Disneynature: The Crimson Wing - Mystery of Flamingos

I certainly didn't before just watching this documentary.A few observations -(1) Very Un-Disneynature like when compared to Chimpanzee and African Cats. There were no cheesy scripts or cliche story lines. This was a straight-up old school solid nature documentary.(2) The visuals were of course stunning (- like all Disneynature films). The action focuses on Lake Natron in Tanzania because this is where the vast majority of Lesser Flamingos come to breed. These flamingos while most numerous population wise among various flamingo species is classified as Near Threatened due to the fact that there breeding sites are too few, and all are presently threatened by human development.(3) A few tough moments that made this guy tear up. (Not going to give anything away don't worry.) That said, these scenes should not dissuade you or your kids from watching this movie.In summary, I learned a whole lot about a species I knew almost nothing about before. I found this movie highly educational as well as highly entertaining. I also think this may have just become my favorite Disneynature film too date, and I hope that future documentaries follow in this style instead of creating contrived story lines like Chimpanzee.

The cinematography of this film was absolutely majestic! It was so well done. Many scenes were utterly breathtaking. One scene about 7 minutes in showed flamingos gliding over water with tremendous grace juxtaposed with flawless precision in a way that was made doubly beautiful by their mirror reflections as they did so over water. Each lowering of their wings formed an "O" shape when combined with its watery reflection, and with each wing flap the flock of flamingos made a row of disappearing and reemerging O's that was pure bliss to watch. Again, I can't say enough about the amazing the cinematography in this film. It was the best I've ever seen in a nature movie (or any movie), and I have watched just about every nature film out there. The one caveat is that I would not recommend this film to young audiences due to several scenes where young flamingos are struggling and slowly dying due to getting stuck in the mud/salt. Otherwise, this movie was perfection.

I think I cried through the whole thing. Tears of joy, tears of sadness; it was an emotional roller-coaster. I absolutely loved it. The music, the storyline, the camera work, it was all wonderful. Yes there were some scenes that were hard to watch, but this is the reality. I liked the narration as well, it didn't take up the whole documentary but was just enough to give the viewer the proper education as to what was going on.

I bought this documentary because I love flamingos and wanted to know more about them. Sadly, this is an incomplete account of these majestic birds, bringing up more questions than they bother to answer, never mind address in the first place. This film almost documents the lives of the "lesser flamingos" on Lake Natron in northern Tanzania. It takes us through a season with them, glossing over the mating habits and rushing into the nesting and subsequent arrival of the cute and cuddly chicks who soon fall prey to salt shackles about their legs, when they're not busy trying to avoid becoming a meal for the marabou storks and/or hyenas. Nothing is said or shown about their migration patterns, nor does this film address the four species of flamingos that reside in the Americans or the two species in Afro-Eurasia. What this film does boast is fantastic cinematography and the natural charisma of these eerie but beautiful birds. It does get a little gloomy when it mentions the hundreds of baby birds doomed to die in this vast wasteland. The coldblooded narration is decidedly detached, discounting the lives lost in a matter-of-fact manner. This film also strays from time to time, distracted by filler images of the lake, fish, bugs, baboons............. I thought this was supposed to be a documentary about flamingos (?).The first half is better than the last with it's close-ups of babies becoming food to feed others and the parents who don't put up much of a fight to stop this from happening.Still, it's filmed well!

The fascinating story of African Flamingos. Given a multiple choice test before seeing this, I would have had no idea what the correct answers even Could have been.. why/where/when their color, where they nest, how they leave their island, the list goes on... all very amazing to see unfold. Yet mixed with stunning photography throughout. There were sections we had to see over and over too, like when they're crowded together moving in unison and their fast moving heads.. To be reminded of this world's endless shocking variety was well worth the viewing.

There were a number of things in this DVD that I liked. The photography is great, even amazing. It was interesting to learn about these birds.What I did not like. I did not care for the voice of the narrator. That, of course, is just my opinion. I would have liked the DVD to more of a documentary and explain things a little more. What I really did not like was the over emphasis on the baby birds dying. Yes, I know birds die and I know predators eat them, but the DVD seemed to focus on this too often and for a prolonged time. To see a predator swoop a baby away would be enough to get the idea. Do we really need to see the baby struggle and die. Then a few it just has shots of dead birds. I have watched many nature movies and this sort of preoccupation with death is not necessary.Anyway, I am not sorry that we watched this in our homeschool, but we will pass this on and not watch it again. Please be careful if you plan to show this to really young children for the reason mentioned above.