Customer Reviews
refreshing 
2008-06-05
This is a documentary about shark-lover Rob Stewart, who (like me) has always loved sharks. Here, he tells us the truth about sharks, for example, he states that they are not as dangerous as they are claimed to be, due to popular inaccurate beliefs. He also explains the importance of sharks in the food chain, in the ocean.
Stewart also presents the world of shark finning, off Costa Rica and the Galapagos.
This is a very refreshing documentary that will change the viewer's opinion, but fast!, on sharks and their lives.
Great images, and splendid undersea footage.
An important film that everyone should see - whether you're a shark fan or not (and if you're not, you will be) 2008-05-29
I HIGHLY recommend this movie. Buy it. And have a shark party to share it with your friends and family.
Though some might at first think this is another shark "slasher" movie, the film is actually a compassionate argument for shark protection. The sharks and other marine creatures are beautifully filmed, which provides a strong juxtaposition against filmaker Rob Stewart's coverage of the brutal sharkfin trade. Not for the faint of heart, there are scenes of wholesale shark-slaughter for their fins (a delicacy in China and sold for medicinal purposes in many countries). Stewart works with Sea Shepherd in the film and captures brave confrontations at sea with both pirates and police. Confrontations, even physical confrontations, are a necessary evil to bring attention to the need for enforcing the laws against illegal fishing that are so blatantly ignored. This film is heartbreaking in its portrayal of the injustice to sharks and other marine life threatened by over-exploitation. It's infuriating in its portrayal of the ignorance of the Chinese for their insistence on consuming tasteless shark fins to boast their status in society and for their insistence that shark products have magical medicinal powers. But Sharkwater is also beautiful in its portrayal of the majesty of sharks and other marine life and in its message that they are in dire need of protection. Creatures that have survived for hundreds of millions of years, that lived on this planet before the dinosaurs, are being wiped out by humans. This will be a tragic loss to future generations. See this movie!
Spectacular Film 2008-05-20
A wonderful movie, I ordered two so I could lend the second copy to friends without worrying about not getting it back.
As an underwater documentary junkie I know good underwater filming when I see it and this movie's underwater shots are breath-taking.
But its not just a movie with pretty scenery. Surely It's part documentary about conservation and nature, but its also a drama about political activism, man's greed, man's self-sacrifice and man's bravery.
This is an important movie to watch and learn from.
A MUST SEE 2008-05-20
I have been very interested to see this movie way before it came out and when it finialy came out on dvd amazon was the only place in my area that sold it. not even blockbuster which i think is horrid. this is the best documentary that i have seen in a long time, it shows you the facts and the damage and how much this is effecting our world that we live in and how if we dont stop it earth as we know it will no longer be around for those of us that require oxygen. this is like the normal documentary's that just have lots of boring people talking and you see couple of clips here and there. this one is more like reality tv. you follow rob on his journey and you see how the sharking finning industry works and how power full it is and how its practically a government conspiracy . you also are introduced to paul watson whom one day i hope to get the opportunity to work with.
this movie shows what people are will do to cover up whats illegal and how sharks are not a threat to us at all. for if they where people would die every day form them. they are creatures that need our protection! i have made everybody in my family watch this and it to has effected them maybe not in the same way as me but it did let them see what has happened to this earth and what its coming to. so i HOPE you watch this and that it effects you too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have to watch this one. 2008-05-17
This is what it's all about. Rob Stewart made a wonderfull and shocking documentary about the sharklife and the sharkkillings. It was a very nice surpirse to see captain Paul Watson ( Sea Shepherd Conservation Society) taking action as well. Everybody has to see this film.
Change your shark assumptions 2008-07-19
I saw this film 2 nights in a row when it played at a local theater. I was incredulous at the revelations of the documentary, that sharks are not crazed killers and that they are at the same time essential to the health of the ocean communities, and tragically being driven to extinction by human greed and ignorance. So I bought the film on Amazon because I had to have a copy to loan out to whoever would listen to make the pro-shark case.
You will be so impressed by the sincerity and dedication of filmmaker Rob Stewart and the people who help him. It was awe inspiring to see Paul Watson at work trying to protect ocean life. The underwater scenery is a visual treat and the interaction with sharks up close will undermine all your 'Jaws' fears. You will love this movie if you care about the planet. I sure was impressed. I also bought the companion "Sharkwater" book, which presents parallel but additional info that adds more detail and insight.
SHARKWATER 2008-06-25
Being a scuba diver of over thirty years, I was keen to see this documentary when it hit the cinemas here in Australia, and wasn't disappointed...!!! The film is superb, especially the great detail shown in the high definition undewater footage shot by Rob.
I highly recommend this dvd to anyone interested in preserving our underwater environment and trying to help stop shark finning by the asian countries. Full marks for this film.
Barry Streete,
Newcastle ,
Australia
Deeply moving 2008-06-21
I have heard the phrase "everyone much see this movie" many times before and kinda agreed from time to time but this time I find myself saying it. Perhaps I should be saying, "everyone who has any interest in the environment, animals and wildlife should see this movie". I came into it expecting a real world version of Open Water, and it pretty much started along those lines, but it developed into an extremely indepth study of the underground trade in shark products and the illegal fishing groups actively engagind in the killing of many endangered species, in some of the worlds most beautiful, and often protected regions. Govenment corruption, incredible cinematography, some truly frightening stats (15,000 sharks killed in the time it takes to watch the movie) and some genuinely upsetting footage make for a movie I was not expecting, but feel enlightened to have watched. So once again, if you have ANY interest in the environemnt, and the impact we are having on it, you should see this movie, discuss it with your family and try to help these few dedicated ecologists in their fight against this pointless, barbaric slaughter.
Gets the idea across 
2008-06-14
This documentary gets the idea across that simple stupidity is still the major cause of environmental degradation on this planet. Sharks are magnificent but are being hunted to extinction worldwide to feed the Asian superstition industry. Come on people. Pull your heads out of your rear ends.
I bought a copy and circulated it with my friends at work who don't get out as much.
Great documentary 2008-06-07
I was very disturbed at the slaughter of sharks worldwide in this very informative documentary.
