In a truthful manner, I am not an individual who situates his attention on animal rights and or cruelty. I am however, pliable to a well-done documentary that may or may not change my position on a controversial subject. The Cove is a 2009 documentary film directed by Louie Psihoyos, that documents the annual slaughter of dolphins in Wakayama Japan. A fraction of the movie plays like a common documentary film, interviewing prominent figures in the fishing business and presenting the audience facts and related correlations. While the remainder of the film is in the point of view of a crew trying to attain documentation of dolphin cruelty. Overall, the film succeeds in projecting its point, these water-dwelling mammals are under unbelievably considerable cruelty. The film is remarkably crafted and entirely deserves the Oscar that it received a few months back. Although it is effective, I believe that it had a lack of what could have made it even more effectual. The part that really triggered my pathos was the actual footage of the dolphin slaughter and the risks the crew took in capturing the film. The majority of the film focused on the facts, while the actual live filming, was in all actuality saved until the end. If more of the film focused on the latter portion, it would have been ideal. To conclude, The Cove is an effective documentary that is astonishingly done in a good matter, but I have a feeling that it could have been faintly better.… Expand

Metacritic severely let me down on this one. The movie is pretty much propaganda, and not good journalism. I will give some credit to the person who cut and assembled the film. They did a good job with it, in giving it action and pace. However, the point of the film is to attempt to embarass and villify the Japanese. It's also very pious. The attempt to point to out and show the Japanese laughing at the Americans who care about dolphins, when those same Americans would laugh at an Indian crying over us slaughtering cows. There is no objectivism in the documentary here. Also, as Tracy A pointed out earlier, our pollution does far more to affect sea life as well.… Expand

This film wasn't your normal documentary. It was engaging, had a solid sountrack, and of course it supported a solid cause. If you aren't upset and angry by the end of this film, you aren't human. Don't go see, "Under the Sea," see this again or support the cause. Thankfully on the first day of fishing in 2009 in Taigi there were no fishermen out, no killing of dolphins, and there were tons of media. All of this is because of this film.… Expand

If you haven't seen this movie yet because you are afraid it will be too hard to watch - go see it. There are a couple of tough scenes but they are a very small part of the movie. It is exciting, inspiring and motivating. It really shows you what a few dedicated people can do - that we really can change things. It plays like a suspense thriller and had me on the edge of my seat. Go and take your friends!… Expand

Essential viewing for anyone who cares about marine life- The film makers did an incredible job in getting this out. It simply does not need to happen as there is NO market for dolphin meat in this country- most Japanese do not believe that their fisherman are still killing dolphins. The movie has had very limited viewing here due to its message which is a great shame because it is Japan that needs to see this film more than the west. Spread the word and I do hope the staff involved get the Oscar next year which they heartily deserve.… Expand

I hate it when people say, "Well, it's part of their culture." That seems to be an excuse to continue to do almost anything - slavery was part of our culture, too, but that doesn't make it right! And yes, many dolphins are killed accidentally each year and poisoned by pollution. This needs to be addressed as well! This film exposes some of the hyposcrisy of dolphining and porpoising, but there is still much to explore (including our own hypocrisy). My only criticisms are that it is too short and the film does not delve deep enough into the unique animals whales are, and how similar to people (language, culture, family, etc.). Just because dolphins do not live like we do does not mean they can be tossed aside as lesser beings, which we humans are apt to do.… Expand

Tell EVERY one of your friends to sell this film. No person walked out without being touched, moved and angry. What a film!

Ignore any bias you may have against those dry, boring documentary films you feel you must watch because they're good for you. This is an out and out thriller and the filmmakers risked jail time in order to share it with their audience. Their dedication to expose the secret of Taiji so that the world will take action and end it earns our respect and admiration.

[***SPOILER***] Worth watching. Definitely suspenseful and sometimes interesting, but I felt the movie did not explain a lot. I wish they were not killing the dolphins, but it obviously is part of their culture(in that region). I still hated the line, "You eat cows, we eat dolphins!" They did not even confront the Japanese IWC guy. Why not? I also do not understand why they did not go to this town with large numbers. If you had 500+ protesters descend on the town during the kill, then how would they stop you from walking to the vantage points? They couldn't find any outraged Japanese people to help out? WTH? Personal space wouldn't have had a chance! I have other gripes too, but I still recommend the movie.… Expand

This movie, purely based off directing aspects, can be called a beautiful movie, the pacing, the beautiful music, the video mixing and editing, and other general directing aspects. Purely based off just how good a movie it is, I can tell you that its amazing, its beautiful, you wont see anything like it, it will make you smile, it will make you cry, it will send chills down your spine, and it will make you clench your fist in anger. This movie is truly remarkable, its extremely uplifting, and by the end of it, you have to stop yourself from jumping on the internet and buying a plane ticket to Taiji, Japan with a baseball bat in your luggage. I would recommend any one to watch it, from the people who watch it for environmental reasons, and for people that just want to see a good movie.… Expand

Any time a film has the power to stir up emotions so potently sticking as "The Cove," critical acclaim is only incidental. The task of illuminating a mere, insignificant cetacean mammal, and bring about internal change within the viewer is done here with such elegance and beauty that apathy assumes the form of genuine concern and heart-wrenching sympathy, even to the most severe of misanthropes. Before too long, you find yourself in a predicament of righful action, hindered by the antagonistic Taiji monopolizers, who, once developed, are as vexatious as a high-strung, hormonal adolescent. The manipulative effect makes for a preservation team that you can't help but root for.… Expand

If rating this movie based completely off directing aspects: it can be called beautiful. The pacing, the beautiful score, the video mixing and editing, and other general directing aspects have all been done very well. The movie manages to make you laugh, cry, smile, all in the space of few minutes. It has a bit of everything, Louie Psihoyos has done an amazing job, especially when considering this is his first piece of directing work. His next work, The Singing Planet, will be releasing in 2012, which I am much looking forward to. This is easily one of the best documentaries out there, and if some one argues that documentaries are a stale genre, show them this. It is extremely uplifting and sends a great message: if we can't fix something this small, we have no hope of fixing anything else. By the end of it, you have to stop yourself from jumping on the internet and buying a plane ticket to Taiji, Japan with a baseball bat in your luggage. I would recommend any one to watch it, from the people who watch it for environmental reasons, and for people that just want to see a great movie… Expand

A raw documentary with a purpose. Clearly difficult to make, but even more evident having seen its significance. Proves once again that humans are the worse beasts who are prepared to kill for vanity, money or power.