Rating: 
Summary: Cute
Review: Cute movie. The animals kept the kids attention the entire film. Would definitely provide some relief from the kids.
Rating:
Summary: Cute
Review: Cute movie. The animals kept the kids attention the entire film. Would definitely provide some relief from the kids.
Rating: 
Summary: Thought Provoking & Touching
Review: I first saw this on the Discovery Channel and I am thrilled I am going to be able to own it!!! It made me cry and laugh.... What entertainment should be. A must for any animal lover.
Rating:
Summary: Very Touching!
Review: The first time I saw this on television I didn't know what the name of the show was. I was hooked on the elephant segment where the calf was trying to walk. What a tearjerker!!! I have been searching for the longest time, trying to find it...and I finally have. Thanks to whoever decided to release this to the public. :)
Rating:
Summary: LANDMARK
Review: This film is a landmark in blending science and advocacy. It seeks to assert that animals lead complex and sophisticated emotional lives, not unlike our own. But it manages to walk the fine line between subjectivity and objectivity. It avoids going too far to the subjective side; it doesn't end up trying to emotionally blackmail the viewer into buying this concept, with mere stagey or cute displays of animal interaction. It relies heavily on scientific observation in both natural and controlled environments. But by the sheer genious of editing and writing, one cannot help but be drawn into the lives of these noble creatures just as one would a good drama. The movie wisely lets the animals behavior "do the talking", and doesn't try to rush us to judgement. It left me rethinking everything I had assumed about animals, emotions, and the nature of our (and by 'our' I mean all of God's creatures) existence.
Rating:
Summary: LANDMARK
Review: This film is a landmark in blending science and advocacy. It seeks to assert that animals lead complex and sophisticated emotional lives, not unlike our own. But it manages to walk the fine line between subjectivity and objectivity. It avoids going too far to the subjective side; it doesn't end up trying to emotionally blackmail the viewer into buying this concept, with mere stagey or cute displays of animal interaction. It relies heavily on scientific observation in both natural and controlled environments. But by the sheer genious of editing and writing, one cannot help but be drawn into the lives of these noble creatures just as one would a good drama. The movie wisely lets the animals behavior "do the talking", and doesn't try to rush us to judgement. It left me rethinking everything I had assumed about animals, emotions, and the nature of our (and by 'our' I mean all of God's creatures) existence.
Rating:
Summary: the bond between all creatures
Review: This is a fascinating, and often quite moving documentary showing the emotional kinship between man and his fellow mammals. The film footage is remarkable, starting with the basic emotions that pertain to survival, "fear, aggression, and the urge to procreate", and then moves on to the more subtle feelings of joy, compassion, grief, loyalty, and even depression.
The caring of one another in animal societies is extraordinary, and shows the bonds of friendship between species of primates, meerkats, wolves, and many more.The section on maternal love is wonderful, with one exceptional segment by wildlife photographer Martyn Colbeck who follows a herd of elephants, and captures the tremendous patience and devotion exhibited towards a recently born calf as he struggles to walk. There are many instances of incredible sacrifice, including the story of a dog who saves a young boy.
It shows how rescue dogs can show signs of depression, and rats who laugh when they are tickled. I love the chimp who is looking at Gourmet Magazine, and points to pictures of pastries and signs "sweet".
As Dr. Roger Fouts of the Chimpanzee Human Communication Institute says, the difference between us and other animals is "one of degree, and not of kind". Produced, written and directed by Carol Fleisher, and calmly and carefully narrated by Sigourney Weaver, viewing this documentary is time well spent; it is informative as well as entertaining, but parents of young children should realize that though there is plenty of fun and frolic, it is far from being a cute animal film, and there are scenes of violence and tragedy. Total running time is 95 minutes.
Rating:
Summary: FULL of much research and wonderful images
Review: This movie shows how closely related we humans are to mammals with scientific research and observation. It gives wonderful descriptions and examples of the differences between reptilian brains and mammillian brains. It is truly incomprehensible that some think that animals (mammals other than human) are not capable of such emotions as love, compassion, anger, loyalty, remorse, etc. At the end of the movie I was questioning if humans are de-evolving to reptile brains due to our parenting of our own offspring (or lack of parenting). Wonderful movie. I highly recommend it for all ages.
Rating:
Summary: FULL of much research and wonderful images
Review: This movie shows how closely related we humans are to mammals with scientific research and observation. It gives wonderful descriptions and examples of the differences between reptilian brains and mammillian brains. It is truly incomprehensible that some think that animals (mammals other than human) are not capable of such emotions as love, compassion, anger, loyalty, remorse, etc. At the end of the movie I was questioning if humans are de-evolving to reptile brains due to our parenting of our own offspring (or lack of parenting). Wonderful movie. I highly recommend it for all ages.
Rating:
Summary: Good for people like me
Review: This video includes some remarkable and moving scenes of animals displaying what appear to be emotions such as sorrow, loyalty, and gratitude. I say "appear to be" not because I don't think that animals have these emotions, but to emphasize that Why Dogs Smile... is not a scientific treatment of the issue of animal emotional behavior or intelligence. Every single person who appears in this video, from the wildlife documentarians to the scientists, is completely committed to the idea that animals experience and act on the full range of feelings that we might consider "human emotions." No dissenting voices are present to argue that we are merely projecting our own feelings onto the behaviors of the animals, or that the brains of non-human animals lack the ability to produce emotion, or so on. I believe that animals have emotions and found reinforcement for my pre-existing belief in this video. I was entertained and moved, but would rather this video challenged my beliefs as well as those of people who might disagree. A presentation of the scientific (and political) debate over this issue would have improved this video.
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