Finally we got to watch the Disney movie Earth and we loved it. The film takes you through an astonishing journey on earth following the lives of three extraordinary animal families and their hardship to survive on our planet through climate change. The remarkable stories of the polar bears making their journey in search for food through ice that every year melts earlier, of the elephants’ search for water that becomes harder as water reserves dry up, and of the humpback whales whose lives are threatened by the reduction of plankton in the ocean as a consequence of the rising temperature are narrated by James Earl Jones. The photography captures some of the most amazing aspects of the world and elements of nature that can only be seen in documentary footage. We were impressed by the journey of water from the mountains to the Ocean and the spectacular images of the waterfalls. The footage on the Rain Forest, the North Pole and Antarctica alone is a good enough reason to watch. However it is the focus on the animal families that is appealing to children in a way that a documentary could not even come close. The Disney Earth movie succeeds in capturing children’s attention in the form of a story but at the same time it is full of information about the state of our planet, how it affects the animals on earth and ultimately us with a gentle introduction to the natural food chain. Some scenes however can make a strong impression on young ones; my son watched with concern a cheetah capturing its prey, which was a little harsh in a realistic kind of way and raised a lot of questions about the natural food chain.

The final verdict: Disney Earth is an enjoyable family movie packed with educational facts and beautiful photography.