If you’ve never seen it, rent it, or Red Box it, or download it, or whatever people do today. It’s absolutely fascinating.

Cliff’s Notes version: Crazy guy Timothy Treadwell goes to live with Brown Bears in Alaska. He thinks he’s protecting them and creating some body of research but it’s essentially an ego trip for him to live among the bears. I suspect you can guess how this story ends…

But the movie is wonderful in two respects:

1) You get a glimpse into the mind of the fanatical animal rights activists. There can be no doubt that they are crazy, but that’s not their real failing. The real damage they do is in perpetuating ignorance. But along with the ignorance is the realization that these people generate their self-image from their cause. It isn’t something they do, it’s who they are. For that reason, there is no reason to debate or negotiate. They won’t change their opinion because it’s who they are, and they like being that person. To me the most telling aspect of the movie is how totally out of touch with reality he is. It’s who he is, and he’s proud of it, but he is nuts.

2) The video and photography is unreal. Most of the movie is his own personal video and narration. He spent years living in costal Alaska and shot some absolutely incredible clips. He physically touches bears and other wildlife. Not a good idea, but incredible footage. The movie is also extremely well edited.

Here is the movie at Amazon.