Documentary Films About the Environment and Ecology

An Inconvenient Truth presents a convincingly rational approach to explaining the dangers of global warming. With the help of animator Matt Groening (of The Simpsons fame) and state-of-the-art flat screen monitors, the film lays out Al Gore's well-documented concerns that we are in the throes of a climate crisis that threatens life on Earth as we know it.

Arctic Tale, an animal-centric documentary, uses unadulterated authentic footage to capture close up impressions of of a walrus pup and polar bear cub. With these lovable tykes leading the way, the film swims directly and deeply into disturbing environmental issues like global warming and pollution and, most especially, the shrinking arctic ice.

The past placement of landmines in battle zones around the globe has made Earth a trecherous place for entire populations of people who can neither till the soil nor walk across a field for fear of stepping on and triggering an explosive device that will surely maim if not kill them. It's a real problem that indicates one way in which we disrespect and undervalue our environment and one that actually alters the way in which we relate to Mother Earth.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio produced and anchors this impressive documentary in which expert commentators like Stephen Hawking, James Woolsey and others explain how hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters are the result of negative climate and environmental changes that are spiraling out of control. A recent release, the film is still playing theatrically and is not yet available on DVD.

Irena Salinas' documentary is about the global crisis we face as Earth's fresh water supply constantly diminishes. The film presents top experts and advocates to show us that every aspect of human life is effected by pollution, wastefulness, privatization and corporate greed as it relates to a natural resource that's more valuable than oil. The film shows in no uncertain terms that if we continue to abuse our water supply, Earth will become uninhabitable and humankind will become extinct. The investigation points fingers at water companies such as Nestle, Vivendi, Thames, Suez, Coca Cola and Pepsi.

Eco-activists Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis plant and harvest an acre of corn, then trace their crop as it's processed into food products that nurture the increasingly obese and unhealthy--and always hungry--American population. The underlying theme is that extreme agro-engineering has a negative effect on the environment and its inhabitants. Still in theatrical release, the film is not yet available on DVD.

Up The Yangtze takes you cruising on China's mightiest river to meet people who's lives are altered by contstruction of Three Gorges Dam, built to harness hydro power. Effect on lives of countless citizens relocated from flooded river banks has been devastating. The dam's construction has played ecological havoc along the historic waterway's entire length. It's ironic that tourism Up the Yangtze swells as waters rise to forever engulf the famously scenic Three Gorges landscape. This film, which won several prestigious Cinema Eye Awards, raises questions about short term economic gains versus long term ecolological loses.