Posted on 01/30/2006 9:45:17 PM PST by jordan8
Timothy Treadwell, tireless and passionate advocate for grizzly bears, was killed in October 2003 by the beast he so fervently adored and tried to protect. His remains, along with those of his girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, were discovered near their campsite in Alaska's Katmai National Park and Preserve. They had been mauled and devoured by a grizzly, the first known victims of a bear attack in the park. The bear suspected of the killings was later shot by park officials.
Director Werner Herzog's film uses Treadwell's own startling documentary footage to paint a nuanced portrait of this complex and compelling figure while exploring larger questions about the uneasy relationship between man and nature. Discovery Docs, Discovery Channel's theatrical documentary unit, has partnered with Lions Gate Entertainment's new feature-length documentary unit to co-produce Grizzly Man.
At the heart of Grizzly Man is the spectacular footage of enormous grizzlies hunting, playing and fighting just feet from Treadwell and his camera. Treadwell shot these scenes over his last four visits to the Alaskan wilderness, apparently with the intention of creating a wildlife documentary. Even more fascinating, though, are the times Treadwell turns the camera on himself, alternately testifying to his almost religious love for the grizzlies and revealing less attractive, all too human emotions, including vanity, rage, paranoia and loneliness.
(Excerpt) Read more at dsc.discovery.com ...
Treadwell was a fool.
I wouldn't get anywhere near a bear with anything less than a 44 mag. And some damn hot custom loads.
Ya just can't make this stuff up.
And he got a bear shot for being a bear - smooth move, there, Mr Anthropromorphist.
He was so stupid he could have been a Rat Senator
I couldn't believe what I was seeing when this ad came on.
Abject, dangerous stupidity. YOU DON'T ANTHROPOMORPHIZE GRIZZLY BEARS.
Thanks for the heads up, jordan. I actually really wanted to see this movie. I'll definitely be sure to tune in!
Treadwell to me is the classic example of the tragic consequences of the liberal mindset. He envisioned himself as someone "PROTECTING THE BEARS" when the bears did not need protecting (no hunting is allowed in the Katmai National Park, and there is no development there, either). In the end, it cost him everything.
He was a liar whose grandiose and narcissistic tales ended up getting two grizzlies killed for NO GOOD REASON.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/grizzly_man/about.php
EXCERPT
"Adding more fuel to the controversy is the fact that aspects of Treadwell's life remained shrouded in mystery until his death. He lied about his background even to his close friends, claiming to be Australian when in fact he was from a middle-class family in suburban New York. He had a history of serious drug and alcohol problems and had had several run-ins with the law before devoting his life to bears, which he credited with turning his life around."
END EXCERPT
Grizzlies are wild animals, not an excuse to grandstand or a means of gaining celebrity. Treadwell, who lied about his past and who may have fabricated much of his celebrated "study" of grizzlies, caused more harm to these animals than any hunter could have done with a gun. Rather than educate the public about the true nature and majesty of grizzlies, Treadwell created an environment where people would deliberately expose themselves to these magnificent and dangerous creatures, resulting in death for both people and grizzlies.
Saw this at a theater a few months back. The best part was when an Alaskan bush pilot was interviewed saying that most Alaskans "though he was a moron."
There are also a few surprises which I won't reveal, showing that Treadwell wasn't everything he seemed, and often very conscious of his cult status.
Herzog generally treats Treadwell with respect, but in his inimitable filmmaking style he leaves you shaking your head at the folly of Treadwell's enterprise, recognizing that it's flawed and doomed, yet deserving some kind of respect for its audacity.
A very decent film.
All very true. But, being a bit of a Werner Herzog fan, I have to say that the documentary doesn't glorify Treadwell at all. In fact it pretty much unveils Treadwell as a tragic lunatic.
Yes, from what I have heard, this film promises to be unflinching, but still respectful of the fact that two people died. I appreciate that, and I hope that all who see it will realize that some things, including grizzly bears, should be admired and respected from a distance...
Kudos to Herzog for making this film!
FYI, the film can be rented on DVD from Netflix.
There's also a big writeup on it at Herzog's site:
http://www.wernerherzog.com/main/index_html.htm
(click on "Grizzly Man" in the upper right frame)
See #16. It might also be out there at Blockbuster and other video stores.
Yes. Treadwell was exactly the sort of character and in exactly the sort of crazy enterprise that Herzog does so well with.
C:\My Documents\My Pictures\big ass bear.jpg
Not sure if this will work.
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