient decoration, no no no, the fact that it's a living breathing famished deadly carnivoresque entity is emphasized several times, as Cousteau, and Arnold Schwarzenegger (does he speak French in the French version?), exchange provocative comments with absorbed adolescent abandon, as if they're mischievously trying to frighten children, or perhaps had had a bit too much champagne on the old buoyant yachtski.

The dialogue and narration likely sounds more authentic in French, but when it was translated into English it appears that a Native English speaker (or Xavier Dolan) wasn't consulted to edit the final draft, and the result is rather clunky, a bit too general, even for young children (conversation's completely different, it's okay to make mistakes in conversation unless you're a spy, but this is a film that's trying to find an English audience, I suggest using subtitles if you're not confident with your translation, it's okay if subtitles sound cheesy).

David Suzuki clearly wasn't consulted.

I imagine Mr. Schwarzenegger could have rewritten many of his lines.

Nevertheless, the 3-D imagery is astounding and I applaud the film's focus on unsung mysteries of the depths.

Merveilles des mers celebrates life in its most remarkable unfamiliar forms throughout, and captures invaluable scenes that will undoubtably foster future investigations of what furtively lies beneath.

Hopefully, as we clean up the seas.

Shocking images of polluted waters around the globe as presented in Merveilles des mers are posted online every day.

It's not that hard to dispose of your waste in the proper receptacle.

It only takes an extra 2 to 3 seconds to recycle and it is not complicated.

The reward is a world that isn't covered in garbage.

It's that simple.

It really truly is.