Official Synopsis:
Humankind's 11th hour is here: the last moment when we can change course and stop our rush toward global ecological collapse. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio produces and narrates this urgent and transformational look at where we've been, where we're going and - most important - how we can change. Thinkers from Mikhail Gorbachev to Stephen Hawking to sustainable design expert William McDonough and dozens more reveal the current, critical state of life on planet Earth. Astonishing images of floods, fires, hurricanes, collapsing ice cliffs and growing mountains of waste juxtaposed with images of a sustainable future urge us to take action. Will we employ exciting new technologies and change our behavior to save our planet? The crisis is now; but we do have the solutions to save this unique blue planet for future generations.

  
Our Take:
Could Al Gore be a bigger movie star than Leonardo DiCaprio?

Well, probably not, but Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth certainly made a bigger box office and cultural awareness splash than Leo’s The 11^th Hour did. Produced and narrated by DiCaprio, The 11^th Hour looks at many of the same issues as An Inconvenient Truth, focusing on the negative impact humans have had on the planet. Here’s the problem, though: despite the presence of DiCaprio (who appears on screen to narrate, but isn’t terribly great at it), The 11^th Hour is one of the most incredibly boring documentaries I’ve seen in a long time.

There is some pretty impressive footage sprinkled throughout the film of major weather events and ecological disasters, but it’s actually spread out pretty thin. In between all the footage is a collection of talking head style interviews with scientists, most of whom are so boring they make Al Gore look like the life of the party. I’m sorry, I understand the need to educate, but if no one bothers to finish your film because it’s so unentertaining, did you really accomplish anything?

The disc comes with a few extra featurettes that expand on the subject matter in the film, including:

* Nature's Operating Instructions and Solutions.
* Solutions We Have Right Now.
* Wonder of the World.
* Our Reactions in the Face of Environmental Collapse.
* Religious Perspectives.

Packaged in an eco-friendly DVD case with neat cover art, and with Leonardo DiCaprio’s name attached, The 11^th Hour will probably garner some attention, and anything that helps save our planet isn’t entirely a bad thing. I just wish there was a good film mixed in with the good message.

Overall Picture:
Movie: C-
DVD: B

- Mike Spring

Editor