The Silent World

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William L "Nature is amazing, let's go kill it". Imagine trying to harpoon a whale for no adequately stated reason, accidentally running over a calf with your boat, and then acting like the shark with its hundreds of millions of years of evolution is somehow the asshole for coming to eat the carcass. In his narration, Cousteau has the gall to say that his crew beating half a dozen sharks to death with a fire axe is their way of trying to "avenge the whale" that they were actually responsible for killing. While Cousteau and his documentaries were certainly responsible for bringing depictions of the variety of incredible life harbored in the oceans to a mass audience, and in vivid color, his films seen today are also a perfect encapsulation of humanity's callous treatment of the natural world as half of his crew's interactions with wildlife are to screw with them for no reason, and he was supposed to be part of the naturally curious but protectionist class at the time. It's also a painfully fake docudrama posing as a documentary, with some of the worst narration quality and acting in its reenactments that you can hope to see, relying entirely on visuals to pull the dead weight. The shipwreck exploration is great, but much of the director's "scientific method" would today land him in prison. (2/5) Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/31/20 Full Review Audience Member It has the value to be the first great documentary about the depth of the sea, but many of the developed methods are more than questionable today. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Audience Member It is unfair that one of the most fascinating documentaries is unavailable to be seen most places. This breakthrough film by famed documentarian and explorer Jacques Cousteau is incredible not only due to the technical advances it makes with respect to underwater cinematography, but also its novel approach to the nature documentary style. Cousteau, along with a young Louis Malle, manage to capture the wonder of "The Silent World" in its natural grace. exposing the lives of the varied and colorful biology below the surface. Of course, what sets the film, and really all of Cousteau's filmography, above the BBC nature specials like "Planet Earth" is the focus on the crew of the Calypso. As Melville enthralled readers with the details of a whaler's life in Moby Dick, Cousteau gives insight into life on his research vessel. From exhibiting a decompression chamber in use to the thrill of the shark cages, the film does not shy away from showing the daring and danger of these men's everyday lives. Also of note are a few dated sections shocasing scientific practices and behavior that include animal violence, which adds an intruiging time-capsule aspect. This groundbreaking film, which won an Academy Award as well as a Palme d'Or, could probably never be made today due to safety regulations, etc., but it is a fascinating look into Cousteau's odyssey and a brilliant debut for the oceanographer who would change the shape of the nature documentary. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Audience Member Good, but lacks focus. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Aqua-lung exploration. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member Historically important and also entertaining. Many acts of human arrogance occur throughout the film. Thankfully we have changed since then thanks to the beautiful works of Cousteau like "The Silent World." Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Silent World

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