I saw the movie some time ago in the USA. I enjoyed it. Yes, too much
hollywoodism and american corniness, but what do you expect?
I can't see how this movie was targetted at anyone but birders! I mean,
it ends with a montage of hundreds of photos of different species
flashed up on the screen one after the other. It is full of little
subtleties that only someone into birding, and particularly American
birding, could comprehend. So why did so many American birders complain
so much about it? Many did on the listservers I see, anyway. Is it
possible it flopped because its target audience stayed away?
Many birders expressed outrage at the portrayal of birders as so
self-interested and single-minded! Of course, not all birders are like
that, but the sugar-coated versions in the film were well within the
bounds of reality, and they represent an interesting and important part
of our (birders') culture.
So I suspect birders have pretty much shot themselves in their feet, as
far as being seen as a worthwhile audience is concerned. If that
matters, but it just means nothing else will be made for them. Or maybe
it met its market targets? It could do so and still flop in the market
at large.
The American film industry was never going to make a film about birders
who stay at home and watch birds through their windows, and if they did,
why would you want to watch it anyway?
So I say, go see it! Don't be put off by the corniness, but revel in the
pictures of birds and the portrayals of real things that relatively few
people can appreciate.
Cheers, Chris
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