At the Edge of the World (2008)

People are voting emotionally.

hyped garbage

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

"At the Edge of the World" is an unscripted, timeless, documentary window into an otherwise unseen, often harrowing, ongoing morality play on the frigid Ross Sea. What would you do? The director Dan Stone includes you as a member of the everyman and every-woman crew. Events unfold and tell the saga of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's two flimsy, non ice-burg rated ships. On a shoe string budget, the Farely Mowat and the Robert Hunter clash with the mighty Nisshin Maru and its supporting armada. At a million dollars a whale and a thousand butchered last year alone, all appropriate strategies and tactics are resourcefully applied to end the hunts.With a self stylized Jolly Roger on the bow and a skeleton crew of 50, mostly volunteers from 15 countries and various expertise take on the odyssey. Seasoned and steady hand Sea Shepherd founder, Captain Paul Watson (co founder of Greenpeace and a former member) marshals his forces. Young archetypal fellow Captain Alex Cornelissen, the dedicated crew and on shore media contacts are not simply there to bear witness. Intervention between the so called research ship with harpoon at the ready and the whales swimming in the internationally recognized and protected, but until now unpatroled sanctuary, is the only course of action. This is a law enforcement organization and effort.Having never an injury or death caused to either side, the crew of scruffy raiders fearlessly set out in zodiacs and use all manner of stink and smoke bombs and propeller foulers. Artfully executed precision maneuvers run interference and set up some metal grinding, ship to ship broad side contact caused by the whalers. The risks are unbelievable."At the Edge of the World" is more than a simple anti-whaling documentary, it gets out of its own way. An eye opening, subtle, authentic and complete film, it stays with you long after you are on dry land. With its breath taking cinematography and jaw dropping footage, the film is about individual empowerment. The Sea Shepherd crew are the heroes in all of us. It is about what you can do (with regards to anything in life) or not. It's your choice. What will you do?

This is undoubtedly one of the worst documentaries I have ever seen.I saw it a couple years ago at TIFF and I still get infuriated by it. Politics aside, I think the filmmakers had good intentions behind making this, but the people portrayed in the film, the so-called faces of their cause are beyond irritating. All they seem to do is complain about the situation and try to position themselves as martyrs for their cause.As my friend said, "For a whale documentary, there are basically no whales in it." It was incredibly boring, mind-numbingly dull visually, and the people in it have absolutely nothing meaningful to say. I found absolutely no beauty or truth in this film. I regret ever wasting my time or paying good money to see it.

Dan Stone's film, "At the Edge of the World", is a sincerely inspiring documentary of a heroic journey set forth by the under-supported, under-funded Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. The organization's volunteer crew members, from all types of backgrounds and professions, risk their lives in hopes of protecting the illegally hunted whales that are located in the vast Antarctic ocean territory.The film captures modern-day true-life heroes engaging together in their efforts to stave off the Japanese hunting vessels that are under the guise of 'research' in order to illegally slaughter whales for profit. A strong sense of purpose and group-member support among all those involved comes across clearly on screen.Following the courageous, passionate, and determined crew members, are the just as brave, bold, and courageous cameramen who capture the heroic actions on film - some moments of which are hair raising! Also as captivating, and nothing less than breathtaking, is the cinematography of the vast Antarctic landscape, its majestic icebergs, crystal blue waters, and its beautiful wildlife.Enhancing the film's emotive quality is the music selection. The soundtrack creates the perfect atmosphere for each scene in which the music is placed. Nothing is over or under done."At the Edge of the World" is a film that is a must-see on the big screen due to the expansive landscape, action scenes, and cinematography; and is also one I am sure to purchase when released to DVD in order to have it on hand for viewing whenever in need of a boost of inspiration.

It feels as if you're part of the journey, with all the highs and lows. The visuals are very cool, it's a strange and beautiful world down there. It's also like the wild west in the middle of the ocean, almost like Mad Max, and the choices these folks make, especially when deciding whether to search for their crew mates or stay with the mission, are more interesting because this is for real. It's good that there's no narrator but it takes some focus to keep track of everything that's happening, which is good but challenging. It's hard to believe people need to take such chances but evidently they do. The underdog strikes back. High stakes.