Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Hall Bartlett, 1973.
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Edition screened: Paramount DVD, released 2007. English language. Runtime approximately 99 minutes.
Summary: Repeated scenes of seagulls in peril and injured.
I was surprised by how strongly I disliked this movie, after spending most of my life assuming that it was a joyous film, an exploration of freedom and spirit emerging from the structure of a nature documentary.
Our lead seagull talks most of the way through the film, and not in a manner that any animal lover, naturalist, or romantic would want him to speak. No, our seagull learned English by imitating some Buddy Hackett impersonator in a straight-to-video Disney knockoff. “Hey! What are these ugly flappy things under me? They’re like two loaves of soggy bread stapled to a cheap mattress. Hey! They’re my feet! Whoa!!! I have feet!!” … For 90 minutes. During this time he is physically terrorized by other animals, crashes endlessly against cliffs, and suffers other bloody injuries.
I am as confused as anyone about Neil Diamond. But if his mid-70s crooning is of interest, listen to the JLS theme song while enjoying the deceptively tranquil poster, and let the actual movie go.