Cane Toads 3D - The Conquest

After seeing this movie it's hard to argue with the (previously unheard) logic that all documentaries should be made in 3D.  It certainly makes as much sense as Clash of the Titans 3D - and in my opinion proves itself a much better idea in practice.

The "sequel" to an earlier documentary on the same topic (which I haven't seen) this turns the dial fully to eleven in demonstrating the ecological disaster that introducing a foreign species into a strange land can become.  Or, maybe it doesn't really - but it's still fun and an opportunity to scream "Cane Toads!!!!" at the top of your lungs at the start of the screening.  Which it turns out is a hell of a lot of fun.

The film explains the phenomena that is the relentless march of the Cane Toad across Australia.  Introduced there in the 1930's to combat an insect that was destroying their cane sugar harvest it proved spectacularly useless in beating the pest but extremely good at reproducing and spreading across the country.  To the point that some regions at night appear to have a living, moving sheet of toads covering the ground where dirt and grass would normally dwell.  The film is interesting, though actually does fall short for me in explaining what the full impact of this invasive species has been.  Clearly it's a pain in the ass for residents, and I'm assuming there has been some measurable downside.  The film doesn't fully explain things like the potential displacement of native species, loss of other agricultural products, etc.- all of which I was curious to learn more about.  But while lacking that it more than makes up for it with historical re-enactments, visualizations of dogs tripping in a psychedelic wonderland while fighting their addiction to licking toads, various ineffective things done by the humans to try to stop the relentless scourge, and potentially dry scientific interviews punched up through the use of 3D.  We also learn some of the reasons the toads are getting stronger - my favorite description being the "Olympic Village effect" wherein the strongest toads racing ahead of the others to colonize new colonies breed with other faster/better toads making a SUPER RACE OF UNSTOPPABLE TOADS!!!! I may have added that hyperbolic emphasis, but that's the sort of fun the film clearly is encouraging.

It is an interesting, and important lesson and it's good the film makers took the approach they did.  It'll probably encourage people to go who normally wouldn't and those who do to pay close attention.  Regardless as to what your motivations are - go see this film if given a chance, it's different and enjoyable, and probably counts towards your "I've seen important films for the planet" karma.  Plus, turns out cane toads are sorta cute as long as it's not your lawn they're taking over.  And don't be fooled, it does seem as though the toads have won this and all prior rounds.  Just be glad Australia is an island was the main takeaway for me.

Oh - one small warnings.  A significant number of toads were harmed in the making of this film.  In fact at points it's a cane toad apocalypse.  But that's probably an honest portrayal of what was/is going on so it seemed fair.