Parents' Guide to

The Last Unknown: The Aleutian Islands

By Brian Costello, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Interesting docu provides glimpse of remote location.

Movie NR 2021 42 minutes
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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.

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