Monday, May 9, 2011

Review: Discovery Channel: Nuclear Nightmare Japan in Crisis


As you probably can guess, this documentary tries to explain what happened i Japan regarding the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima plant. The documentary is produced and aired regularly by Discovery Channel.

First of all, I have to admit that I didn't knew that much about the nuclear crisis. I did basically not know any details before I saw this documentary. I'm saying this, because I think it may be a little basic for some of you. Consider yourself warned.

The documentary combines footage from a group from Sea Shepherd that was stationed in Japan at the time of the event, graphical illustrations, interviews with survivors and experts and other footage taken from the scenes. I don't think this was such a great move, because you end up hearing a lot of stuff about how people feel about everything. I don't mean to be unsympathetic, but give me a break. I don't need a «tsunami survivor» to tell me it was scary. Seriously!

Anyway. You get all the questions you may have about the nuclear crisis answered, but it will take time. Because they have stuffed in so much material in this documentary – it ends up being over one hour long, even before you add commercial breaks. In my opinion, you need a very good reason to demand more then 40 minutes of my time, and I don't think this documentary qualifies for that.

So, do I recommend it? Well... Tricky question. In a way, yeah – it was a good watch, and the production was OK. But over all, it was just average, and if you have in mind the insane length, the picture becomes more unclear. I think I would have to say that I wont warn you about this, but at the same time; I wont recommend you to see it. Translated to my rating system; a very weak 3.

50 comments:

  1. I will look this one up online, thanks for posting!

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  2. There are so many documentary films at the last weeks in TV. I really can´t see it any more.
    Everyone is hiping japan ... other problems in the world doesn`t matter or what? ...

    Sorry can´t see it any more.

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  3. This is kind of interesting. I'm going to see what this is..

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  4. I actually really like documentaries. It is a bit hard to deal with that much information for that long, I would recommend watching documentaries in parts or finding a subject you really like. I am very interested in this whole nuclear crisis and I think I will check this documentary out! Good looking out!

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  5. I'll give this a miss then, I think a docu like this will only make me feel sad anyway.

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  6. I will have to watch this online as I missed its original airing. Although if I really wanted to, I could probably find a scheduled replay on The Discovery Channel.

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  7. Might have to check this out later

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  8. Good reading, it's horrible what is happend there..

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  9. Another great recommendation. Thanks for the heads up!

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  10. Sounds like it just another run of the mill doc, thanks

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  11. ah, finally they have a documentary about the disaster

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  12. Already seen enough of them.

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  13. dicovery channel has to lift their game!

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  14. Nice review, might have to watch it.

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  15. Probably a bit soon for anything of real substance about the disasters in japan to be produced. Good review thanks :)

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  16. As long as they don't reuse footage more then 2 times in 1 show i can take a long episode.. when i see the same cut scene or hear the same teaser 3+ times i change the channel because i'm wasting time...

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  17. This could be pretty interesting.

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  18. The disaster in Japan was so horrible.. But when it happened I was a bit afraid that everyone would forget Egypt and Libya.
    It will surely be an interesting view :) this documentary.

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  19. seems too current, you have nice points

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  20. I must watch this I'm very interresting !

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  21. Ya know, of all the countries that has to go through this shit, it has to be Japan. They kick ass. :(

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  22. Such a tricky subject man, they seem to have bad luck with nuclear stuff

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  23. I would expect better from discovery channel on such a topic

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  24. I might go to this to get my questions answered.

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  25. I saw this I thought it sucked lol

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  26. how very strange.... the crisis is not over yet. how can there be a documentary about somthing that is not resolved yet? seems like it would end badly.

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  27. This looks exceptional! Very informative.

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  28. videos i saw about this, are just sad. Like the 33miners, in chile..

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  29. japan is on the other side of the world, what's the worst that could happen me? :)

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  30. discovery chanel documentaries became a shite

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  31. The Nuclear Rolling Stone article is even more frightening.

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  32. a hastily put together documentary, trying to catch the tail-end of the hype over this whole thing. I'll be watching the next documentary, 20 years from now, until then its all the same.

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  33. They came out with this pretty fast :O

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  34. Yup agree. documentaries are suppose to give you the facts. Some good doco's make you feel sympathetic etc, but they still give you the whole story

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  35. Something to look into for sure. Thanks for the info.

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  36. The nuclear crisis is still ongoing...

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  37. Very interested in this, but think it is a bit over blown...

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  38. You have interested me in this enough to watch it at least :D

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  39. Wow, I didn't know this existed. I'm really interested in this. Thanks

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  40. Does sound kinda average. Let us know if you find any better ones covering the subject though, that would be interesting.

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  41. The documentary is under an hour because it has to be for the network. They aired Mega quake one before the Japan in crisis Tsunami doc, so maybe that is the confusion. They are 2 different docs. just aired back to back. So Japan in Crisis is under and hour. Mega Quake focuses on the earthquake and how earthquakes happen and then talks about the nuclear plant for a small section. Japan in crisis, show the tsunami and the Sea Shepard survivors as they escaped the tsuanmi and then focuses mostly on the nuclear plant.

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