Tuesday, March 25, 2008

I just want to acknowledge the popularity that penguins have been receiving over the recent years. There have been at least four well-known movies incorporating penguins in the last 3 years, starting with "Madagascar" and "March of the Penguins" in 2005. This was followed by "Happy Feet" in 2006, "Farce of the Penguins" in early 2007, and "Surf's Up" in June 2007. Children and grown-ups alike love penguins! I mean they are so cute and lovable, how could you not?

In "Madagascar", the prodigious penguins are quite the mischievous bunch. They help the other animals escape out of the zoo to explore the "world out there". After being captured and sent on a ship to Africa, the silly penguins wind up sabotaging the ship and they all must fend for themselves in the wild. The penguins may not be the lead roles, but the movie sure wouldn't be the same without their humor.

"March of the Penguins" is a documentary about our favorite friends, the penguins. This movie has to be good if Morgan Freeman, an admired and respected actor of his time, narrates this fabulous true story of the journey penguins must take to mate, find food, take care of their chicks, and survive. If this movie doesn't make you love penguins, you are hopeless.

Who could forget the adorable and fun-filled "Happy Feet" with dancing and singing penguins? It ripped my heart
out when Mumble had no "heartsong", but he brings everyone together with his intricate and entertaining tap dances. I am a tap dancer myself, hence why I couldn't get enough of the movie.

What's a documentary without a mockery? Of course they had to come out with "Farce of the Penguins" to make fun of the rituals and survival of the penguins.
But hey, you have to admit it was funny. That movie wouldn't have been worth watching without the help of Lewis Black, Dane Cook, James Belushi, Jason Alexander, Bob Saget, Carlos Mencia, and other famous comedians.

Last, but not least, "Surf's Up" is an original and entertaining cartoon about surfing penguins! Cody Maverick, a rockhopper
penguin, is determined to win the biggest competition in Pen Gu. This movie is perfect for kids and puts a new, yet unrealistic spin on the life of penguins. Although, I must admit, it would be pretty cool is penguins knew how to surf.

I just think it's great that they have been coming out with so many movies about penguins, not just for entertainment, but so that more people will realize how "in danger" these creatures are and we can't just sit around watching. The more knowledge people know about a topic, the more likely they will want to help. As I have said in some of my other postings, global warming is really affecting the lives of these penguins. The more people that help, the better.

(2008). Retrieved on March 25, 2008, from http://imdb.com/

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