This is a very one sided documentary so I decided that I would do my own research into the issue and here's what i've concluded. Personally the idea of eating whale turns my stomach, but just because we in the west are grossed out by it doesn't mean we have the right to tell other cultures they should be grossed out too. If the minke whale was as intelligent as other species or as the dolphin then it'd be different, but the minke whale is even less intelligent than some of the animals we in the west eat on a regular basis. The whales Japan hunts are Minke whales which are not endangered and are still prolific in the seas (which is why no one bothers to enforce the law in their case). Secondly, it appears from research that even sheep (which people eat all the time in the west) have a higher intelligence than these creatures. People seem to be mistaking the Minke whale for more more intelligent and complex creatures like the dolphin which to our current knowledge seems to be at least as intelligent as canines. We can't go around saying it's wrong to eat minke because of their intelligence while saying nothing about fish or lamb which we readily eat in the west. Otherwise what you're saying is... We're going to make you conform to our belief that you shouldn't eat them just because we like them and you should be like us! I do not like that these whales sometimes take so long to die. I refuse to eat veal because of how inhumane the animal is treated to get that type of meat from them. I don't believe any animal should have to experience prolonged pain and I hope that soon they will come up with more humane ways. But aside from the non- guarantee that the whale will die quickly there is no way we can say what they are doing is wrong without looking like hypocrites. In some parts of India the cow is considered sacred and they don't believe in eating it. What if these Indians decided they would terrorize our meat shops just because they like cows and in their views this means they should force us to give up hamburgers? Oh but of coarse ... that's different... because the Minke whale are even less intelligent than the cows we eat regularly. But we don't care about cows we care about these whales and the world needs to care about what we do!!! right?? Get real.

An honest film starring Capt. Paul Watson and his brave and fearless Sea Shepherd crew as they battle illegal whalers in the Southern Sanctuary. Using only the UN Law and limited resources, the Sea Shepherd crew pit their wits and talents against a fleet of voracious whalers loose in the last whale sanctuary in the icy and deadly Southern Ocean. It starts off slow as the Sea Shepherd crews train to face the freezing and unforgiving seas, but warms when they encounter the illegal whalers early in the film. You will be shocked at what illegal whalers are willing to do but awed by what the Sea Shepherd crew will risk to enforce the Law that not even the law makers care to enforce. I believe there is a sequel, Operation Divine Wind that comes out in December 2011. A fine film that is worth every dollar.

I believe in what they are doing but there is a level of incompetence that makes what they are doing unacceptable. There is no place on a ship for untrained personnel. They need training, they need to run drills, everything needs to be so ingrained that it becomes second nature. I give their mission a thumbs up but I give their irresponsibility a thumbs down. I believe in you guys and I'm not saying that you should quit. I'm saying train your new people, spend every hour that your not fighting the enemy training and running drills. Become a weapon to be feared. That involves precision, discipline, hours and hours of training.Your doing a good thing just do it safely.

Much gratitude for all of the whales who are still alive because of these wonderful people!