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Green Thumb Thursday: Green Movies

by Alexa on November 5, 2009

[title]Green Thumb Thursday : Green Movies[/title]

You’ve been good. You’ve recycled your old newspapers. You put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat. You’re taking shorter showers and using your hair dryer as little as possible.

So why not take this week’s Green Thumb Thursday off and relax with some environmental films? These aren’t boring documentaries with dull voice-overs; we’ve got Julia Roberts, Jake Gyllenhall, Robin Williams, and Sigourney Weaver. [BREAK]

[i]Gorillas in the Mist[/i], 1988

The story of real-life naturalist Dian Fossey, who studied mountain gorillas in Rwanda and clashed with the government there when she advocated a conservation program to protect their habitat. This film combines gorgeous photography of Africa with a moving message about wildlife preservation. And most of the gorillas in the film are [i]real[/i].

[i]The China Syndrome[/i], 1979

Jane Fonda plays a reporter who investigates a cover-up of an accident at a nuclear power plant. The film was derided as a paranoid fantasy by some critics…until twelve days later, when the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania suffered an accident similar to the one in the movie. Though the film is 30 years old, the debate over nuclear power continues. Where do [i]you[/i] stand?

[i]Eric Brockovich[/i], 2000

Julia Roberts won the Academy Award for playing a feisty mother of three who helps a small town sue a huge electricity company for poisoning their water. Watch her take on her boss, her boyfriend, and the bad guys with equal fervor. Based on a true story.

[i]The Day After Tomorrow[/i], 2004

Sure, it may exaggerate for dramatic effect (is anyone really predicting tornadoes in LA?), but this eye-popping spectacular illustrates some of the very real dangers of climate change. And who can forget Jake Gyllenhall running from those wolves?

[i]Soylent Green[i/], 1973

What if we solve all our environmental problems…but the population keeps growing? Charlton Heston stars as police detective in the year 2022, when New York City overflows with 40 million people (about three times the current population). While investigating a murder, Heston stumbles upon a conspiracy that will make your skin crawl. A suspenseful thriller set in a New York that has never looked so crowded and filthy.

[i]FernGully: The Last Rainforest[/i], 1992

Some green movies can be downers, but not [i]FernGully[/i]! This charming musical has a cast of fairies and forest creatures (including Robin Williams as a crazy bat) that must unite to stop the destruction of their forest. The film features the voices of Samantha Mathis, Tim Curry, and Christian Slater, and the soundtrack includes songs by Tone Lōc, Elton John, and Sheena Easton.

[i]An Inconvenient Truth[/i], 2006

Perhaps the greenest film of all. Former Vice President Al Gore won the Academy Award for Best Documentary with this compelling, high-tech slideshow that’s anything but boring. Gore makes all the difficult concepts about climate change, from melting Arctic ice to electric cars, easy to understand. A must-see for every green girl. [ALEXA]

Movies saving the world

You’ve been good. You’ve recycled your old newspapers. You put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat. You’re taking shorter showers and using your hair dryer as little as possible.

So why not take this week’s Green Thumb Thursday off and relax with some environmental films? These aren’t boring documentaries with dull voice-overs; we’ve got Julia Roberts, Jake Gyllenhall, Robin Williams, and Sigourney Weaver.

Gorillas in the Mist, 1988
The story of real-life naturalist Dian Fossey, who studied mountain gorillas in Rwanda and clashed with the government there when she advocated a conservation program to protect their habitat. This film combines gorgeous photography of Africa with a moving message about wildlife preservation. And most of the gorillas in the film are real.

The China Syndrome, 1979
Jane Fonda plays a reporter who investigates a cover-up of an accident at a nuclear power plant. The film was derided as a paranoid fantasy by some critics…until twelve days later, when the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania suffered an accident similar to the one in the movie. Though the film is 30 years old, the debate over nuclear power continues. Where do you stand?

Eric Brockovich, 2000
Julia Roberts won the Academy Award for playing a feisty mother of three who helps a small town sue a huge electricity company for poisoning their water. Watch her take on her boss, her boyfriend, and the bad guys with equal fervor. Based on a true story.

The Day After Tomorrow, 2004
Sure, it may exaggerate for dramatic effect (is anyone really predicting tornadoes in LA?), but this eye-popping spectacular illustrates some of the very real dangers of climate change. And who can forget Jake Gyllenhall running from those wolves?
Soylent Green, 1973
What if we solve all our environmental problems…but the population keeps growing? Charlton Heston stars as police detective in the year 2022, when New York City overflows with 40 million people (about four times the current population). While investigating a murder, Heston stumbles upon a conspiracy that will make your skin crawl. A suspenseful thriller set in a New York that has never looked so crowded and filthy.

FernGully: The Last Rainforest, 1992
Some green movies can be downers, but not FernGully! This charming musical has a cast of fairies and forest creatures (including Robin Williams as a crazy bat) that must unite to stop the destruction of their forest. The film features the voices of Samantha Mathis, Tim Curry, and Christian Slater, and the soundtrack includes songs by Tone Lōc, Elton John, and Sheena Easton.
An Inconvenient Truth, 2006
Perhaps the greenest film of all. Former Vice President Al Gore won the Academy Award for Best Documentary with this compelling, high-tech slideshow that’s anything but boring. Gore makes all the difficult concepts about climate change, from melting Arctic ice to electric cars, easy to understand. A must-see for every green girl.

Any movies I missed? Tell me about it in the comments.

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Tagged as: ecology, environment, Green, jake gyllenhall, julia roberts, Movies, robin williams

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Michelle November 5, 2009 at 1:46 pm: I know it’s not a comedy, but I think The Day After Tomorrow is so funny!
Miss B_Haven November 5, 2009 at 4:42 pm: I love FernGully!!!