Waterlife: This documentary about the Great Lakes directed by Torontonian Kevin McMahon ‘has much to be admired in terms of a visual style and a message that is timely and urgent,’ according to Liam Lacey of The Globe and Mail.

The film juxtaposes the awesome beauty and power of the lakes with the tragic reality of what pollution, over-fishing and climate change has done to them. While it is a vast subject for one film, Peter Howell of The Toronto Star writes that McMahon brings the project ‘to human dimensions by focusing upon individuals and their relationship to the Great Lakes.’ One of these includes a First Nations woman, Josephine Mandamin, who is attempting to walk the perimeter of all the Great Lakes in order to raise awareness of their deterioration.

While at times the hard facts about the depressive state of our largest source of fresh water can make its plight seem hopeless, Jason Anderson of Eye Weekly says it ‘succeeds at showing viewers why they should care about the Great Lakes rather just telling them they must.’

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus: The latest from visionary Terry Gilliam, which Emma Jones of the BBC describes as ‘half Salvador Dali, half Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,’ has been one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. But after its debut at Cannes the hype has noticeably dropped off.

For the most part, critics agree that the film delivers visually, with Todd McCarthy of Variety saying that the concept is like ‘a carnival show with a mirror to the imagination,’ allowing ‘Gilliam to employ his remarkable gift for imagery.’

Ray Bennett from the Hollywood Reporter says that unlike some of Gilliam’s classic films, Imaginarium ‘is neither intelligent enough nor silly or grotesque enough to become a lasting favorite.’

Gilliam cast Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law to replace Heath Ledger, who died before the film was completed. While Bennett says each actor makes ‘amusing contributions,’ he believes the film might have been made better ‘with a complete performance by the charismatic, adventurous Ledger.’