Shit like this needs to be exposed, over and over and over, and that documentaries are inching towards mainstream is, to me, a favorable trend that may contribute to a new awakening in the social conscience that will then motivate political change.

I am meat loving, fur wearing average joe. But I agree with the director’s point, that IF indeed the animals’ death is needed for human’s way of living (which is not, according to the mercury level in those meat) I think animals should be euthanized peacefully. Clearly Japan is not doing that. It’s quite horrifying.

In addition to that, there is the fact that, as other people here have pointed out, it is both the inhumane method in which they are slaughtered and the fact that their slaughter is entirely unnecessary (if you see the film, there is quite a lot of development revolving around the fact that their meat is a toxic waste dump of mercury, and around how the people of Japan are being fooled into eating it when it’s mislabeled as fish or whale and sold in their markets). It’s about much more than the dolphins, although that’s obviously a huge part–it’s about the humans too.

If you’d seen the movie, you’d know it’s not just about not killing the “cute” dolphins.

I was blown away when I saw this film. It sheds light on an issue that very few people know about: 1) The slaughter of dolphins in Japan and the involvement of the aquarium industry and 2) The fact that dolphin meat is toxic however the Japanese government still pushes it on it’s citizens.

For more information on the issue and to find out how you can help, check out SaveJapanDolphins.org.

Thanks for spreading the word, Andrew!!

There are indeed some statements in the film based solely on anecdotal evidence that made me cringe a bit, but the specific case of this cove in this small village is NOT your typical “animal right of the week”. They aren’t being killed in order to put food on people’s tables…Considering the premium ones are sold at $150000 each to Sea World type parks, do they really need the additional $600 each for the ones they kill and pass off as whale meat?

Like I said in my review, I’m normally someone who looks at all the gray areas – I don’t like the “your with us or against us” mentality. But there’s something wrong here – and it’s not just because dolphins are cute. The film does play up the intelligence of the animals somewhat, but that alone is an interesting point – should we be slaughtering one of the more intelligent species?

I’d be curious to hear what you think if you end up seeing it. I’m not trying to convince you to join “the cause”, but I just don’t want people to go into the film with too many preconceptions.

Beyond all that, it’s also pretty damn entertaining.

Slaughtering animals is never pleasant to watch, especially animals with a fixed smile on their faces so of course the reaction to footage like that is going to be strong.
I live in a country where fishing and whaling has been a part of it for hundreds of years and for a group of neo hippies, who seem to think that the world should revolve around their ideals, and eat a piece of celery while their at it, to come and try to destroy the lively hoods of hundreds, if not thousands of people who have been doing this all their lives because dolphins are cute pisses me off a little.
I’m all about animal rights and I myself could never kill an animal but I also know how the world turns and some things are more important than the “animal right of the week” mentality these people seem to have.

Now I know how Michael Moore haters feel.

The caper piece of the film is fun and exciting and it builds to the hidden camera footage that you know is coming…And then it does.

On top of the methods used to kill – sorry, slaughter is the better word here – the dolphins, there is the issue of selling mercury contaminated dolphin meat (under the guise of it being whale meat) to the public. Better yet, the attempt to get it into school lunch programs…

There’s also an entire portion of the film that looks at why captive dolphins are not actually happy dolphins. Let’s just say that not everyone loves Marineland.

I expect that some will look at the film as an extremist animal rights platform, but it isn’t. OK, there’s perhaps a few moments that border on that, but it’s so much more and I found it actually seemed reasonable in its tone.

I saw it at Hot Docs this year and as soon as the audience gave it a standing ovation, I figured it was gonna grab the Audience Award. And it did. I’d rank it with my other two favourites of the fest – “Best Worst Movie” and “Love At The Twilight Motel”. I reviewed “The Cove” here.

Reminds me a little of “Sharkwater” from a few years ago. That guy got himself into loads of trouble making that documentary as well.