Back in September, Scott Crocker's Ghost Bird played at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago, and Arthur and I went down to see it. The movie was pretty limited in its theatrical run, so if you didn't get a chance to see it, you're in luck because it comes out on DVD tomorrow.
Crocker's documentary follows the saga of the search for the (presumed extinct) Ivory-billed Woodpecker, and the frenzy that ensued after a video purported to capture an IBWO in flight was made public. According to the official website:
Ghost Bird is a feature length documentary about an extinct giant woodpecker, a small town In Arkansas hoping to reverse it misfortunes, and the tireless odyssey of the bird-watchers and scientists searching for the Holy Grail of birds, the elusive Ivory-billed woodpecker.
Promotional material for the movie made me think it would be primarily about the crazy changes that happened in and around Brinkley, Arkansas following the rediscovery. The movie does take a humorous (and ironic) tone when Brinkley is the focus, but the film tells so much more. Bird experts, ornithologists, museum curators, and others all weigh in on the controversy, and the tales they share are maddening, amazing, and fascinating.
Birders and non-birders alike will enjoy this well-made, informative and entertaining documentary. Whether you followed the 2004 Ivory-billed Woodpecker rediscovery story closely or not, check out Ghost Bird. I give Ghost Bird 5 Goldfinches out of 5.
Ghost Bird is available for streaming via Amazon. My review is based on a theatrical screening.
Well, you can imagine I would be interested in a movie called The Hide, right? The Hide is a British thriller starring Alex MacQueen and Phil Campbell. It seems to only be available in PAL/region 2 format. Bummer, because it sounds interesting: On the windswept Suffolk mudflats creaks...
This is a cool video that chronicles some really interesting Blue Jay behavior. The videographer captures Blue Jay fledglings and their unexpected interactions with a very large wasp nest.
Ok everyone, get ready for a fall theatrical release of Birdemic II, the followup to 2010's Birdemic: Shock & Terror. The sequel, subtitled The Resurrection, is being filmed in 3D. A fun teaser trailer spoofing an Avengers post-credits scene was recently posted:
I'm adding this to my wish list right now!!
