Stunning vision of the beautiful -- and fragile -- ocean.

In "Under the Sea 3D," filmmaker Howard Hall journeys southward to Papua, New Guinea, The Great Barrier Reef of Australia, and the waters of the Coral Triangle. His subject is the ocean and the miraculous, vibrant creatures beneath its surface. The narrator (a superbly calm Jim Carrey) and the camera follow the drama of countless living things, all engaged in the extraordinary drama of self defense and self preservation.

From the astonishing scenes of waving fields of garden eels to the dazzling beauty of the nearly extinct leafy sea dragons and on to the playful antics of endearing sea lions, frame after frame of this lovely film will impress even the youngest audience members with its panoramic view of nature's magic and the interdependence of our planet's inhabitants.

The good news for parents is that the movie is a 40-minute delight, perfect for the the short attention spans of most children; the bad news for everyone who falls under its spell is that it's only 40 minutes long. This is a special film with footage that must have been very hard to come by and is delivered with great respect and care. It's highly recommended for viewers of all ages. See it in an IMAX theater!

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the filmmakers have minimized the predator-prey relationships in this 3D nature documentary: Even though there's vivid evidence of the food chain at work, those few scenes are presented gently, as part of a natural process. Similarly, the mating behavior that's shown is treated with simple respect.

It's worth noting that since the experience of watching a 3D movie brings images very close to your eyes, small children may need some introduction to the concept before watching.

Families can talk about the variety and beauty of our natural surroundings. What does the movie say about our responsibility to our planet? What can we do, at any age, to respect and protect the other living things with which we share the earth? Kids: What creatures most amazed you? Did it surprise you when one species worked together with another so that both would be better off? How could that have meaning in your own life?

Studio: Warner Bros. Directed By: Howard Hall Cast: Jim Carrey Running Time: 40 minutes Release Date: 2/13/2009 Genre: Documentary MPAA Rating: G

Reviewed by Renee Schonfeld.

See more about "Under the Sea 3D" at Common Sense Media.