Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Docu beautifully highlights oceans' delicate balance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Wonders of the Sea
What's the Story?
In WONDERS OF THE SEA, the descendants of Jacques Cousteau, eminent undersea explorer and filmmaker, travel the world to capture on film the fragility the planet's intricate ocean ecosystems. Beginning in Fiji, coral reefs amaze and inspire. In cooler waters off the coast of California, kelp forests are home to a remarkable variety of life forms. The Sea of Cortez and its surrounding island desert oceans harbor more than more than 6,000 miraculous species. Finally, oceans around the Bahamas are filled with thrilling events like the migration of the great hammersharks and the awesome behavior of the unstoppable predator, the lionfish.
Is It Any Good?
The magnificence of the oceans' creatures and the awe-inspiring intricacies of their behavior are beautifully displayed in this documentary designed to enlighten and inspire, especially young viewers. The narration is sometimes off-putting, but that doesn't lessen the impact of the photography and the underlying messages. Cousteau and company are hoping that viewers of Wonders of the Sea will "fall in love with nature" and be moved to share concern for its survival. First released on one night in limited theaters from Fathom Events in January 2019, the movie's DVD and streaming release is a welcome pleasure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the purposes of documentary filmmaking: to entertain, inform, persuade, and inspire. Which category(ies) best describe Wonders of the Sea? Is this a rare instance in which all four categories may apply? Explain.
Evolving technology has both positive and negative effects on the world around us. The movie shows some of the negative consequences, but it does reveal some positives as well. Could this film have been made without advanced technology? How did that technology serve the filmmakers and raise awareness of important issues?
The movie states: "The oceans can survive without us; we cannot survive without the ocean." How does that one sentence capture the substance and spirit of Wonders of the Sea?
Movie Details
- In theaters : January 17, 2019
- On DVD or streaming : June 4, 2019
- Cast : Arnold Schwarzenegger , Jean-Michel Cousteau , Celine Cousteau
- Directors : Jean-Michel Cousteau , Jean-Jacques Mantello
- Studio : Mixed Bag
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : STEM , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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