For the quality of the documentary it deserves a high rating. It's extremely well done, with tons of data that are easy to understand as it's all well explained. The documentary itself is not something that will cheer you up, quite the contrary, as we're all just witnessing how we slowly, if you can call slowly a century in earth's time, destroying our planet by poluting it like there is no tomorrow. Recycling is the only solution. Banishing plastic completely would be better but we all know that's just utopic as there is too much money involved. The negative reviewers on here just prove that stupidity is all around us and it's not going to get better as the population will reach 10 billion by 2050, and so tons and tons of more polution. Glad I have no children.
15 Reviews
I don't have an agenda
Alexandregbarata26 January 2018
I mainly enjoyed the documentary, could be a bit more well produced though. It should be, in my opinion, more about the plastic in the ocean per se, the consequences, direct and indirect, the study cases (and there are thousands of those), as it was in the first part, and less about the human self-destruction with garbage (2nd part).
All in all this documentary is a 50% of good scientific proof of the damage plastic is to our environment/our possible future, and 50% of opinion journalism. I don't dislike the opinions, but most are uninformed and there are some scientific errors here and there.
Still I give it a positive review, as it can achieve its goal into showing people what our mindless action can do to the environment and, in the midle/long term, to us! I would recommend it, but be aware of some sensasionalistic opinions.
All in all this documentary is a 50% of good scientific proof of the damage plastic is to our environment/our possible future, and 50% of opinion journalism. I don't dislike the opinions, but most are uninformed and there are some scientific errors here and there.
Still I give it a positive review, as it can achieve its goal into showing people what our mindless action can do to the environment and, in the midle/long term, to us! I would recommend it, but be aware of some sensasionalistic opinions.
distressing
SnoopyStyle17 October 2019
In 2011, journalist Craig Leeson is doing a nature documentary on the blue whale, a giant of the sea. He is hundreds of miles in the middle of nowhere. He's doing underwater filming and he gets surprised by a floating cloud of plastic garbage. It starts a journey to uncover the damage done by the increasing amount of plastic trash washing out to sea and into the food chain. It's an eye-opening and distressing tale ever since the floating islands of garbage made it into international news.
There is a closing section about solutions. That's probably the only problematic section. It gets preachy with the fast food joints although it's hard to get things done without being preachy. It also highlights recycling but its difficulties are papered over. There is a general Pollyanna tone to some of the mechanical solutions. According to the doc, it is a gold mine ready to be picked through and that's really stretching the truth. I don't mind some blemish with the planet's salvation. Also it gives false hope which could diminish the urgency to reduce plastic use. Overall, it is a compelling piece of advocacy doc.
There is a closing section about solutions. That's probably the only problematic section. It gets preachy with the fast food joints although it's hard to get things done without being preachy. It also highlights recycling but its difficulties are papered over. There is a general Pollyanna tone to some of the mechanical solutions. According to the doc, it is a gold mine ready to be picked through and that's really stretching the truth. I don't mind some blemish with the planet's salvation. Also it gives false hope which could diminish the urgency to reduce plastic use. Overall, it is a compelling piece of advocacy doc.
Brilliant Documentary
kevin995072 February 2018
This film is an eye-opening education for all the world to see! A global disaster has begun and this amazing documentary brings awareness and solutions to save this planet and our most valuable resource, the oceans. Please sit for 90-minutes and learn about this very important issue, and find ways that you can be part of the solution, instead of part of the problem.
Impeccable ! Must watch for everyone who wishes a clean place to live.
xycatherine3 November 2018
We through we knew the solution to the single-use plastic items?Wrong.
We thought we have a lot more time and spaces to deal with plastic products?Wrong.
We though maybe it is only a few turtles, seabirds that are affected so far by the plastic?Wrong.
This is a film that change your perspectives of where, when and how we human being have left to deal with the worst invention of 20th century-plastic.
Heart-breaking facts, life-devoting scientists, passionate environmental fighters, There is still HOPE.
Watch this ENTIRE film, don't just skip the title, and say, I already knew....
Craig Leeson has done an amazing job and I wish this film can be added to all classroom in U.S , China, Philippine, U.K, .....
We thought we have a lot more time and spaces to deal with plastic products?Wrong.
We though maybe it is only a few turtles, seabirds that are affected so far by the plastic?Wrong.
This is a film that change your perspectives of where, when and how we human being have left to deal with the worst invention of 20th century-plastic.
Heart-breaking facts, life-devoting scientists, passionate environmental fighters, There is still HOPE.
Watch this ENTIRE film, don't just skip the title, and say, I already knew....
Craig Leeson has done an amazing job and I wish this film can be added to all classroom in U.S , China, Philippine, U.K, .....
My Review of A Plastic Ocean
Todd_Somers22 February 2017
I attended the premiere of this documentary in Beverly Hills. Watched the film - listened to the panel after the documentary AND left the theater....thoroughly disappointed.
As an individual who understands that plastic, at large, is a dangerous commodity, I was expecting more from this film. The wow factor evidence, to show the masses that we have a tragic and colossal problem with plastic in our oceans simply wasn't there.
Profiling this individual and that individual AND this scientist and that scientist (this regarding their knowledge and/or experience with plastic at sea) and concentrating on a beachfront village of destitute locals where plastic has washed ashore -- the film, in my opinion, did not show enough enough devastation to convince and persuade governments to change anything.
Here's the deal: ALL consumer PLASTIC PACKAGING (including bags, straws, cup lids, etc,) needs to be banned. Period. This film, although well-intentioned, missed its mark. To this, the panel at the premiere (less the teenage girl who was outstanding) kinda' had me shaking my head. One outspoken person, on the panel, who had his set of rah - rah cheerleaders in the audience, had me thinking that this cause was his life's profession. Almost as though, if some sort of miracle occurred, wherein plastic packaging was eradicated tomorrow, that his life would be ruined. I may be wrong about this individual BUT for whatever reason, he kinda' turned me off.
Want to know why plastic packaging needs to be banned...? Don't be lazy. Research it and get involved. Please write to your Local - State and Federal Representatives to ban all plastic packaging.
As an individual who understands that plastic, at large, is a dangerous commodity, I was expecting more from this film. The wow factor evidence, to show the masses that we have a tragic and colossal problem with plastic in our oceans simply wasn't there.
Profiling this individual and that individual AND this scientist and that scientist (this regarding their knowledge and/or experience with plastic at sea) and concentrating on a beachfront village of destitute locals where plastic has washed ashore -- the film, in my opinion, did not show enough enough devastation to convince and persuade governments to change anything.
Here's the deal: ALL consumer PLASTIC PACKAGING (including bags, straws, cup lids, etc,) needs to be banned. Period. This film, although well-intentioned, missed its mark. To this, the panel at the premiere (less the teenage girl who was outstanding) kinda' had me shaking my head. One outspoken person, on the panel, who had his set of rah - rah cheerleaders in the audience, had me thinking that this cause was his life's profession. Almost as though, if some sort of miracle occurred, wherein plastic packaging was eradicated tomorrow, that his life would be ruined. I may be wrong about this individual BUT for whatever reason, he kinda' turned me off.
Want to know why plastic packaging needs to be banned...? Don't be lazy. Research it and get involved. Please write to your Local - State and Federal Representatives to ban all plastic packaging.
This Documentary is Sickning to the Core!
Alienmoon8 March 2021
I found this Documentary very Sickning and Distressing and that we continue to allow our wildlife to suffer as they do.
You'll find some commenters Dismissing this documentary as garbage, Unscientific and Unrealistic,... How Neive and Unworldly this world really is is just has Shoocking to me and no wounder our Oceans are as they are.
When was the last time you visited the Ocean?
I know everytime I've visited the Ocean, there is Plastic everywhere and its commonsense to conclude that our wildlife will and Do mistakenly eat some of this plastic believing it to be food,...
Some of these animals are then caught and processed into the Human food chain.
We Need to Change no Matter you view on this Documentary!
You'll find some commenters Dismissing this documentary as garbage, Unscientific and Unrealistic,... How Neive and Unworldly this world really is is just has Shoocking to me and no wounder our Oceans are as they are.
When was the last time you visited the Ocean?
I know everytime I've visited the Ocean, there is Plastic everywhere and its commonsense to conclude that our wildlife will and Do mistakenly eat some of this plastic believing it to be food,...
Some of these animals are then caught and processed into the Human food chain.
We Need to Change no Matter you view on this Documentary!
We need to take an action!
nataliaosypova18 April 2024
This film addresses the problem of the accumulation of millions of tons of plastic in the world's oceans and its impact on the environment. In the film, the scenes clearly show that people do not value environment and water, which they themselves are made of eighty percent. This is sad, but nevertheless many people have been telling the public for years that it is time to take an action about this big issue. It is all started when a journalist Craig Leeson searched the endless waters for the elusive blue whale, and instead came across an enormous amount of plastic waste in what should have been a clean and pristine ocean which made him think deeply about this problem. Then, he pairs up with a professional diver Tanya Streeter who also assembled an impressive team of scientists and researchers around the world wo are as well concerned about plastic waste in oceans. Altogether they set off on an exciting and also educational journey in 20 different locations for a few years. They dived and explored deep oceans and came to a big conclusion: more and more plastic gets into oceans every year which is a serious threat for not only us, but for our planet too. Along these conclusions, there is an urge for people to at least think about the outcomes of throwing plastic into the water.
Plastic is the most common form of persistent marine litter and is one of the most serious problems facing marine ecosystems. Although it's difficult to measure, but about 8 million metric tons of plastic are added to our oceans each year. From the film's storyline, I understood that plastic is responsible for harming marine life, public health, and the economy on a global level. Unlike some other types of waste, plastic does not completely decompose, therefore, it will remain in the ocean for centuries. Plastic pollution also indefinitely leads to environmental hazards such as transfer of non-native species, habitat damage, and ingestion. In addition, marine debris is an economic mess that detracts from the beauty of natural coastal environments as Graig explored and showed ugly, littered coastal lands and plastic floating everywhere in the water.
As ocean plastic pollution continues to rise and will get worse, unless we take action. Plastic is in our waterways which threat the water quality and marine food sources. Microplastic enters the food chain and threats our health. It seems to me that people not only don't care about beautiful marine life full of fishes, whales, dolphins, etc., but their health too! This was a wonderful film, full of examples indicating me to start taking an action today which includes using less plastic stuff as possible, recycle, and participate/volunteer in cleanups.
Plastic is the most common form of persistent marine litter and is one of the most serious problems facing marine ecosystems. Although it's difficult to measure, but about 8 million metric tons of plastic are added to our oceans each year. From the film's storyline, I understood that plastic is responsible for harming marine life, public health, and the economy on a global level. Unlike some other types of waste, plastic does not completely decompose, therefore, it will remain in the ocean for centuries. Plastic pollution also indefinitely leads to environmental hazards such as transfer of non-native species, habitat damage, and ingestion. In addition, marine debris is an economic mess that detracts from the beauty of natural coastal environments as Graig explored and showed ugly, littered coastal lands and plastic floating everywhere in the water.
As ocean plastic pollution continues to rise and will get worse, unless we take action. Plastic is in our waterways which threat the water quality and marine food sources. Microplastic enters the food chain and threats our health. It seems to me that people not only don't care about beautiful marine life full of fishes, whales, dolphins, etc., but their health too! This was a wonderful film, full of examples indicating me to start taking an action today which includes using less plastic stuff as possible, recycle, and participate/volunteer in cleanups.
A journalist studies how plastic destroys the environment in different part of the world
pal0505200328 March 2017
Warning: Spoilers
When I watched Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth, I felt there was nothing new to learn about how we destroy the environment anymore. However, A Plastic Ocean manages to carve a niche in the environmental documentary genre. Following a clear format like a conventional essay, the problem is introduced, the individuals studying the problems raise their concerns, and specific examples are churned to hammer home the message that plastic literally kills. The third act of the film shows how the problem is being dealt with and how individuals actually tackle the problem. The strict following of format works to effectively communicate the director's point. The documentary even manages to have an attractive female diver to advocate the cause. In short, this documentary is a call to action using clever techniques to grab attention of the audiences of the plight of our oceans, and proposes answers. The scenes of animal autopsies showing plastic pieces in their stomachs are quite disturbing, and feels like a found footage horror piece. These scenes are spread throughout the movie and never fails to shock. However, the documentary seems to drag at times, and some actions such as the director asking shops to stop using plastic seemed to moralistic. Despite this, the documentary does not try to place the blame on anyone, or any company. It presents ideas, and even portrays corporations in a positive light. One Chinese company (usually vilified by Western media) which spilled tonnes of plastic due to a storm was portrayed as actively participating to clean up the mess and aid to be 'responsible' for its actions. This approach of not antagonizing any party is quite refreshing, and makes this documentary worth watching for its presentation value. To sum up, this is an informative documentary about a problem we overlooked, and it proposes solutions and does not scare you as much as Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth.
Educational, indeed
mihai_alexandru_chindris29 March 2018
Documentaries help us change perspectives. Or, at least, they should. This one, for instance, achieved its goal and its audience (hopefully). It is approachable, making people realize the impact of their unconscious decisions and, therefore, they become more aware of their actions and start to shift plans. It's hard to believe, but true, that through visual example humans are more willing to change behaviour than from receiving the same information through speech or from having it written down. We don't predict the future, we shape it by determination and desire to strive for a better day.
just a student summary (pay no mind)
j-6493530 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
How many pounds of trash do you think is being thrown into the ocean? How much of it do you think is plastic? millions upon millions of pounds of plastic are being thrown into the ocean accidentally and purposefully. The plastic ocean is a documentary about how we are throwing plastic into the ocean and what we can do to prevent plastic from being eaten by sea life and humanity when we fish and how it affects both sea life and humans.
Mainly, when you think of how much fish there is in the ocean you have also think of how many types of fish are already contaminated, which fish you can and can't eat, and of the certain species of fish is endangered and on the brink of extinction. Well, what if the was and the ships that were carrying 60 shipping containers full of small plastic beads were to be overturned by a typhoon? All or most of the containers would have fallen off the ships. Those containers would sooner or later release all of the bags of small beads into the ocean due to the fact that containers would be crashing into each other and breaking open, this would have an impact on the sea life around the area in the container broke open. Sooner or later the food chain would have plastic beads. these plastic beads would end up in fish and be sold to people that have no idea the fish have plastic beads in them. This affects the fish due to the fact that they would die to not being able to digest anything with a stomach full of the plastic bead and they would die by starvation.
A beach is a beautiful place where you can enjoy the sand and the oceans at the same time. but, when there is plastic being thrown on the oceans shore and there are plastics being buried in the sand. The beach isn't the same, it is littered with trash and plastics alike.but that isn't the only problem when plastics are burned they release chemicals that were used to create the plastic in the first place and these chemicals can cause cancer or affect your body in many other ways. There are many places in the world that don't have a solution to dealing with or recycling plastics.
The ocean's food chain is very large and important. This food chain is also so very vulnerable because of the fact that if one small squid eats a piece of plastic that squid will be eaten by a fish and the small piece of plastic might be joined by another type of plastics as it goes up the food chain. until it reaches us, humans. And when we realize that their plastic in the very fish we cut open we will have to take action and prevent plastic from entering the ocean's food chain.
Mainly, when you think of how much fish there is in the ocean you have also think of how many types of fish are already contaminated, which fish you can and can't eat, and of the certain species of fish is endangered and on the brink of extinction. Well, what if the was and the ships that were carrying 60 shipping containers full of small plastic beads were to be overturned by a typhoon? All or most of the containers would have fallen off the ships. Those containers would sooner or later release all of the bags of small beads into the ocean due to the fact that containers would be crashing into each other and breaking open, this would have an impact on the sea life around the area in the container broke open. Sooner or later the food chain would have plastic beads. these plastic beads would end up in fish and be sold to people that have no idea the fish have plastic beads in them. This affects the fish due to the fact that they would die to not being able to digest anything with a stomach full of the plastic bead and they would die by starvation.
A beach is a beautiful place where you can enjoy the sand and the oceans at the same time. but, when there is plastic being thrown on the oceans shore and there are plastics being buried in the sand. The beach isn't the same, it is littered with trash and plastics alike.but that isn't the only problem when plastics are burned they release chemicals that were used to create the plastic in the first place and these chemicals can cause cancer or affect your body in many other ways. There are many places in the world that don't have a solution to dealing with or recycling plastics.
The ocean's food chain is very large and important. This food chain is also so very vulnerable because of the fact that if one small squid eats a piece of plastic that squid will be eaten by a fish and the small piece of plastic might be joined by another type of plastics as it goes up the food chain. until it reaches us, humans. And when we realize that their plastic in the very fish we cut open we will have to take action and prevent plastic from entering the ocean's food chain.
Not a fan
bastos27 August 2020
I'm getting tired of documentaries that don't even try to be neutral on the subject they cover. This is more propaganda than science and it bothers me that such an important matter as this one is given this kind of treatment. Instead of giving us a serious look on how this came to be and scientific ways to try and solve the problem, it just throws at us shocking imagery and shouts "OMG look how bad this is!!". Very disappointed.
Nice Cinematography
Erik_Stone18 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
It uses all the typical misdirection, like showing a beached whale, and then saying that plastic killed it. It shows beautiful blue whales, and then immediately shows garbage in the ocean, to make the viewer think that the blue whales were swimming through the garbage, when the truth is that the filming was done in totally different locations.
Then the movie blames US land fills for ocean pollution, but moves on to the countries that are the real threats. Model data is used to scare the viewer, which is the modern cliche to scare anyone about anything, even though most models are always wrong.
They even make a baby bird vomit up what it's eaten, and then they don't even give it a meal to replace the damage they've done to it. 😟
The film does get a lot, right. There is a plastic problem in our oceans today, along with plastic problems in many places other than the ocean. These problems are easy to solve with biotechnology and other means.
The real problem is that tyrannical, totalitarian, and corrupt governments prevent people from being able to use the plethora of solutions that are available, and that is something that won't be changing for the better, anytime soon.
Also, let's not forget that it was environmentalists that forced everyone to switch to plastic bags from paper bags, because they wanted to "save trees." 🤔
The film starts off with the usual scare tactics, but ends well.
Then the movie blames US land fills for ocean pollution, but moves on to the countries that are the real threats. Model data is used to scare the viewer, which is the modern cliche to scare anyone about anything, even though most models are always wrong.
They even make a baby bird vomit up what it's eaten, and then they don't even give it a meal to replace the damage they've done to it. 😟
The film does get a lot, right. There is a plastic problem in our oceans today, along with plastic problems in many places other than the ocean. These problems are easy to solve with biotechnology and other means.
The real problem is that tyrannical, totalitarian, and corrupt governments prevent people from being able to use the plethora of solutions that are available, and that is something that won't be changing for the better, anytime soon.
Also, let's not forget that it was environmentalists that forced everyone to switch to plastic bags from paper bags, because they wanted to "save trees." 🤔
The film starts off with the usual scare tactics, but ends well.
Flat earth on the types of plastics causing the problme
VoyagerMN198615 February 2018
This film is so anxious to blame the US with its net non recycled production of all plastic slightly higher than Europe that it fails to even mention once that the types of plastics that are believed by the science to be the biggest contributors are in fact sourced form Asia and Europe at much higher rate per capita.
It also when needed for its narrative switches between consumption and production, as if Europe's higher consumption than production makes it more benign.
kind of reminds me of "Inconvenient Truth" and its manipulation of data, making the US the leading contributor to carbon output when not mention hat because of the huge efficiencies of the US, the US is producing more goods and food with less carbon per ton grown than Asia, Africa or Europe.
The reason for the low acceptance of the science on global warming is an effect of the obscene level of manipulation of figures on production and consumption to resulting production, that allows the US to be blamed, and using this to rationalize subjecting the US to super-national redistribution of money and wealth. The science on the problem is real, the science on the solutions is flat earth junk science and statistical manipulation. Productivity in its ratio to carbon and plastic use matters.
the makers of this film would have been much better off in science communications if they had stuck to the science, instead of promulgating poltical diatribes that do not stand scrutiny of some basic logical controls
the makers of this film would have been much better off in science communications if they had stuck to the science, instead of promulgating poltical diatribes that do not stand scrutiny of some basic logical controls
Important But Flawed
keikoyoshikawa26 March 2021
The message of the document is important and necessary - and so kudos to the film-makers; but how that message is told is somewhat flawed. Too much focus on individuals, who, while are interesting, detract from the point of the film. Also important pieces of information are presented without putting them into context for easier, visual understanding. And finally the documentary is a bit meandering and could have used better editing.
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