The annals of cryptozoology tell stories of animals that make bears look like insects, the fiercest predators look like tame livestock, and with skills that negate some of the best evolutionary advantages of their prey. Of course, normal zoology has that too, and it doesn’t require the subjects in question be the descendants of dinosaurs or sea serpents. Or does it? For the longest time, an animal with the qualities and skills of the harpy eagle of South America seemed the stuff of fantasy: a bird with six-foot wingspans, huge talons, and a penchant for snatching up monkeys and sloths for dinner. The harpy eagle does exist, and it truly is a sight to behold – but few people ever have, or probably will. Jungle Eagle fixes that, giving everyone who doesn’t have the desire to don riot armor and stroll into the jungles of Venezuela the chance to see how this ferocious winged predator lives, unfortunately it does so without a compelling narrative or even sense of direction.
Jungle Eagle offers up enough new footage of an incredible bird to make it worthwhile viewing for the educational merits alone. Unfortunately, the emphasis in that sentence should be on “alone”. There’s very little else to be gleaned from Jungle Eagle as the scant ties to some sort of lesson on the connection between nature and humanity don’t hold under the weight of scrutiny. The feature would have benefited immensely from avoiding that tangent that didn’t have the necessary weight to make it meaningful, and instead it comes across as a piece of retrospective fluff meant to make it more impactful but really making it cheap.
Blu-ray Bonus Features
There are none.
"Nature: Jungle Eagle" is on sale November 15, 2011 and is not rated. Documentary. Directed by Fergus Beeley. Starring Fergus Beeley.
