Leofwine_draca Although I really wanted to love TARKA THE OTTER - I'm a massive wildlife buff, spend my spare time watching the likes of SPRINGWATCH, and adore RING OF BRIGHT WATER and the books that spawned it - I feel that it doesn't really work as a film. An ostensible adaptation of the Henry Williamson novel, it charts the life and misadventures of a precocious young otter cub called Tarka.My enjoyment of the production came from the absolute ton of nature footage included here. Grey herons and barn owls figure predominantly, and there's all of the footage of otters playing, frolicking, hunting, and fighting that you could wish for. The production suffers from being a little overlong and repetitive in the mid section, but Peter Ustoniv's narration, although aimed at children, just about holds things together.No, what it didn't like was the darkness of the story. I'm all for darkness in children's material and I have no problems with stories showing the viciousness of nature, like WATERSHIP DOWN. What I didn't like here is that most of the running time is preoccupied with Tarka being chased by a pack of brutal dogs. There's no happy outcome here; either he'll manage to escape until the next time, or he'll be torn to shred. It makes for an aggressive, upsetting production, one that I found ultimately depressing rather than exciting. I hate seeing the cruelty to animals done by humans and there's just simply too much of that here.

jesse-392 First of all, let's be clear: No one can say this movie is harmless to children. That depends entirely on the child and the circumstances surrounding the viewing of the movie.Secondly, Bambi's mom getting shot or any of the other staple losing- your-parent(s) tragedies in mentioned animated Disney movies is not comparable to this movie for two big reasons: the live action, and when it occurs. The others don't appear to be showing a real living creature you've grown attached to during an entire movie being finally massacred by dogs in a river. Dramatized animation with an unnamed parental figure at an early point in a movie doesn't have this impact.My mother sat my brother and I down to watch this movie when I was around 5, thinking it would be a nice Disney flick for us to get lost in. We rooted for the otter and couldn't wait to see him get away in an exciting ending. Then, we were shocked senseless at the unexpected brutality, and held our mother accountable for setting us up for such heartache. She felt betrayed by Disney and that would be the last time my mother would show us anything from them without researching it a great deal. Further, it turned us both off of Disney for most of our lives.Yes, children need to see that things don't work out perfectly. But, many children (and their mothers) might see this movie expecting a very different payout from a Disney flick. The main hero doesn't make sacrifices and lose loved ones only to emerge a bigger person in the end; he's just flat out torn to pieces.So, if you're thinking of showing this to your kids, at the very least, let them know what's in store. And in all cases, remember it helps to look at things from more than one side.

TheLittleSongbird Tarka the Otter is a perhaps dark and bleak film, but I also think it is a poignant one too. And above all in my opinion, it is wonderful. Tarka the Otter is a beautifully filmed movie, the cinematography is lovely and the scenery is gorgeous, and it is appropriately scored too with some very pretty and haunting themes. The narration is both droll and literate and the story is touching. Tarka is adorable and Peter Ustinov is absolutely brilliant in this film with his distinctive voice serving him well. Oh and the ending has me bawling, even after countless times of seeing the film. The film may be a little overlong perhaps, but it is a wonderful movie all the same and well worth catching. 9/10 Bethany Cox

alison-107 This film is a classic, beautifully made and yes its upsetting. I sat with my 4 year old little girl and explained it to her, and she was in wonderment at it and although a little upset - she enjoyed it. She learnt more from this film than she will ever do if even if she watched 100 Disney fantasies. I'm fed up with parents wanting to shield their children from every tiny little thing that might cause them upset. As a child I baled by eyes out at the cruelty to black beauty it didn't do me any harm - it taught be humanity and compassion!!!!!!These days children's films fail to challenge children - its all fantasy - I think this is more worrying.