Last weekend, I got a chance to attend a sneak preview of DisneyNature’s newest film, CHIMPANZEE.
Disneynature takes moviegoers deep into the forests of Africa with “Chimpanzee,” a new True Life Adventure introducing an adorable young chimpanzee named Oscar and his entertaining approach to life in a remarkable story of family bonds and individual triumph. Oscar’s playful curiosity and zest for discovery showcase the intelligence and ingenuity of some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom. Working together, Oscar’s chimpanzee family—including his mom, Isha, and the group’s savvy leader, Freddy — navigates the complex territory of the forest.
I brought both kids and a family friend. We all immediately fell in love with Oscar, the baby chimpanzee who is the focus of the film. We marveled at how they got the shots that they did – you were right in there with the family of chimps, and then you started thinking, oh man, how did they do that? While this is very much a documentary, the DisneyNature team gave it a story line and treated the action as if it were a scripted film. You cared for these creatures just like you would in any other movie. I was glad that during the closing credits they had some brief clips of the filmmakers talking about how much they cared for these amazing animals and how hard the shoot in the rainforest was (think bugs, bugs and more bugs, and even a stray snake!). I hope there are more clips like that on the DVD when it comes out.
Oscar - behold the cuteness!
Here’s a clip from the movie that’s entitled “Naptime or Playtime”:
Soccer Girl went through a huge monkey phase a few years ago and never really lost her love for things simian. This movie was no exception. IT Boy is going through a “NO MOVIE” phase at the moment, mostly because he’s afraid of the sub-woofer and other loud sounds that happen in dark movie theaters. While there were a few loud moments, I have to deem this film perfectly appropriate for sensory kids like him. The length was just right as to keep kids from getting restless. I recommend this film for animal lovers of all ages. Directed by Alastair Fothergill (“African Cats” and “Earth”) and Mark Linfield (“Earth”), and narrated by Tim Allen (the voice of Buzz Lightyear!), “Chimpanzee” swings into theaters today, just in time for Earth Day.
Here’s something cool. For every moviegoer who sees “Chimpanzee” during the film’s opening week (April 20-26, 2012), Disneynature will make a donation to the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund to protect chimpanzees today and tomorrow. Founded in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute continues Dr. Goodall’s pioneering research on chimpanzee behavior started more than 50 years ago—research that transformed scientific perceptions of the relationship between humans and animals. Today, the Institute is a global leader in the effort to protect chimpanzees and their habitats. It also is widely recognized for establishing innovative community-centered conservation and development programs in Africa, and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, the global environmental and humanitarian program for youth of all ages, which has groups in more than 120 countries. To learn more about JGI, please visit www.janegoodall.org.
Disclosure – I attended this complimentary screening at the invitation of Disney – I was not compensated and all opinions are mine.
