Wonders of the Arctic

An intermittently interesting documentary covering the environs of the North Pole, Wonders of the Arctic conjures expectations of a thorough, Planet Earth-esque view into the workings of nature, but director David Lickley hops seemingly at random from a handful of indigenous animals to the human residents roughing it out in the icy tundra. The documentary features a number of notable anecdotes, such as a ranger's Halloween night patrol for invading polar bears, but other stories are paid the faintest of lip service, such as a trawler captain navigating the treacherous frozen waters who is seen and barely heard from for all of two minutes. Cautionary asides concerning the Arctic's gradually melting landscape are given just as much attention, rehashing known information without adding any insights (the statistic that the Arctic's year-round ice has decreased by 80% in the last 30 years is alarming, but the film offers no counteractive suggestions). The scattershot approach makes a certain sense given that this was made expressly for IMAX theaters, in which grand visuals take precedence over meaty investigation. Extras include bonus footage. Optional. Aud: J, H, P. (J. Cruz)