You might expect Aliens of the Deep to be about underwater animals. It is, but that is not it's all about. Not even what it is mostly about. Mostly, it is about science and the scientists who believe in it. Then, it's about space (the final frontier!) and how cool it would be to find life on Europa. Only then it is about underwater exploration and the life that is down there. That provides eye-candy, tangible mystery, and a story. But it is James Cameron's metaphor because he hasn't successfully taken his cameras to space.
Yet.
If you want to see a documentary that's more about sea creatures, look for them by the Nature Channel, Discovery, or National Geographic. It wont have the cinematography, the Hollywood flare, or the human angle, and it wont have the budget that Cameron and Disney can bring to a documentary. It may have more science explained, but it also, actually, wont be as thoroughly explained.
Aliens of the Deep is a very informative movie and it can also be entertaining. Cameron made the movie so that you get to see it as if you were there. On a scientific expedition funded by the entertainment industry--which has so much more to give than any science foundation in existence.
In the process, it showcases the brilliance of humanity, what we can achieve, what we have achieved, and our total lack of wisdom. "Unwise Intelligence". After countless hours developing the technology, building the submarines, taking them out onto the ocean, cutting out the wall of the ship because the A-frame crane broke, we venture into an alien world, untouched by humanity! And it is beautiful. And like a child on the beach, we say, "Wow. Let's take it home!" So we cut it out and put it in a jar. Sometimes, we remember the air holes, sometimes we don't even bother and would just like the carcass to dissect.
How else'll we learn! We have to learn about these animals on earth before we do this somewhere else in the universe. Before we can go invade another world to study it's citizens... It's the same frustrating arrogance which is attacked by the makers of the blockbuster Avatar.
Which was, uh, James Cameron....
Crazy.
This is how we learn. And knowledge is valuable. And it is valuable for people to know what goes into our knowledge. Facts which are conveniently ignored by most animal documentaries. But there is a time to ask when the knowledge is worth it. Animal testing teaches us many things, but none of it helps dogs. Perhaps we should leave them alone. I cannot shake the feeling that exploring another world for life is as misguided as trying to "cure" aging.
What if we accidentally poison it with our presence?
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