bdwilneralex

I watched an episode, fully expecting to be bowled over with excessive political correctness and cutesy-poo. Well, while Molly was a bit too unrealistically upbeat for my liking, my criticisms end there. In this episode, Molly helped a local naturalist outfit baby cranes with ID tags. So, the story was full of environmental consciousness. A native "crane dance" taught to Molly by her traditionally-minded relative helped the team attract the birds. So, there was a good dose of multiculturalism and a fascinating look at Alaskan Athabascan (perhaps Koyukon) folkways. We also learned some native words and even traditional recipes that evidence some Inuit influence. Overall, I found the material fascinating and absorbing. I think kids would be entranced by the songs, dances, and foods, and the adventures were reasonably comical and harmless. FIRST CLASS EFFORT!

Don't know why this rates such a low score. I found it highly entertaining. The way it simultaneously scoffed at the "ancient aliens" and "alien abductions" crowds while trotting out a plot line that admitted to both was quite endearing. The young stars did adequately in their roles, and I enjoy watching The Rock as he explores his dramatic limits. In my way of thinking, the film clearly merits an 8.

I'll say right off the bat that I can't imagine why this rates only 7.3 stars. Perhaps it's too highbrow for most audiences. Frankly, if you don't have either the curiosity or the brains to try to understand all the profound anthropological underpinnings, or you know zero about shamanism or primitive magic or Lapps (I believe they now style themselves Saami), this isn't for you. Too bad, because it's extremely exciting, absorbingly plotted, and beautifully filmed.