vailsy I think it's possible to love sharks and be truthful about what they are simultaneously which is incredible animals that have been apex predators for millions of years, and that eat to survive the narrator (with a quite irritating surfer type drawl which seems to be absent when you hear him talking on the phone later) tells us that sharks don't bite flesh or want to eat people yet at the same time he can be seen playing with sharks while wearing an an armoured wetsuit. If you're that confident then dive with a normal neoprene wetsuit and/or keep a respectful distancethey site whales as an example of why sharks shouldn't be hunted when the two species and situation are very different. we also see them chasing the small guys who are out there responding to market conditions and trying to earn a living, hosing them down at sea and putting lives in danger with music playing like we are supposed to admire this. They're then surprised when they are arrested for it. Would they have tried this in u.s waters for example?documentary footage must be in short supply but lots of the stuff used here is extremely old and looks like it's from the 70s or 80s some good points are still made and probably this style of documentary hits home with the average person But if you already know that hunting sharks for fins is a bad thing, this documentary won't take you much further and I personally would've liked to have seen something a bit more intelligent than this The guy who made the film doesn't look like your typical conservationist either and I can't help but think that he decided to make a documentary on a controversial subject to make a name for himself.. I don't see anything else conservation related on his IMDb for some five years after making this film

stevietat A great documentary film worth watching for its education value on the topic of the shark-finning industry alone. It goes a couple levels deeper than the usual documentaries you'll catch on discovery channel type shows which made the film quite captivating. Underwater scenes are well shot, although if all you want is some oceanic eyecandy go see 'Blue planet' instead. The real worth of the film comes from some of the undercover and handicam shooting of illegal sharkfin set ups, boat chases, etc...Director Rob Stewart does a bit too much mugging for the camera which takes some focus away from the sharks, and the way he ends it left me scratching my head for a bit. But despite that, you can tell he is passionate about this topic. His narration and on-screen presence isn't all that hard-hitting, though some of the footage (the finning sequence especially) makes up for it.Bottom line: As a shark lover, if I had my way I'd make everybody I know watch this movie. I've always felt it a shame that because sharks aren't cute and cuddly they've been left on the back burner of public conservation interest, and I hope it's movies like this that will start to change that.

keigwin Seriously. If either Gore or Moore (hey! that rhymes!) had made this movie, it would be ALL OVER the place. As it is, there were four other people in the theater with me. What a shame. Beautiful underwater scenes aside, this movie made me cry. What a strong message, and the stuff that happened in Costa Rica, etc added clear visual evidence of what's going on. If I had to find a fault, it would be the filmmaker himself; as many adventure filmmakers do, he thinks the viewers will want to see him as much as possible, and to hear about their personal problems. Which is fine if pertinent, but in his case it wasn't. But really, a small complaint.

chardlee I just saw a U.S. preview screening of Sharkwater, and it was even better than I had expected, based on comments by people who had seen it in Canada.I like nature documentaries, and particularly those about the ocean, but I was worried that this would be kind of preachy. It's not (although it certainly has a clear position and message). But the message is an organic part of the story, not just an excuse to make a movie.Indeed, Rob Stewart spoke at the screening, and made clear that this is not the movie he'd set out to make. He wanted to make a pretty movie about sharks (and there is lots of terrific footage of sharks!), but it ends up being a story about Rob and his journey, and some mental lessons we should all learn about the relationships among sharks, humans, and the global environment.It's a very powerful film that will leave you thinking, perhaps a little angry, and certainly moved, and maybe a bit hopeful. Well worth seeing!