Crimson Wing: The Mystery of the Flamingo [Blu-ray]

I bought this documentary because I love flamingos and wanted to know more about them. Sadly, this is an incomplete account of these majestic birds, bringing up more questions than they bother to answer, never mind address in the first place. This film almost documents the lives of the "lesser flamingos" on Lake Natron in northern Tanzania. It takes us through a season with them, glossing over the mating habits and rushing into the nesting and subsequent arrival of the cute and cuddly chicks who soon fall prey to salt shackles about their legs, when they're not busy trying to avoid becoming a meal for the marabou storks and/or hyenas. Nothing is said or shown about their migration patterns, nor does this film address the four species of flamingos that reside in the Americans or the two species in Afro-Eurasia. What this film does boast is fantastic cinematography and the natural charisma of these eerie but beautiful birds. It does get a little gloomy when it mentions the hundreds of baby birds doomed to die in this vast wasteland. The coldblooded narration is decidedly detached, discounting the lives lost in a matter-of-fact manner. This film also strays from time to time, distracted by filler images of the lake, fish, bugs, baboons............. I thought this was supposed to be a documentary about flamingos (?).The first half is better than the last with it's close-ups of babies becoming food to feed others and the parents who don't put up much of a fight to stop this from happening.Still, it's filmed well!

I think I cried through the whole thing. Tears of joy, tears of sadness; it was an emotional roller-coaster. I absolutely loved it. The music, the storyline, the camera work, it was all wonderful. Yes there were some scenes that were hard to watch, but this is the reality. I liked the narration as well, it didn't take up the whole documentary but was just enough to give the viewer the proper education as to what was going on.

My students love Disney nature but didn’t really like this one.

I certainly didn't before just watching this documentary.A few observations -(1) Very Un-Disneynature like when compared to Chimpanzee and African Cats. There were no cheesy scripts or cliche story lines. This was a straight-up old school solid nature documentary.(2) The visuals were of course stunning (- like all Disneynature films). The action focuses on Lake Natron in Tanzania because this is where the vast majority of Lesser Flamingos come to breed. These flamingos while most numerous population wise among various flamingo species is classified as Near Threatened due to the fact that there breeding sites are too few, and all are presently threatened by human development.(3) A few tough moments that made this guy tear up. (Not going to give anything away don't worry.) That said, these scenes should not dissuade you or your kids from watching this movie.In summary, I learned a whole lot about a species I knew almost nothing about before. I found this movie highly educational as well as highly entertaining. I also think this may have just become my favorite Disneynature film too date, and I hope that future documentaries follow in this style instead of creating contrived story lines like Chimpanzee.

The cinematography of this film was absolutely majestic! It was so well done. Many scenes were utterly breathtaking. One scene about 7 minutes in showed flamingos gliding over water with tremendous grace juxtaposed with flawless precision in a way that was made doubly beautiful by their mirror reflections as they did so over water. Each lowering of their wings formed an "O" shape when combined with its watery reflection, and with each wing flap the flock of flamingos made a row of disappearing and reemerging O's that was pure bliss to watch. Again, I can't say enough about the amazing the cinematography in this film. It was the best I've ever seen in a nature movie (or any movie), and I have watched just about every nature film out there. The one caveat is that I would not recommend this film to young audiences due to several scenes where young flamingos are struggling and slowly dying due to getting stuck in the mud/salt. Otherwise, this movie was perfection.

There were a number of things in this DVD that I liked. The photography is great, even amazing. It was interesting to learn about these birds.What I did not like. I did not care for the voice of the narrator. That, of course, is just my opinion. I would have liked the DVD to more of a documentary and explain things a little more. What I really did not like was the over emphasis on the baby birds dying. Yes, I know birds die and I know predators eat them, but the DVD seemed to focus on this too often and for a prolonged time. To see a predator swoop a baby away would be enough to get the idea. Do we really need to see the baby struggle and die. Then a few it just has shots of dead birds. I have watched many nature movies and this sort of preoccupation with death is not necessary.Anyway, I am not sorry that we watched this in our homeschool, but we will pass this on and not watch it again. Please be careful if you plan to show this to really young children for the reason mentioned above.

An inspiring colorful story of majesty and beauty. This miracolous story filmed at the unique desolate Lake Natron, in Northern Tanzania, showcases an upclose look at these elegant, noble birds in their natural environment, unfolding; the birth, life, and survival of a million crimson winged flamingos.I appreciate nature docummentaries for showing me exactly what animals go through to survive in their natural habitat. While this film is appropiate for family of all ages, you may want to prepare your young children that nature's life cycle isn't always fair.The music in combination with the film is breathtaking. No comment on the narration. This story is amazing as it is beautiful!!!!!!

A nivel artístico Disney Nature hace un despliegue de poesía visual impresionante en este documental. Fotografía y banda sonora muy cuidada. Quizá no profundiza mucho en aspectos científicos, pero se disfuta bastante el enfoque narrativo.

A must see film for lovers of African landscape and flamingos - lesser flamingos take center stage here as they nest upon the salt islands of the hostile lake natron at the center of Africas great rift valley. The film follows the courtship,nesting and rearing of the grey chicks who then must march across the dried salty lake bed to the lakes edges where they grow to fledge.After this the film does become rather repetitive and perhaps boring if you are not smitten by flamingos.A brilliant peice of natural film making non - the less. the film does not hide the harsh battle the birds face in their habitat and at the end a message tells the viewer that the whole lake is at risk from human development - a soda ash plant!The at times annoying soundtrack which would be better being left out for periods allowing the calls of the flamingos themselves to be more noticed and silly words used by the narrator Mariella Fostrup who's voice does suit and add to the film but the script she reads left me baffled - saying a flamingo chick was grooming rather than preening! the fact that the larger greater flamingos nest among the lessers is also missed out.

First I have to confess that I love Flamingos. So although it is Walt Disney, and I knew the narration would probably make me ill, I went ahead and got it. I don't regret one bit. Firstly the irritating narration by Mariella Frostrup IS gooey. But if you are capable of tuning that out, the visual rewards are amazing. I advise to turn down the sound a little and just sit back and watch these amazingly beautiful, but equally funny, creatures. I loved it. The five stars are for the flamingoes, and they are worth it

I must admit I'm not much of nature documentary fan but after seeing the trailer for Crimson Wing I decided to rent the film from itunes. I was so impressed that I have since bought the movie and soundtrack. The film follows the life of flamingo's on Lake Natron in Tanzania. The cinematography was breathtaking and together with the moving soundtrack it gave the film real depth. I can't wait to see any new documentaries that come from Disney Nature. I'd also recommend the soundtrack to the film  The Crimson Wing: Mystery Of The Flamingos  as well as the track ' To Build A Home ' which was featured in the trailer. The Crimson Wing: Mystery Of The FlamingosTo Build A Home

I recently saw this on the BBC so have not yet seen it again on the DVD, but I have to say that it was the most poetic documentary I have ever seen on Nature and I've seen many. A must for not just nature lovers but for anyone who loves photography at it's best.