Blackfish 2013

Without a doubt Blackfish is one of the most horrific theatre experiences you'll have this year. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite presents a very carefully constructed case on the effects of inhumane treatment of Orcas in captivity. The one-sided argument is that the untimely human deaths caused by captive Orcas were not their fault but rather the fault of their captors; SeaWorld, and the evidence proving this point is so disturbing and so shockingly obvious that it's no wonder SeaWorld refused to be interviewed.

The story centers on Tilikum, a 12,000 lbs. Orca that is directly responsible for the death of 3 people, including Dawn Brancheau the former senior trainer at SeaWorld in Orlando. The film explores the reasoning behind the likely "psychosis" Tilikum has experienced in captivity, and the disgusting cover up executives have tried to make.

While SeaWorld naturally refused to be interviewed, the films perspective mostly derives from former trainers/employees of SeaWorld and other various experts. Their experience working with Orcas - most having dedicated their lives to it - is truly heart breaking. Presenting the theory, the evidence and finally a solution to the topic at hand, Blackfish is a marvellous story that will have you as tearful as the trainers that sincerely care for the well being of the creatures.

Blackfish doesn't just show a bunch of disgruntled former employees bashing SeaWorld either. The greatest technique employed in this film is its use of footage from shows featuring these trainers when they were younger. There's something so mesmerizing about watching the smiling young trainers play with their best friend while hearing their older self reminisce in voice over. Hearing a harsh critique of SeaWorld only seems right coming from the people it meant the most to.

While we've always known Orca's are intelligent creatures Cowperthwaite dedicates a lot of the film to demonstrating their capacity for emotions as well; watching them over time build connections with their trainers and each other. So by the time they show us their capture and captivity and witness the pain felt the whales, Tilikum especially, we know that their violent behavior is a direct result of SeaWorld. Killer Whales having never harmed a human in the wild.

I want to go through every point made by the movie but I won't. You need to see this for yourselves. The facts aren't what drive this film, the emotion behind them do. This is one of those movies you just won't stop talking about, and for the subject matter that's the best compliment it can receive. In the end sharing this information is what's going to help these Orcas.

Between the gripping footage and the distressing stories Blackfish effectively proves its point. There are very few movies like this; a must-see. There is no way after seeing this movie that you'll ever want to go to SeaWorld again, and for the sake of the animals that's the only thing we can do for them. Since it's made quite clear; the only thing affecting their decision-making is: how many Shamu dolls and tickets they've sold.

Blackfish takes hold of you within a few minutes and never let go until the end. And at this aforementioned end, you'll have a lot of feelings. You'll feel sorry for the animals. You'll feel sorry for the families and friends of the victims. You'll feel sorry for the ex-trainers that feel Seaworld lied to them. But most of all...you'll feel rage towards Seaworld and their likes around the world...but should you?

This is a question that Blackfish never answer, because it's quite one-sided in the telling of this story. That might be because Seaworld refused to participate in this documentary, or it might be because the filmmakers had an agenda. Who knows...but the fact is that there's little debate in this movie that Seaworld is the villain...

The fact that I choose to believe that Seaworld and other corporations that exploit animals purely for profit are villains don't mitigate the fact that they should have heard both sides...

What baffles me to no end, is why people think it's a good idea for humans to get "in the ring" with a dangerous wild animal. Most people with the smallest lick of sense know that a wild animal is just that...a wild animal. If it suits the animal...it WILL turn on you. This is behavior it takes generation after generation of breeding to change, and even then accidents happen...

I feel the conclusions in this documentary is right, even though they never really debates anything. Blackfish is a good documentary and might enlighten a few people to the lack of scruples that corporations that Seaworld shows. I just feel that it COULD have been done a bit differently and achieved the same result...

I give this movie a rating of 10 trakt.tv - hearts because everyone should watch this movie, so it get uprated as hell - and I hope when you watch this movie, you gonna up rate it as well. Please!

I was aware that Orcas are highly evolved animals and that they have a high social bonding to each other. You and me read this properly plenty of times somewhere else. But this movie shows how high that social behavior is reality and how intelligent are those whales. One picture is more worth than thousands of words... When you watch this movie you gonna realize this.

And the movie shows how cruel it is, that "we" keep this intelligent beings in captivity. It its not moral that the human mankind is doing that, because just we are capable of doing this. It is simply unacceptable as hell! I cannot point that out too much!

Those fun parks like SeaWorld should really release those whales, but as long as people are going there to see that show, as long as entry is paid and the money flows - I am afraid nothing is gonna happen.

On the other side I have to admit, that people are able to see those whales in captivity - and see how beautiful they are and get an awareness that we have to look after our oceans. But is it worth to distress those whales?

I do not think so.

Go! Watch it! Get your own opinion.