Paul Livingston-Aguirre checked out Born To Be Wild 3D last week, courtesy of Warner Bros. Little did we know, he has a soft spot for baby animals, so this review contains a bit of a bias. But really, who doesn’t love baby animals? Read on to see just how cute they are in this Morgan Freeman-narrated film. Born To Be Wild 3D is now playing in theatres.
I have a confession to make. Two, actually. Before watching this film, I had never seen a 3D movie (no, not even Harry Potter). I also cried every five minutes during Disney’s Oceans. Nature is a wondrous thing. It’s magical and vast; it’s powerful and hidden. We know so much about it, but only from a distance. I, for one, have never been in a rainforest. But, luckily, I have had the chance to ride on an elephant. Go figure, right?
Simply put: Born To Be Wild 3D is journey to the edges of the natural world, following two anthropologists as they work to rehabilitate and nurture orphaned animals. First, in Borneo, we meet primatologist Dr. Biruté Galdikas, who has been living with and studying orangutans her entire life. She opened up a centre to care for young orangutans that have lost their families to rainforest-demolishing corporations.
In Kenya, we get an endearing glimpse into Dame Daphne Sheldrick’s efforts to save baby elephants that have lost their mothers to poachers, and are unable to be cared for by the males (since they lack milk).
The end goal for each woman is also just as simple: Return the animals safely back to the wild where they belong, when they’re ready.
The film is shot in IMAX 3D, something I’m not entirely too sure about, but damn, does it look awesome. Not awesome in the way I imagine Harry Potter would look, but awesome in that you want to reach out and grab an elephant’s trunk. It’s a visual masterpiece, with scenery that makes Toronto look even more dreary and grey. Morgan Freeman is also the flick’s narrator, making the whole thing read like a big fairy tale. Maybe one day it will be, since I keep wondering how long this part of the world will stay untouched.
Even though the documentary clocks in at 40 minutes (yup, it’s short and sweet), there is no shortage of story. I compare Born to the Vogue documentary, The September Issue; it has just as much heart and intrigue about people we know very little about.
And naturally (no pun intended), the elephants and orangutans are just like Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington (you’ll see), and they come out as the true stars of this film. There’s also some tragedy to be seen, and your heart will melt a little with each tree-climbing feat accomplished. And yes, I did cry during this, too.
All images courtesy of Warner Bros.
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