The Glory of God’s Nature, Brought to You by Walt Disney
April 21, 2009
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” So rightly says the Psalmist. “Earth Day” is really a time to celebrate our Creator’s handiwork. Disney hopes you, and others who care about creation, will explore the great indoors this April 22nd when the studio re-enters the world of nature films after a several decade hiatus. And earth is certainly worth a spin.
Beginning near the North Pole as a polar bear family emerges from its den, the film moves over the course of a year down through temperate forests and over the Himalayas to the tropics and savannahs of Africa before we follow whales to the frozen south seas. Featuring the most spectacular images from the BBC/Discovery Channel mini-series planet earth, Disney’s greatest hits version also adds the incomparable voice of James Earl Jones reading a script targeting a pre-teen demographic.
Unlike March of the Penguins, which benefited from a tight focus that let the story build, earth simply jumps from one spectacular shot to the next. It is big pictures with a big score. It is not great story telling, but kids will likely come out with a story to tell—whether it be a 9 year old boy blown away by the super slow-mo of a great white shark hunting seals, or a 10 year old girl who can’t stop talking about how cute all the baby animals were.
Adults too will likely be impressed by the amazing time lapse sequences that follow plant growth and seasonal change in amazing high definition. Also, shots taken of great animal migrations from a high above provide a sense of scale that is impossible to capture otherwise. Through it all, the unifying message is generally subtle: on our beautiful planet life moves through well ordered cycles and seasons, and it is an intelligent design that we tinker with at some peril.
Disney marketers are courting the Christian creation care community, and with good reason. Though no scripture is read, and a few loose lines might rub believers the wrong way, overall the Creator’s Book of Nature is vividly on display. As David wrote hundreds of years ago (and it remains true today):
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
(Psalm 19:1-3)
That creation looks to us to steward it for the glory of our Father. As an awe inspiring dawn shot unfolds, James Earl Jones intones, “Every living thing is waiting.” Indeed, as Paul reminds us, “the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.” (Romans 8:21)
At times earth tries too hard. Less likely would have produced more satisfied audiences, but given the wealth of amazing footage that it took five years to collect, it is understandable that the producers could not resist adding just one more vignette from another part of the planet.
While cubs and ducklings are used to full effect, parents should be aware that predation is also shown. The lion has not yet laid down with the lamb, and that sad fact is documented in graphic, but not gruesome, detail.
Despite its ambitious title, earth probably will not change the world. Yet, it just might jump start a generation plagued by what some have labeled videophilia to put down the video games and explore the reality of nature. Let’s hope so. The kids of today, for better or worse, will be the stewards of tomorrow. Disney is to be commended for this effort to introduce them to the fullness of the earth they will tend.
John Murdock is a natural resources attorney in Washington D.C. You can read his blog at http://republicantreehugger.blogspot.com
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