86
Metascore
13 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 100Village VoiceAlan ScherstuhlVillage VoiceAlan ScherstuhlThe film is a devastating success, moving in its beauty and wrenching when that beauty withers: Acres of coral waste away to chalky ash before our eyes.
- 90The Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyThe Hollywood ReporterDavid RooneyEven for those limited to swimming virtually among parrot fish and sea turtles over vast marine ecosystems of astonishing color and complexity, this superbly crafted documentary is likely to wield an unexpected emotional charge.
- 90Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranLos Angeles TimesKenneth TuranWhile governments and politicians dither about global warming, the world’s undersea coral is moving toward a devastating death. If you don’t believe that, or don’t think it really matters, Chasing Coral presents the evidence with beauty, intelligence and a surprising amount of emotion.
- 83IndieWireSteve GreeneIndieWireSteve GreeneAmidst the appreciation for the natural world and the tiny battles for public attention, the process of developing a camera that can capture and transmit these time-lapse images gives Chasing Coral the added layer of a time-crunch caper.
- 80VarietyOwen GleibermanVarietyOwen GleibermanYou walk out of Chasing Coral feeling that Richard Vevers is correct: The more that people see, and understand, the death of our coral, the more they’ll realize that climate change isn’t just about wrecking the planet, it’s about humanity destroying itself.
- 80Screen DailyDavid D'ArcyScreen DailyDavid D'ArcyThe message of doom is mitigated by the comraderie of men and women determined to do good, but more so by the wondrous species of coral under threat.
- 80The New York TimesNicole HerringtonThe New York TimesNicole HerringtonIt’s an environmental tragedy of our own making, the film heartbreakingly argues, that has little hope of being reversed without immediate human intervention.
- 75Slant MagazineKenji FujishimaSlant MagazineKenji FujishimaWhat makes it play as more than just another activist doc is its focus on the power of images as a way to inspire change.
- 75The A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloThe A.V. ClubMike D'AngeloChasing Coral has a cogent, timely argument to make — and, crucially, it’s an argument that demands visual presentation. For once, reading a book or in-depth article on the subject wouldn’t be remotely as persuasive (except perhaps regarding the question of whether human activity is primarily responsible). If your eyes work, your heart will sink.