Mattes74 Just to make it clear: yes, I think that this film tells an important story but am I the only one who had the feeling that this film is mostly about it's director? There are so many scenes where we just see him sitting, standing or filming somewhere and ... well, he also likes to be filmed without a T-Shirt. Specially the whole sequence about him in hospital and that he might loose his leg. It pretty much seems like a chance to expand the whole film to feature film lenght and be seen even more on screen (without a T-Shirt). Much seemed to be staged or shot separately and then cut together. My opinion: important content but way too much Rob Stewart in it.

XTRADER Sharkwater If you watch one Docu/Film, then I urge you to watch this one.Before I explain what this Documentary is about I want to explain to you that the human race isn't some divine species that has the right to choose what lives and what dies because we were brought here by some high and mighty God. The reality is far simpler – the human race is an evolved species of Ape who in the last few thousand years since the population of the species has accelerated has become an over destructive out of control ape that won't stop breeding. A good definition for all human beings is: "Parasite". To truly understand by what a Parasite is, please allow me to give you the definition of a Parasite: "An organism that lives on or in a different kind of organism (the host) from which it gets some or all of its nourishment. Parasites are generally harmful to their hosts, although the damage they do ranges widely from minor inconvenience to debilitating or fatal disease. A parasite that lives or feeds on the outer surface of the host's body, such as a louse, tick, or leech, is called an ectoparasite." Hence the reality is we are ectoparasites – we feed on the surface of Planet Earth sucking the life dry from this planet. Human beings are currently causing the greatest mass extinction of species since the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. If present trends continue one half of all species of life on earth will be extinct in less than 100 years, as a result of habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, and climate change – the only parasite responsible for all this destruction is the human race! Now most of us are aware of the threat to Polar Bears, Whales, Panda's and Tigers – yet in recent years the Shark Population on Planet earth has reduced by more than 90%. Does the human race give a damn – it doesn't seem to. The Orient continue to believe Shark Fin soup will solve their health problems and the west still portrays the Shark as a killing machine – but the reality is Elephants kill more people a year than Sharks. The Drinks machine in your canteen is going to kill more people each year than the humble shark – so because of the Spielberg effect with Jaws people don't give a damn if Sharks are wiped out.They are intelligent and peaceful creatures and yet in the last 100 years we as a race have replaced them as the oceans number one predator. The illegal trade in Shark Fins is now 2nd to the illegal trade in drugs in terms of profitability.Rob Stewart who narrated and Directed Shark Water is one of a small percentage of people on this planet that actually give a damn about other species. In his Documentary Sharkwater he sets out to highlight the destruction of the Shark Species. Rob meets up with fellow Eco Warriors on the Sea Shepherd and sets sail with the great Captain Paul Watson on a mission down to Costa Rica and then later to the Galapagos Islands to experience first hand the illegal trade in Shark Fins. We witness is graphic bloody detail Guatemalan and Costa Rican Fisherman Long lining international waters dragging Shark after Shark onto their boat – cutting the Sharks Fin from their bodies and then throwing the still alive Shark back to sea where it will sink to the bottom and die a painful death.In witnessing the illegal trade and capturing it all on film you would think the Sea Shepherd would be in the right when it towed the boat to Costa Rican waters ready for arrest – but because the Costa Rican Government is corrupt like most governments of this world the Costa Rican Police proceeded to arrest the crew of the Sea Shepherd putting them under house arrest because the government was earning to much money from the trade of Shark Fins with Taiwan to merit Eco Warriors disrupting that trade. Strangely Ironic for a country that boasts its main GDP is from Eco Tourism.I could go into more detail about the journey Rob Stewart takes in Sharkwater but I think that would spoil the emotional experience that needs to be experienced by everyone who believes they have a heart for something other than themselves.People need to sit up and realise that the fishing industry is globally responsible for the destruction of sharks as well as every other species in the seas. The next generation will look upon our generation with such disillusionment if we allow this to continue just like we look upon those in the past who took part in Slavery.A 5 star – 10/10 Docu/Film

stevietat A great documentary film worth watching for its education value on the topic of the shark-finning industry alone. It goes a couple levels deeper than the usual documentaries you'll catch on discovery channel type shows which made the film quite captivating. Underwater scenes are well shot, although if all you want is some oceanic eyecandy go see 'Blue planet' instead. The real worth of the film comes from some of the undercover and handicam shooting of illegal sharkfin set ups, boat chases, etc...Director Rob Stewart does a bit too much mugging for the camera which takes some focus away from the sharks, and the way he ends it left me scratching my head for a bit. But despite that, you can tell he is passionate about this topic. His narration and on-screen presence isn't all that hard-hitting, though some of the footage (the finning sequence especially) makes up for it.Bottom line: As a shark lover, if I had my way I'd make everybody I know watch this movie. I've always felt it a shame that because sharks aren't cute and cuddly they've been left on the back burner of public conservation interest, and I hope it's movies like this that will start to change that.

keigwin Seriously. If either Gore or Moore (hey! that rhymes!) had made this movie, it would be ALL OVER the place. As it is, there were four other people in the theater with me. What a shame. Beautiful underwater scenes aside, this movie made me cry. What a strong message, and the stuff that happened in Costa Rica, etc added clear visual evidence of what's going on. If I had to find a fault, it would be the filmmaker himself; as many adventure filmmakers do, he thinks the viewers will want to see him as much as possible, and to hear about their personal problems. Which is fine if pertinent, but in his case it wasn't. But really, a small complaint.