The Living Sea

THE LIVING SEA — *** — Large-screen documentary narrated by Meryl Streep; soundtrack by Sting; not rated, probable G (nothing offensive); on the Cricket SuperScreen at the Megaplex 17 at Jordan Commons.

Even for the landlocked, "The Living Sea" resonates, reminding us that we're like so many fish in a school. The movie lulls the viewer, as would a swim in a warm Caribbean cove. But it also sets up a challenge.

"We live because the sea lives," narrator Meryl Streep practically prays, as viewers are immersed in ga-ga underwater vistas. One almost feels similar to a marine creature, drifting into the blue milieu. The swimmer is surrounded by coral — the world's largest living thing — and by a swirl of red, purple and yellow wildlife.

When the film goes beyond beauty, it suggests that the beachgoing hordes mindlessly pollute it. And there's an ethereal sequence of a whale and her baby — but the movie's screenplay stops short of detailing the human actions that continue to affect the world's whale populations. Viewers are told that each human has an impact on the environment. But it's as if the producers didn't want to upset us with too much information.

Instead, "The Living Sea" deals in generalities. The seas aren't separate, Streep tells us; they form "one world ocean." This enormous body of water might be compared to Utah's mountains: Its waters nourish life — but if we don't care for them, we'll find that nourishment drying up. Or, imagine the ocean as a primordial freeway: the many forms of life crowding onto it can be lethal to one another, or they can find ways to share the space.

The movie takes viewers to the islands of Palau, for a motorboat ride with a father, son and daughter among the "floating gardens" east of the Philippines. "It's OK with me if they like speed boats, as long as they respect the sea," Dad says. Then the islanders — and viewer — get to dive into the blue, enveloped in a scene that outdoes any animated feature. Still, no specifics are given on how people are seeking to safeguard marine life.

"The Living Sea," with its dazzling footage, does command respect for the world ocean. Land animals, such as humans, after all, are in the minority. Most of Earth is water, so we can choose to care for it or dump into it — and see our actions come back to us in the tides.

"We're all islanders, no matter where we live," Streep intones. "We all depend on the ocean. All life on Earth is a celebration of the living sea."

A U.S. Coast Guard rescue boat is shown at the end of the movie, headed for a human-shaped suit afloat on the ocean surface. Apparently this practice rescue went well. "Keep up the good work," a guardsman says.

"The Living Sea" is not rated but would probably receive a G. Running time: 39 minutes.

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