Parrots in Film and Television

[Michael]

I think the post-movie craze will lead parents to buy their kids Rio stuffed animals and video games rather than actual birds. The technology has gotten so good these days and the companies are so focused on post-movie merchandise that they will keep it under their own control rather than letting pet stores benefit. I bet this gamewill benefit a lot from the movie, and I'm sure they will come out with Rio the game. Many kids these days would rather interact with a screen than the real thing anyway. Generally bad news but at least it might save some parrots from a terrible fate.

[Kathleen]

http://www.riotherat.com/Main/PlushToy Rio the Rat... lol

Anyway, I think you're right about the merchandise.

[Chris&Akilah]

I'm thinking a "craze" after this movie will manifest itself in buying a lot of blue budgies....

Yah true. I agree with Michael, in that these days kids have so many other distractions that I don't think we need to worry about shelters being full of macaws a year later, not to mention the price tag of parrots. Getting a child a Nemo-fish, knowing full well it won't last more than a week in your Nemo-brand fish bowl, is quite different than shelling out thousands for something that can sever your finger. I know the general public are generally idiots, but I'll be optimistic and give them some credit there. But budgies might be the victims of impulse buys, to keep jr. happy.

anyway, i don't think this one has been posted yet. uber-cute and catchy!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ81_Q0lYAM

err just how do you get the [youtube] to work?

[TheNzJessie]

i remember when paulie came out and everyone wanted a pet bird to be there best friend, i guess sits different for a cartoon movie with one that they make merchandise for. i dont remember any movie memorabilia from paulie

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Also, every horse movie that comes out causes just that much more begging for a pony. Most parents don't run out and buy horses! Even those with land. So some common sense does prevail.

[greymatter]

I'm surprised no one has listed "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill". It's a documentary about this homeless/ hippie man who somehow managed to bond with the group of feral cherry headed conures (plus a blue crowned conure). It's really touching, and made me cry

i actually just watched this documentary on netflix about a month or two ago. it was very interesting...
dumbest question repeated during the movie: are they yours?
when those birds obviously belonged in the wild even if they were tame to this single man.
very very interesting....check it out if you ever spot it somewhere

I thought this one had already been mentioned for some reason. It WAS a really interesting documentary!

I really enjoyed the book as well - I got a bit teary eyed part way through.

[Margaret]

I'm surprised in how many movies you have found parrots!

I'm surprised no one has listed "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill". It's a documentary about this homeless/ hippie man who somehow managed to bond with the group of feral cherry headed conures (plus a blue crowned conure). It's really touching, and made me cry
(...)

I watched that movie 2-3 years ago, was crying too. Really worth to recommend. I have to borrow DVD again and watch it one more time.
Didn't know about the book, but here is Official Website of movie The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, and there is Trailer of the Movie.

[Kathleen]

I'm currently watching a movie called Heartbreakers:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125022/

Literally just saw a scene with a macaw in it...looked like a Military Macaw. The character in the movie was smoking and I think the movie tried to make it appear funny to have the parrot "flop over" on its back and "die" in a cruel sized cage like that.......terrible.

Edit: This website describes the scene really well http://www.ahafilm.info/movies/movierev ... tml?fid=86 Apparently fake birds were also used to make this shot.

[pchela]

I was watching a cheesy old 80's movie the other night called "Uncommon Valor" and in a bar scene in Vietnam there was a man with a Cockatoo on his shoulder. I think it was an Umbrella.

[entrancedbymyGCC]

Maybe we should change this to Film, Television and Books? I just finished a book called "A Parrot Talks in Chocolate". It features a parrot that dispenses wisdom at a Tiki bar. It does also feature the parrot eating chocolates (his treat for answering questions) but the actual character of the bird is fairly amusing.