Given that I’ve just spent a year of my life studying wildlife television, and that I consider myself a connoisseur of wildlife films and TV, I’ve decided to start reviewing nature-based films and television programs. This first review concerns Sharkwater: Extinction by the late Rob Stewart.
iTunes describes Sharkwater: Extinction as, “A thrilling action adventure journey that follows filmmaker Rob Stewart as he exposes the billion dollar illegal shark fin industry and the political corruption behind it…Stewart’s mission is to save the sharks before it’s too late.”
Here’s my take on the film:
Very General, Minimal Spoilers Synopsis
Sharkwater: Extinction picks up in Costa Rica, where the first Sharkwater left off. Accompanying Stewart is Regina Domingo and a team of filmmakers, and together they examine the political and economic structures that drive the slaughter of sharks. Things happen and the team has to run away, but they continue to investigate the exploitation of sharks all over the world.
Characters
The key figure in Sharkwater: Extinction is Rob Stewart, who is not your typical film presenter. Stewart is calm, thoughtful, speaks in an even tone, and comes across as a well-adjusted human being. While I’d normally be horrified by such an individual, in Stewart’s case it works. In fact, his relaxed demeanor makes the emotionally trying scenes in Sharkwater: Extinction easier to bear.
Various activists and conservationists join Stewart throughout the film, and he’s always accompanied by his film crew. One is able to observe the crew’s interactions at multiple points in Sharkwater: Extinction, giving the documentary a measured pinch of transparency.
However, what impressed me most about Stewart and his companions was how respectful they were – even when interacting with people whose views differed from their own. I’m not sure I could’ve kept my composure as well as Stewart & Co., especially during a particular fishing sequence in Florida.
Visuals
The camera work in Sharkwater: Extinction is perfect. At times it’s crisp and pristine, whereas at others it’s raw and jolting – depending on what the scene calls for. This variation in picture quality, which appears to be both strategic and necessary, accentuates the mood of each scene wonderfully.
Sound
My only gripe about Sharkwater: Extinction is that the sound quality could be better. There are a couple instances in which the dialogue has a slight echo to it, as if the crew were relying on their cameras’ audio instead of an external mic. But this is a minor complaint, and likely reflects the unpredictable nature of Stewart et al.’s adventures.
Conservation Utility
From a conservation standpoint, Sharkwater: Extinction is one of the most powerful films I’ve ever seen. It goes beyond showcasing nature as exquisitely beautiful or savagely vicious, and delves into the root causes of the current shark extinction crisis. And I’m not going to mince words: this is a crisis.
Sharks are the top predators in the most important ecosystems on Earth – the oceans – and if we lose them the rest of us are in serious trouble. Sharkwater: Extinction is blatantly honest about this fact, but Stewart is also adamant that the situation will improve if we work together. That hope, that defiant optimism, is necessary for inspiring action.
Confronting Mortality
An unexpected theme that hit me over the head in Sharkwater: Extinction was the precariousness of life. The scenes surrounding Stewart’s tragic death were hard to swallow; because, if this fit and larger-than-life figure could perish so suddenly, then no one is invincible.
In some ways, Stewart’s unexpected death is a metaphor for what’s happening to sharks. These perfectly-evolved creatures have been top predators for millennia, and yet human beings have almost annihilated them in thirty years. No matter how tough sharks may seem, if we don’t act now, we could lose them.
We can’t let that happen.
Closing Thoughts
Sharwater: Extinction is one of the most impactful films I’ve ever seen. You simply must watch it – you’ll never be the same.
Rating: 9/10
The Jaguar 
Reblogged this on "OUR WORLD".
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Definitely makes me want to see it. Exceptional review.
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Thanks Tosha! I definitely recommend going to see the movie when it begins showing in March. Or, if you don’t want to wait, you can download it on iTunes.
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Very cool. Appreciate the recommendations. Happy Thursday.
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I love and highly respect sharks. I also respect and love nature documentaries. This sounds like my cup of tea! 😂
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Yes, you must watch Sharkwater Extinction! Sharks rock!
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Exactly what I was thinking! I can’t wait to watch it, looks like a very moving documentary with a great message.
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Josh this looks like such a moving film! I can’t wait to watch it, I’d love to make a film someday with such a powerful message.
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Sharkwater Extinction is one of the most moving films I’ve ever seen! It comes out in US theaters next month, but you can download it on iTunes now.
Are you a filmmaker too? I hadn’t realized that.
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I make films a lot less regularly but I LOVE filmmaking as well. Such a different challenge from photography I think it’s a great way to grow and know your camera.
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I did a lot of filmmaking in high school, and I loved every single minute of it; I’d love to get back into it someday (hopefully soon). Did you know that my master’s thesis was about wildlife films/TV?
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Yea man I saw that, that’s really cool! I’m always torn on if I want to pursue outdoor filming or more indoor stuff only because when I’m out in nature I don’t mind taking a picture every now and then but constantly filming can bring down the therapeutic feeling of being outdoors. So what do you do now after having that awesome thesis??
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Yea, I could see how filming in the outdoors would mentally separate you from nature in a way that still photography wouldn’t. I guess if you’re going to film outside, you need to have a good reason for doing so.
Haha, now that I’m done with my thesis I try to qualify for welfare. I was actually hoping to work for a production company somehow, so that I can acquire more technical skills and get a sense for how production companies function, but I’ve not made any progress on that front.
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That’s awesome man hopefully you have some luck with getting on a production team soon! Probably will have to work for free or as an intern first I’d imagine but just one opportunity could open a lot of doors!
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That’s the problem, everyone in both the environmental and media fields wants me to work for free. Unfortunately I’m not rich enough to be able to afford that…
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Yea that makes sense. Can you get on and work for like a day or two just to get your foot in the door? like if they need extras or some other random task done on a set maybe it could be a good way to not work for free for a long time but to also get you foot in the door? Idk that’s definitely a tough spot to be in though..
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Yea, that seems to be the way forward. There’s a casting agency not far from my house, so I’m trying to get in touch with them to see if they have any ideas. I’m also reaching out to film production companies to see if they need anyone to do basic, grunt labor. I did a lot of amateur filmmaking in high school, but only as an actor.
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Hello Josh,
Thank you for introducing this film. I will also look into it. (It is a shame that Rob Stewart passed away tragically at a young age. But he has left an amazing legacy)
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No problem, Takami, it’s a great film! It is a shame that Rob died so young, but he accomplished more than most people twice his age.
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