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Review:  Documentary ‘Revolution’ gets somewhat lost at sea

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“Revolution,” filmmaker and marine biologist Rob Stewart’s follow-up to his myth-busting 2007 documentary, “Sharkwater,” starts off with Stewart lost in the middle of the Pacific, swimming against the heavy currents at Darwin Island in the Galapagos.

It’s a scene that describes the film itself, which, while vibrantly photographed, finds Stewart darting from one environmental cause to the next in a circuitous travelogue that lacks the connective tissue of his previous effort.

Having established himself as a Michael Moore of the deep, the Canadian shark advocate discovers plenty of endangered fish in the sea — one that is bearing the brunt of global warming and ocean acidification.

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During the course of his investigation, which includes stops in Hong Kong, Madagascar and the luminous coral reefs of New Guinea, Stewart points to the usual suspects, including overfishing, deforestation and carbon emissions. He says his home country is among the worst offenders with its crude oil extractions in Alberta.

Stewart, who narrates, ultimately learns that advocacy begins at home. We, unfortunately, learn very little in this Earth Day release (originally completed in 2012) that we haven’t seen before in more evolved, better focused documentaries.

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‘Revolution’

MPAA rating: PG for thematic elements

Running time: 1 hour, 23 minutes

Playing: Laemmle’s Music Hall 3, Beverly Hills

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