User reviews

2014's 'Island of Lemurs: Madagascar' is one of several documentary short films presented in IMAX 3D. These short films are mostly quite interesting, but their overall quality is most worthwhile if flawed. The effects have also varied. Madagascar is a fascinating place, often re-visited in nature documentaries but it never feels old when re-visited and a lot is learned every time without being recycled. Lemurs are always great to watch and have always liked Morgan Freeman a lot as an actor.

'Island of Lemurs: Madagascar' is another one of the very worthwhile but could have been a lot better considering the potential kind of documentaries. It's mostly well made and narrated and the animal footage is amazing, but the use of 3D vary and the human scenes didn't engage as much. Plenty of things to like here in 'Island of Lemurs: Madagascar', but there was definitely for improvement so can understand both sides of the mixed response and am relatively on the fence.

Am going to start with the good. On the most part, 'Island of Lemurs: Madagascar' looks great. The scenery is enough to take the breath away and the intimacy of the vibrant cinematography mostly worked very well. The lemurs look wonderful and are both adorable and mischievous, not to mention very easy to relate to in whatever circumstances they're in. Their story is where 'Island of Lemurs: Madagascar' is at its best, being entertaining and touching. Also with instances of the viewer being amazed at how their behaviour and situations are filmed.

The information for these scenes is informative and not too cute, juvenile or over-serious. While it is not innovative or quite comprehensive enough narration, the narration is well balanced in tone, isn't overused and is not over-explanatory. Freeman delivers it beautifully with his usual sonorous gravitas-filled voice.

However, the human scenes aren't as engaging and there could have been less of them and more of the animal footage (as much as the lemurs left me in awe they were underused). Nothing new is said in these scenes and what is said lacks depth and doesn't educate that much. 'Island of Lemurs: Madagascar' does do some backing and forthing and at points in too jumpy a way.

Did find the music on the intrusive side and the 3D itself varies. It doesn't look cheap and liked its intimacy, but it didn't always feel necessary (the lemurs' story could easily have been told without it) and there could have been less of it.

In conclusion, worth the look but not essential. 6/10.

I love Freeman as actor, but was disappointed by his narration, which felt like he is 1) falling asleep and 2) reading the text for the first time from script, with very flat intonation.

Jumping lemurs, otoh, are amazing, could have easily enjoyed more of those shots. Or following around the ringtails' family.

My knowledge of Lemurs up until this point was simply that they existed. That and they look like squirrel monkeys. When I got the Blu-ray of this film, I groaned. "What is this? Looks like something trying to capitalize off of the Madagascar movies." Then I noticed that none other than God himself (Morgan Freeman) was doing the narration, so I decided to embrace it. I embraced it by doing what most people should before watching a nature documentary; I got really high. Island Of Lemurs is a short, enjoyable film with vast, sweeping landscapes of the beautiful Island of Madagascar and the adorable, aforementioned, squirrel monkeys. The Blu-Ray/DVD combo also features the film in 3D for those who are lucky enough to afford said technology. The only draw back to this documentary is the run time. It clocks in at just 41 minutes and for the asking retail price of $35.99, I feel that it's too steep to warrant a purchase. Unless of course you just bought a 70-inch high-def television with your income taxes and need a tester DVD to throw on and impress your friends, then Island Of Lemurs is right for you!

It is a documentary short with a big message. Like an episode of David Attenborough's nature documentary series. I have never seen a live lemur nor I know their character like I do for other animals. So this film was a learning experience for me and I ask you to do the same, if you have zero knowledge about these wonderful creatures.

I enjoyed it, but still think they did not use the concept properly. Lacks the depth, I mean going details in scientific research. They have given, but only limited. They have started it by saying how ancient they are and who the reason for the existence of human today. How they found their perfect home in an uninhabited island millions of years ago. Very informative.

It was narrated by the actor Morgan Freeman. After the brief introduction, the rest of the film focused to tell an American primatologist's effort to study these animals and educate the local people how precious they are. The pride of Madagascar. I really surprised to learn lots of things, especially about their varieties. But specifying their evolution would have been even better. Since it was a short film, there were restrictions for many things.

"Lemurs are Madagascar's living treasure."

Once again a film to point out the human's destruction of mother nature. Those who rely on them completely are suffering. Lemurs are the main animal in the Madagascar, but since the humans present from the last two millennia, their numbers are going down. Now Madagascar's the only and final frontier for them. Whatever happened in the past, its time in this third millennium to bring the life back of the old world. Surely every one of us has a small offering that helps to restore it, only we've to commit it right away.

So this is a rare documentary. They might have already made a better documentary about the lemurs than this one, but I have never seen them. Since I am a film fanatic, this film came to my notice, but did not take it seriously until now. Mainly because nothing from the poster interested me. I thought it was one of those failed documentary films, with usually tried to impress with the technical aspect like predominated with the digital 3D visuals. I realised now how wrong I was.

The poster looks very creepy. I don't think the little kids would want to watch it if they see the film poster first. I thought it was an animation, about the ancient creatures like they do for the dinosaurs. The black lemur with the big blue eyes on the poster looked like an animated character, but he's real. So watch it to educate yourself, particularly if you are a nature and animal lover. Recommended!

7/10

I watched this for the lemurs and the beautiful nature footage. I was hoping to see more focus on the animals and not on people, well-meaning though they may be. Unfortunately about half of this documentary is devoted to Dr. Patricia Wright and her associates patting themselves on the back for their conservation efforts. I applaud them for their work but, come on, they could have told us all about this through the narration without having to take the focus off of the lemurs. The footage of the animals and scenery that we do get is great but there's just not enough of it. Also it's lacking a story that these things so often come up with as we follow along the animals. Here the story is about the people protecting the lemurs. At the end Dr. Wright says "I want to share these incredible animals with the world" while she is front and center of the shot so we don't forget who the real star of this is. Like I said, I watched to see the beauty of nature and not the vanity of humans.