Earth Day is Friday, April 22 2016. This year there will be a landmark signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement, a United Nations effort to combat climate change. While it is actually better to get outside and take part in a conservation effort as a way to personally celebrate Earth Day, here is a list of teen friendly movies to get you into the spirit of things.
FernGully: The Last Rainforest, 20th Century Fox
By way of Australia, this 1992 classic introduced us to Crysta, a fairy in a tropical rain forest that was previously free from human intervention. After she accidentally shrinks a young logger named Zak, they have to work together to prevent more deforestation and the ominous pollutive company Hexxus.
WALL-E, Disney
Wall-E is a lonely robot left behind to clean up the planet after it has been abandoned by humans after it was destroyed by mass consumerism. He inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.
Into the Wild, Paramount Vantage (2010 Fabulous Films for Young Adults)
Based on the 1996 book by Jon Krakauer, a young college graduate leaves his worldly possessions behind to experience the great outdoors. His body is found in the Alaskan wilderness, this is the incredible story of a young man seeking enlightenment, but only finding death.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind; Kaze No Tani No Naushika, Disney
Caught between two warring nations, pacifist and warrior Princess Nausicaä struggles to prevent them from destroying themselves and their dying planet.
Whale Rider, Newmarket Films (2009 Fabulous Films for Young Adults)
Young Pai confronts the barriers of cultural roles, gender expectations, and generational conflict as she ascends into Maori leadership. When a pod of whales become beached on her tribes’ shore, she brings her people together to save the whales.
Hoot, New Line Cinema (Book was 2003 Best Books for Young Adults)
Based on the book by Carl Hiaasen, this follows three teens that join together to try to protect an endangered owls’ habitat from getting destroyed by the construction of Mother Paula’s All American Pancake House.
The Day After Tomorrow, 20th Century Fox
After global warming triggers a new Ice Age where tornadoes flatten the city of Los Angeles and a tidal wave engulfs New York City, climatologist Jack Hall must rescue his son, Sam, who is stranded in New York City with a very small band of survivors.
Princess Mononoke, Disney
A young warrior in search of a cure for a deadly virus becomes entangled in a clash between the forest’s animal gods and the humans that are destroying the forest for mining purposes.
The Lorax, Universal Pictures Entertainment
Based on the Dr. Seuss classic, this is the story of a young boy trying to impress a girl by finding the things she dreams most of – real trees. He meets the salty Lorax, who is doing his best to protect what little nature still exists, and learns to scary truth of what happened when the Once-ler took most of the world’s forest.
Documentaries:
An Inconvenient Truth, Paramount Classics
Former Vice President Al Gore explains and presents arguments about the dangers of global warming, and how we are at a level of crisis. While it addresses the issues that there are those that discredit anti-global warming causes, and also gives suggestions to how we can eradicate some of the impact of a warming planet.
Gimme Green, Jellyfish Smack Productions (2010 Fabulous Films for Young Adults)
Looks at the impacts of American lawns, and how they are embedded in American culture. This humorous look brings up effects lawns and lawn preservation has on the environment, our wallets, and our perspective.
–Danielle Jones, currently reading Head of a Saint by Socorro Acioli
Thank you so much for the post
Thank you for the list of good movies