The Cove (2008) Review:

Documentaries are a good source of knowledge. Of course, there are fake ones out there, but there are some that are just to real to ignore. When was the last time a film was made on dolphins that actually represent a serious issue? Not too many I'm sure. Directed by Louie Psihoyos and led by Ric O'Barry, these two gentlemen show the horrors of a small area called "The Cove".

Louie Psihoyos & Ric O'Barr

Ric O'Barry, an animal trainer who was on the set during the television show of "Flipper" during the 1960s, leads the head of a rescue group whose main mission is to rescue dolphins. What's interesting to watch and listen to are how he explains this connection that he has with dolphins. It's hard to believe that someone could understand an animal so well but his range of knowledge for these creatures is quite remarkable.

But why O'Barry's focused on "The Cove" is another story. The Cove is a place in Japan where fisherman heard and slaughter dolphins, mercilessly. In this documentary, O'Barry will attempt to record footage of this area and reveal it to the Japanese public and as his greater hope, the world. O'Barry even explains to why the dolphins should not be killed besides the fact that it's inhumane.

This is how they heard them,....I can't show the rest here.

To show how ridiculous the concept of this practice is, O'Barry even asks Japanese civilians to if they knew about this issue and shockingly enough, practically none knew about it. So there's actually a conspiracy now to this story too. The music is also another great aspect to this film. Produced by J. Ralph, the score can stir up emotions real fast. Much of it feels like underwater music.

The only thing that can be picked on about this film is that it doesn't focus on the fact that dolphins aren't the only ones in danger. There are animals out there that are in worse off conditions. The African elephant for example. Who's protecting them? Who's risking their lives to expose the corruption there? And the only way that'll happen is if we get more people like Ric O'Barry, but those kinds of people are hard to come by nowadays.

Louie Psihoyos' documentary is overwhelmingly shocking to how bad dolphins have it when they're caught in "the cove". Hopefully for those who see it, will become inspired to do what Ric O'Barry does: got out of their way to save animals in danger.

Points Earned --> 9:10