The Last Unknown: The Aleutian Islands
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The Last Unknown: The Aleutian Islands
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The Last Unknown: The Aleutian Islands is a 2021 documentary that explores the harsh habitat of the Aleutian Islands in Alaska and the species that live there. It's narrated by a photographer who's on board a research vessel conducting a mission for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This documentary shows the excitement and challenges of the work, which will interest kids who want a career in science or studying nature. In terms of content, "s--t" is used once, bleeped out, and "crap" is used once. There's some mild nature violence, such as a gull eating an auklet, and archival footage from World War II showing bombs falling. Aside from this, this short documentary is a fascinating glimpse at one of the furthest and most unforgiving land- and seascapes on the planet.
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What's the Story?
In THE LAST UNKNOWN: THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS, photographer Ian Shive narrates this brief documentary that shows the harsh landscapes of these remote Alaskan islands and the species that live there. Shive is aboard the research vessel Tiglax with a group of research scientists. Their mission is to assess the populations of the wildlife in the sea, land, and air. Shive and the research scientists look for populations of fur seals, sea lions, puffins, petrels, and auklets. As if the harsh climate and rough seas weren't enough of a challenge, the islands are also home to dozens of volcanoes. In their exploration of the islands, the Tiglax crew also discovers secret tunnels that were used by Japanese soldiers during WWII and the wreckage of U.S. Air Force planes that bombed the Japanese military at that time.
Is It Any Good?
This documentary is a brief but fascinating glimpse into one of the harshest lands and seascapes on Earth. Narrated by photographer Ian Shive, the documentary provides a look at the lives of the research scientists who've been sent to assess the populations of the wildlife living on the land, air, and sea of the region -- something that should prove interesting for the budding young scientists in the family. It strikes a fine balance between captivating HD images of the beauty of the land, oceans, and wildlife and the proper context of why the scientists are there, where they see hope, and where they're concerned.
If there's anything wrong with The Last Unknown: The Aleutian Islands, it's that it is too short. It's a Discovery+ special, but it feels like each brief section they discuss could be its own episode -- from the seals to the volcanoes to the islands' history during World War II. Nonetheless, this is still a lively crash course on the islands, and on what the work of research scientists actually entails. It's as edifying as it is enjoyable, from start to finish.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about nature documentaries such as The Last Unknown: The Aleutian Islands. How does this compare to other nature documentaries you've seen?
What did you learn about the day-to-day realities of these research scientists?
What did you learn about the Aleutian Islands and the species that live there? How could you learn more?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: March 18, 2021
- Cast: Ian Shive
- Director: Ian Shive
- Studio: Discovery Channel
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, Ocean Creatures
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- Run time: 42 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: March 22, 2021
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