User reviews

Call this film the myth-buster of all shark films! Call it beautifully filmed. Call it the start of a major kelproots movement. It is a call, a cry for our attention! Grassroots documentaries are not uncommon and are a vitally necessary form of information. Sharkwater brings this kind of movement from the ocean to our theaters *Releasing across Canada March 23, September release in the U.S., and hopefully soon to our schools and homes.

Rob Stewart (Essentially the one man movie band) brings us, along with his passion, into the oceanic ecosystem and gives a grand, albeit disturbing, view of the life there. His message is clear and strong, and provides an even picture of what is happening to the oldest oceanic life form and to the people connected to it. Hint: we all are.

Take your children, your teens and give some small amount of your time to the questions presented here. There is a powerful story here, with concise editing and beautiful cinematography, it is time well spent.

I had an awfully difficult time getting anyone to see this movie with me. Apparently, a lot of people have issues with sharks. This apprehension was part of the original inspiration for filmmaker, Rob Stewart, to make SHARKWATER. He had been taught his entire life to fear sharks, as have we. The media vilifies sharks every so often to remind us that they are not our friends. It isn't safe to get in the water after all. Haven't you all seen that movie with sharks where they eat all the innocent people? It's as if we have never fully recovered from JAWS. In his career as an underwater photographer, Stewart discovered that these fears are almost entirely unfounded. He could swim with the sharks and get close enough to touch them if he showed them that he did not fear them and that they had no reason to fear him. And so he set out to make a documentary that would demystify our notions that sharks are perversely obsessed with the killing of human beings. What he would discover is that we as humans have already launched a full-scale retaliation against our sworn enemy.

Stewart's experience as an underwater photographer does not go to waste in this breathtaking film. Stewart's ocean is one of tranquility and warmth. Over time, it has become his sanctuary and he presents the environment to his audience with the same feeling of security that he claims to get from it. Though he was once very much like a fish out of water, Stewart has found a new home in the ocean and his neighbors don't seem to mind him at all. The imagery of SHARKWATER was what originally drew me to the film and it does not disappoint. Schools of fish of so many different varieties swim past and mingle with each other that the screen becomes a mélange colour and movement that is at times dizzying and hypnotic. And though those same fish scatter when the sharks enter the frame, Stewart does not. Instead, he swims towards them and in one instant you see how two species can forget their supposed feud between them by letting their fear of the unknown fall away. For a moment, two world collide to create an unexpected harmony.

This only makes what follows all the more painful. Stewart's shoot took an unforeseen turn when he joined the crew of a militant oceanic watchdog ship that makes it their mission to ensure international treaties protecting the rights of ocean dwellers are upheld. Before long, Stewart and the crew are involved in an international scandal over shark-finning. In some countries, like Japan, shark fin soup is considered a delicacy that when served affirms one's social status. It is popular at massive weddings and can cost upwards of a hundred dollars in a restaurant. According to Stewart, shark fin trading on the black market is only second to drug trafficking. Although the statistic seems a bit skewed, there are still billions of dollars involved in the trade. For the first time in the 450 billion years that sharks have been on this planet, there are certain species of sharks that are facing serious threats of extinction. Once again, human beings plow through other life in pursuit of the almighty dollar without acknowledging the long term ramifications. See, the planet consists of two-thirds water and this water contains a lot of plankton that produces 70% of the planet's oxygen. The ocean is filled with fish that survive on plankton. The shark is the ocean's leading predator of these plankton eaters. If we kill off all the sharks, then the other fish will have free reign over the plankton, which means a diminished production of oxygen for us to breathe. Why do we always assume that our actions have no consequence? And why do we always put money ahead of preservation? You can't spend money if you can't breathe.

All of this ecological unrest for soup. Shark fishers remove the fins of the shark, which make up 5% of the shark's body, and throw the shark back into the ocean to die. Stewart and his crew go undercover into the illegal industry to give weight to their accusations. As you stare out at rooftops covered with shark fins drying the sun, you cannot help but be horrified at the sheer size of the operation. SHARKWATER invites you to make friends with the enemy and to see how we as humans are so much worse to sharks than they are to us. The mirror is turned to expose who is the more evil predator and its mouth is not home to sharp jagged teeth but rather to a smiling face sipping down its soup. Sadly, SHARKWATER will not be seen by as many as it should as people prefer their sharks as foe instead of friend. Bring on JAWS 5!

I mean, if you see this movie, and just watch the news in general. Like one of the guys in this movie says. Humans are just primates out of control. Couldn't agree more. This movie is about the Shark dilemma, a species that has survived for over 400 millions years, and now finds itself close to extinction, do to humans. Now you might say am generalizing people, but its hard to argue against the complete destruction we have done to many species, and ecological systems of the planet earth.

The movie just doesn't deal with the dilemma of the Sharks, but also the dilemma for the people that try to actually do something about it. The corruption in this business, the fact Sharks are not as dangerous as we have been told.

Must watch.

The most beautiful film I've ever seen. I was so moved by the film that I had to retreat to the hall of the theater to regain my composure during the screening. The scenes are shockingly beautiful and also unbelievably disturbing at times and serve the greater purpose of the film. This new director has created a masterpiece, showcasing brilliant cinematography and a true-life adventure that even Hollywood couldn't conjure up. His movie will change the way the world looks at the oceans and, in particular, sharks. It's exciting to know that children will have the opportunity to become informed about the reality that sharks are being wiped out....this movie holds the promise that we can save the world from ourselves. The world has yet to see a film of this magnitude. Sharkwater will undoubtedly change the world. GO SEE THIS MOVIE!

For filmmaker Rob Stewart, exploring sharks began as an underwater adventure. What it turned into was a beautiful and dangerous life journey into the balance of life on earth.

Driven by passion fed from a lifelong fascination with sharks, Stewart debunks historical stereotypes and media depictions of sharks as bloodthirsty, man-eating monsters and reveals the reality of sharks as pillars in the evolution of the seas.

Filmed in visually stunning, high definition video, Sharkwater takes you into the most shark rich waters of the world, exposing the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world's shark populations in the marine reserves of Cocos Island, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.

In an effort to protect sharks, Stewart teams up with renegade conservationist Paul Watson of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Their unbelievable adventure together starts with a battle between the Sea Shepherd and shark poachers in Guatemala, resulting in pirate boat rammings, gunboat chases, mafia espionage, corrupt court systems and attempted murder charges, forcing them to flee for their lives.

Through it all, Stewart discovers these magnificent creatures have gone from predator to prey, and how despite surviving the earth's history of mass extinctions, they could easily be wiped out within a few years due to human greed.

Stewart's remarkable journey of courage and determination changes from a mission to save the world's sharks, into a fight for his life, and that of humankind. Sharkwater 10/10

you know, the scary thing is, living in Costa Rica, you can see blatant signs of deals between the Costa Rican Government and the Taiwanese..... Rob Stewart is a genius for bringing this to the attention of the public - something I have been fighting against for a while now. I have just come back from volunteering at Cocos Island, and it breaks my heart to see the long lines set up in supposedly protected waters. The message is out in Costa Rica that it is OK to fish here, and nothing will happen to you if you get caught.... we need more people like "Sea Shepherd", who care, and can see the devastation that this is causing....

I saw this film on an advanced screening, with the director present afterwards for Q&A. The movie has some simply amazing underwater visuals and from what the film maker said was his first attempt at underwater cinematography, and I really must commend him on it. There is great flow to the movie and its very effective in delivering its message. Whether or not you agree with the Sea Shepards Society's methods is secondary to the point of this film. I would highly recommend anyone to go see this film, mind you at times it does seem somewhat graphic but comparatively it's not that bad. While it is a documentary, it is never dry and the film maker's story makes the doc so much more compelling to watch. There are few films that can completely change your view on something, and this would count among them. It highlights sharks in a completely different light and has given me a new appreciation and admiration for them. I full encourage people to go out and see this movie! Note: as cleared up in previous statements, the facts are correct. Sharks are keystone species, and removal of them from the food chain could possibly reek havoc on the rest of the ecosystem, including organisms responsible for the air we breathe. As well, around 50 million sharks are harvested each year, each providing about a pound of shark fin which retails for $200, the math would properly equate into the trillions. I believe the previous commenter misheard or interpreted part of the film.

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.

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.

From the opening credits with the first scene showing the Director with the sharks you knew this was not your ordinary shark movie. This young man, Rob Stewart risks his life to tell us that we cannot ignore what is happening in the worlds oceans - if we do we will all pay the price and threaten our own existence. A very strong message that everyone needs to hear. And not just the Amercian audiences but the international audiences, especially the Chinese who are becoming the next world power and who are the primary consumers of shark fins, and the primary reason sharks of every kind are facing extinction. On top of the story and its importance, the movie is a stunning visual treat, showing us an under water world only a few will every really see - this young filmmaker has done an outstanding job and I hope the rest of the world discovers this film and recognizes how important it is.

Rob Stewart had made himself a great film.

It's a film that captures the grandeur, misinterpretation, and exploitation of not just sharks but all sea creatures in the oceans.

Among the film's breathtaking footage of kelp forests, massive bait balls, alien seahorses, and of course sharks, the films bearings focus on the absolutely disgusting, unethical, and immoral treatment of wildlife.

Stewart feels like he needs to legitimatize his film by explaining why the deaths of sharks will harm human beings, but really, he doesn't need to. The cruelty he films is more than reason enough to understand that something beyond greed is at work.

I would love to know if there are poachers that aren't just Asians and South Americans. I'm sure there are, but the amount these pathetic men over-fish the oceans is just truly unbelievable. They do nothing but kill.

I'm amazed how many Chinese, a large elitist and delusional lot of them, are so blind to what they're doing. Close-minded ignorance is a staple among many of the worlds fishing communities.

The film is very disturbing, especially for shark and animal enthusiasts, and at least warrants a PG-13 rating. There are numerous scenes of shark-finning and vicious, blank stare poaching of humpback whales to loggerhead turtles.

The film isn't perfect however. Stewart himself isn't that likable, and the film would have probably worked better if it followed someone else around. The soundtrack isn't very good either.

But the film isn't about Stewart, or at least not for me. It's about sharks and all the life under salt water that is being unfairly slaughtered.

Blame it on its many teeth, giving it a perception that it can cut through flesh and bone. And no thanks to movies like Jaws, which has set that perception in stone that sharks are extremely dangerous creatures that have one mission, and that's to eradicate human swimmers from the sea. How do you try and convince what is generally "accepted truths" by the masses? You go at it small, with persistence, that fire in the belly to fuel your crusade in re-educating the masses, and the best example being yourself taking the plunge to try and set things right, one step at a time.

That's what Rob Stewart did, in trying to change the incorrect mindsets we have of sharks, by demonstrating to us how they are actually more afraid of us, and making a documentary film out of it to spread the good message. Don't let the poster fool you into thinking it's a fictional, narrative film. It's a documentary, and like most documentaries, it has an agenda to cover. Here, Stewart's agenda is simple, to talk about shark conservation, and the importance of the ocean ecosystem. Yes, it's a myriad of topics that can spiral out of control, but strangely enough, the key points are all presented in a compelling manner, against very beautiful underwater images of marine life, the very life he is seeking, on the bigger picture, to try and save.

Naturally, one doesn't talk about saving the sharks without touching on the demand side of things, and that is the perceived value of a delicacy called the Shark's Fin Soup, which is a staple in any self-respecting Chinese restaurant. While the usual illegal poaching through long lining and footage of skinning are aimed to shock an audience into the cruelty of the way the sharks are destroyed, the biggest impact made here are the frivolous statements given by the chairman of a prominent brand of canned shark's fin soup. You will definitely chuckle at his arguments, or the lack thereof in the intelligence department, as he's made to look quite animated, and not in good light, deliberately of course.

Some might feel that the movie did seem a little like an ego-trip for Rob Stewart, with himself being featured quite prominently in many scenes, but I thought it's a given because it is a trip along a journey he's bringing us, and that's why we see some of the inherent risks involved in the many conservationists efforts as they go out to try and stop, with limited budget and resources, the perennial problem of trying to stem out the supply side of things. Naturally, it's never easy with the illegal trade, as shady corporations, characters and corrupt governments are almost always involved, because that's how the activity can thrive, and it boils down to obscene amount of profits to be made by all parties.

Through documentaries that touch on current hot topics involving the environment, it's hard to tell how effective they can be. I guess a good measure if how convinced you are to the cause, and from the documentary, try to reinforce the message yourself to your peers. Simple actions done by a few, can go a long way, and I guess the simplest of ways is to start from yourself. An Inconvenient Truth has made me more diligent in electricity utilization, and now Sharkwater has convinced me to layoff the shark's fin soup, whether they come in cans, or presented in wedding dinners. I have a choice, and I choose not to consume it. You might laugh at the futility of my actions, or want to take my share, but go ahead please, as I'm exercising my choice, a choice which you have too.

Watch Sharkwater. You might be convinced by the arguments for the cause too. If not, it's still an educational trip in learning more about sharks and the ocean ecosystem, with a stark warning not to tamper with the natural order of Mother Nature. Highly recommended, naturally.

I would just like to comment on some of the issues that have been raised regarding the documentary...

I don't believe that the words that were used regarding slavery were directed at the countries who have a massive income from shark fining..

The programme was showing the fragile nature of our plant, and was showing how awful our impact on sea life and the rest of the world will be in the the future! Our children and their children will wonder what happened to so many species that became extinct, and the impact this has had on the world, and will look back at this and question human kind...as we have done in our generation regarding 'slavery' as an example....

It's not slavery..but again another example of the world damaging life, and the world live in!!!

Sharks, predators of the oceans, are in danger of extinction. It's a horrifying fact that Canadian filmmaker Rob Stewart wants the world to know. These creatures have been around for thousands of years. They are hunted by unscrupulous people that want their fins which are considered a delicacy and command big prices, specially in Asian countries. Mr. Stewart and his team follow the criminals that engage in this illegal activity in places such as Costa Rica and Ecuador.

The sharks are an important element in the way they contribute to an ecological balance in the universe. Mr. Stewart shows his admiration and respect for this species as we watch him in a dancelike sequence swimming among these predators without anyone of them disturbing the peace he finds being almost one of them.

The documentary is informative and instructive at the same time. Mr. Stewart and his crew have captured amazing images that will stay in our minds for quite some time. Jeff Rona's original music and Mr. Stewart's own cinematography contribute to enhance the viewer's enjoyment.

A really awful documentary on the reasons for the declining shark population is spoiled by the director's love affair with himself. There is very little good footage of sharks but every scene has the director in it, suntanned and showing off his spiffy new haircut.

I watched this because of the high rating on IMDb; shortly after it started I realized that all those good reviews were no doubt done by him. There is no one else on Earth, with the possible exception of his mother, who could think this is a decent documentary.

The film is riddled with bad science, questionable facts and exaggeration. You'll hear all about the "Shark Fin Mafia" while watching the director "bravely" ram a small fishing boat with a much larger ship. And why do these self-proclaimed shark saviors need a shotgun on board for "shark protection"? I'm on board with the idea that the oceans are over fished and sharks are being decimated for their fins, and that it should be stopped. The self-obsessed way that they go about it is what makes this a lousy documentary. This director is doing more harm to the environmental cause than help; by being so completely self-centered and using a ridiculous degree of exaggeration in every scene, he makes other environmentalists look foolish by association.

This is a missed opportunity to show the world how badly overfishing and finning are destroying the environment.

This film does an incredible job of showing sharks as they really are : intelligent, graceful creatures who, like everything else on earth, just want to survive. The film debunks popular (and ridiculous) misconceptions about "bloodthirsty" sharks with a few simple facts and footage showing how sharks actually behave. Clearly some humans are far more cruel, wasteful and downright despicable than these sensitive ocean dwellers.

The film not only has stunning undersea visuals, but a compelling human story full of danger, pathos, humour and suspense. I don't agree with everything that the filmmakers say and do, but I admire their courage in fighting for the rights of these misunderstood and critically important animals.

Sharkwater shows that it is in our own best interest to protect sharks, who are a keystone predator of ocean life. How? Most of our oxygen comes from ocean phytoplankton. What happens if the number plankton-eaters gets out of control? Sharks control the many populations under them, effectively keeping the food chain in balance. The loss of sharks could cause one of middle species to explode in population while the others die off. Sharks stabilize the ocean's ecosystem, and this same web of life allows us to live and breathe.

Sharks may seem distant, but indirectly your welfare is connected to theirs. Some parts of the film are a visual treat while other are painful to watch, but overall the film strikes a good balance between warning and hope. I think it is a must-see.

Rob Stewart tries to demystify the shark and reform it from visceral villain to the cornerstone of the ecosystem. It's a losing fight but he finds comradery with eco crusader Paul Watson. This is not a pretty British nature documentary. Sure, it has some of the pretty underwater shots but its most important part is the over-fishing and the rampant shark finning that is destroying the shark population. It is a siren call for action. I wish it has more with the locals and their fight for the environment. It can get a little too personal but that's part of the point. I would replace his diving to end the movie with more of the demonstration. The section with Paul Watson is thrilling and insightful. Overall, this is a devastating portrait of the environment.

The documentary, "Sharkwater," by filmmaker and naturalist Rob Stewart, has, essentially, a twofold purpose: to rehabilitate the reputation of the shark by countering many of the myths and misconceptions that, over the millennia, have grown up around the creature, and to raise awareness in the general public that the shark is basically being hunted out of existence by poachers eager to sell its high-priced fin - shark-fin soup being one of the priciest delicacies in Asian cooking. Compounding the tragedy is the fact that the fin is largely inedible and used mainly for ornamentation. According to Stewart, 100 million sharks are killed each year to support this billion dollar industry, resulting in the world's shark population declining by an estimated 90%. Yet, because they are not cute and cuddly creatures, there is no real constituency fighting for sharks as there is for dolphins and seals. Stewart's film is a small-step attempt to rectify that situation.

Stewart begins by demonstrating that sharks and humans can exist in harmony together. This he does by donning scuba gear and plunging into shark-infested waters where he proceeds to pet, cuddle and play with the animals, all without incident. He also cites a number of statistics to back up his assertion, the prime one being that only five people per year on average are killed by sharks while a hundred or so are killed annually by elephants.

Then he moves on to the more political aspects of the issue. The movie sets up an interesting dichotomy between two realms of existence, juxtaposing the beauty of nature with the ugliness of the human world. For while we're being shown eye-popping, multi-colored images of life under water – all in gorgeous hi-def, I might add - there's plenty of drama taking place on the high seas, as Stewart joins up with Paul Watson, a "direct action" conservationist who has devoted his entire adult life to roaming the oceans, trying to put a halt to the wholesale slaughter of the creatures who reside therein. We see Watson and his crew getting into tense confrontations with poachers, only to find THEMSELVES the object of pursuit by Costa Rican authorities. Stewart points out how corrupt governments like the one in Costa Rica outlaw shark hunting on an official level – in order to maintain their appeal to eco-conscious tourists - then secretly profit from it by looking the other way as poachers illegally operate off their coasts.

And it isn't just out of compassion for the shark that Stewart and his buddies have mounted a crusade against this mass poaching. It's out of concern for the ecosystem itself, as the diminution or, heaven forbid, the elimination of one of the world's great predators could upset the delicate natural balance in ways we can not yet fully comprehend – including potentially increasing the amount of carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere if plankton-eating creatures that are current shark prey are allowed to flourish in ever-greater numbers.

But there is hope. At the time this film was released (2007), sixteen countries had already banned shark-finning (hopefully more effectively than Costa Rica), and the general public had begun to fight back, as evidenced by mass street protests that began springing up in places like Costa Rica to help raise awareness of the issue – much as this film itself does.

Stewart - who wrote, directed, produced and served as cinematographer for this amazing and inspiring film - can be justifiably proud of both his mission and his work.