Interesting Movie with great film technique
Gene Friedman | 12/03/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"On its own, this is a good movie. The close-ups of eagles flying are amazing. And Paul Newman shines as narrator. The issue is if you never saw Meerkat Manor then this is really good film to get. But if you were a fan of Meerkat Manor then this movie pales in comparison. So I gave it a rating in between 3 and 5 depends on what you have seen before. If you are new to Meerkats I highly recommend getting Meerkat Manor season 1. In my opinion this was one of the top 5 television series of all time."
Beautifully Photographed Family Fare
R. Schultz | Chicago | 12/01/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This beautifully photographed nature study follows the adventures of a young meerkat from the time he first emerges from his underground nest - through to the time he becomes a young adult taking responsibility for the care and feeding of other members of his extended family. Paul Newman's narration takes the form of a dramatic storyline that lends continuity to Kolo's adventures.
My only criticism of this documentary is that it doesn't provide enough background information about meerkats. I didn't watch the popular TV series "Meerkat Manor," so I came fresh to these images of meerkats. I would have liked to know where their species fits in the scheme of things, without having to do independent research. Are they related to lemurs - to prairie dogs - to moles? What geographical range do they occupy? You won't get answers to these questions on this film.
However what is on the screen is cute and captivating. And:
SPOILER - SPOILER - SPOILER
I think this documentary would be suitable for the whole family. Although there are a few scenes of predation, our protagonist Kolo himself makes it safely through all the perils he encounters. So there's nothing here that should be too disturbing even for very young children."
Kathkat14's view
Kathleen Goodsell | Tampa, FL | 04/19/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This one was extra special because it was a totally new story and with Paul Newman narrating. I didn't have to cry over missing Mozart and Flower. How could I not love the stories about these incredible creatures. My heart breaks when anything happens to one of them. The Lowry Park Zoo that is near to me has a group of these little cuties. I never spend less than 30 minutes watching these lovable little animals. They have an adopt an animal program that helps support the animals at our zoo. I'm hoping soon I will save enough money up to adopt one of these little guys."