We wanted to take our four-year old to see Arctic Tale in the theater, but weren't sure if he was ready to see intense animal fighting or animals dying. The previews looked pretty harmless, but we'd heard that the previous movie from the same group, March of the Penguins, had a few scenes that might come off as slightly scary to a little guy. The other complication was that Arctic Tale seemed like it was in and out of theaters in a week. It didn't create quite the same stir as March of the Penguins, which is surprising considering the comparable quality. The sad truth is that audiences have a limited interest in documentary films and family audiences are just as likely to do the majority of their movie-watching at home. For families like ours, the DVD release of Arctic Tale is a treat worth the wait.

The best thing about this film is that it speaks equally well to serious and adult watchers interested in a great movie about the Arctic and these animals. Kids might be the primary audience, but only because the cute narration and the focus on baby animals is touted in previews. The truth about Arctic Tale is that it makes an environmental statement. Maybe not at the level of An Inconvenient Truth but a powerful message, maybe more powerful because it will reach the youngest generation of moviegoers. These are the people with the power to actually do something about the sad state of the environment. The film begins with a message of hope, as a set of polar bear cubs and a walrus pup are born. These animals are shown among a cast of creatures that fill the Arctic including whales, seals, birds, and an arctic fox. The lives of all these animals are disrupted by a silent foe, the warming of the Arctic region. Seasonal change is creating differences in their environment that would hardly register with us, but mean the world to them. Literally life and death... The death of several animals during the movie may cause some parents to rethink putting Arctic Tale in front of their children. For other parents, it will simply prompt some discussion about why the animals died. We've had one family pet die already in our son's short time on the planet, so talking about death isn't something new for us. Having had the conversation before doesn't make it easy, and watching Arctic Tale isn't easy during some scenes. Still, it's an important part of helping children (and adults) understand the price that is being paid as a result of how they're living their lives.

The Arctic Tale DVD is packaged with an excellent featurette on the making of the film and a short feature on polar bears. The real magic is in the film, presented in beautiful widescreen with incredible production and music. The narration by Queen Latifah seems to fit perfectly well... her voice manages to move easily between scenes that are full of humor to those that carry real weight. The world of the Arctic is truly strange and, judging by the death of so many adventurers in the last four-hundred years, a very dangerous place. The animals that call this place home are so at ease in its seemingly inhospitable environment. Ironic that our wasteful lifestyles should upset everything they have taken for granted over thousands if not millions of years. Arctic Tale really is a great family movie, not just because it is cute and fun, but because it has a responsible message that everyone should hear. But especially four-year old kids that can grow up with some care and compassion for their world...