Tag archives for movies
Posted by In the opening scenes of Star Trek Into Darkness, Spock (Zachary Quinto) is dropped in the middle of an active volcano. His mission? To stop the volcano from exploding before it destroys everything in its path. His equipment? A suitcase-sized “cold fusion” device, designed to destroy the volcano — and nothing else. Is this even…
Posted by Acclaimed French environmentalist, photographer, and filmmaker Yann Arthus-Bertrand has been traveling in the U.S. to premiere his recent film Planet Ocean. Arthus-Bertrand’s photos have been published numerous times in National Geographic media, and he recently sat down with the National Geographic Channel to discuss his 2009 film Home. His new film Planet Ocean is narrated by…
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Can you imagine spending your life encased in 750 pounds of iron? The new film The Sessions is based on the true story of Mark O’Brien, a poet who was largely confined to an iron lung. Learn more about the history of iron lungs…
If you’re in the DC area, stop by National Geographic headquarters this weekend for a cultural treat: The All Roads Film Festival (Sept. 27-30), featuring compelling stories from indigenous and minority cultures. The films take viewers around the world, from the rural Philippines and Tibet to South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.
Posted by Pop Omnivore spoke with director Benh Zeitlin and co-producer Michael Gottwald about the myths and movie magic in their new award-winning film, Beasts of the Southern Wild.
In the movie Beasts of the Southern Wild, real-world villains and folkloric foes prove no match for a brave young girl, her dying father, and a ragtag bunch of bayou dwellers. But what really caught our eye was that herd—a group of animals known as aurochs. How did the moviemakers “create” these menacing beasts? In an exclusive interview with Pop Omnivore, second-unit director Ray Tintori reveals the shocking truth. (Hint: It’s cuter than you think.)
Inspired by the movie The Amazing Spider-Man, Pop Omnivore wondered: What can a real spider bite do to a real human being? To find out, we asked Dana DeRoche, an arachnid specialist at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, which spider species have the worst—and weirdest—bite.
Posted by How accurately did the movie depict what real-life scouts learn about camping and wilderness safety?
Didn’t get a chance to see any of the foreign-language movies nominated for an Academy Award this year? Better brush up before Sunday! We’ll make it easy: Here’s a synopsis of each of the five nominees, compiled by staff who attended the All Roads Film Project “Global Glimpses” screenings at National Geographic headquarters last weekend.…
Among the winners at this year’s Sundance Film Festival was Valley of Saints, an environmental drama that casts light on the toll that human habitation and tourism have taken on Kashmir’s lovely Dal Lake. The plot centers around a boatman named Gulzar and his best friend, who are planning to run away from the conflict…
The nominal star of movie The Grey is Liam Neeson. The real stars are the CGI-enhanced hungry wolves that pursue him and his fellow plane-crash survivors through Alaska’s pristine wilderness. But is their behavior based in reality? To parse wolf fact from fiction, we caught up with Daniel MacNulty, a wildlife-ecology professor at Utah State University…
The plot of the new movie War Horse is driven by the deep, powerful bond between a boy named Albert and his horse, Joey, who both end up serving in World War I. Watching it made us wonder: What do we really know about horses’ emotions? Carissa Wickens, an assistant professor in equine science at the University of Delaware, provides answers…
Team Edward or Team Jacob?
Posted by Anne Marie Houppert on November 22, 2011 The latest movie in the Twilight saga, Breaking Dawn–Part 1, was just released with the 5th-best opening weekend ever, according to an Entertainment Weekly report. The saga follows the love triangle of a human girl, Bella, and the vampire (Edward) and werewolf (Jacob) who are in love with her. The characters live in the small…
By Mel White Word got out months ago that a movie was in the works based on the book The Big Year, which recounts the true exploits of three birdwatchers competing to find the highest number of species in North America in a single calendar year. This wasn’t some made-for-TV cheapie destined for an obscure…
The popular new movie Dolphin Tale tells the touching story of a young dolphin named Winter who loses her tail and survives with a prosthetic one. It’s based on a true story—Winter plays herself—but some parts were fictionalized to make it more appealing to young viewers. Which parts? To find out, we contacted one of Winter’s real-life rescuers,
Teresa Mazza from the Hubbs-Seaworld Research Institute in Melbourne Beach, Florida.
Join Sir David Attenborough for a LIVE interview on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation: Science Friday” today, September 30 at 2 pm ET. Attenborough and host Ira Flatow will discuss the North American launch of “Flying Monsters 3D,” recent findings surrounding pterosaurs, and Sir David’s illustrious career. In the meantime, watch the trailer, read a Q&A, and see photos from the film.
The 2011 All Roads Film Festival arrives at National Geographic headquarters today and continues through the weekend, celebrating indigenous cultures with film screenings, directors’ discussions and photo exhibits. Here’s a glimpse of what’s around the bend, courtesy of NGM staffers and interns who got a sneak peek: 1. NAME OF FILM: Benda Bilili! WHEN TO…
A Real Planet of the Apes?
Posted by Anne Marie Houppert on August 9, 2011 
In “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” the apes become smart enough to revolt against humans. Just how smart are apes, and how apelike are humans? Take a look at what National Geographic magazine has to say on the subject.
Posted by James Cameron tells Boyd Matson how making Hollywood blockbusters allows him follow his true passion of exploring and how becoming a NG Explorer feels like coming home. Listen to the interview.
Pirates 2.0
Posted by Anne Marie Houppert on June 13, 2011 
“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” is currently in theaters. While the pirate character Jack Sparrow is a rather dashing and romantic figure, the pirates of today are seen as exactly the opposite. Are they different?
Posted by As mentioned in a previous post, this past Saturday I was a guest of the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts in Virginia for their presentation of The Planets in HD. The show combines the music of Gustav Holst’s The Planets—played live by the National Symphony Orchestra—with some amazing high-definition imagery and animations from…
