Undoubtedly some wiseacres will suggest that it would be more appropriate to celebrate Earth Day, oh, out of doors in the glow of the sun, than with one's behind planted firmly on the couch, in the glow of a TV screen. If you are confronted by a smarty like this, feel free to retort: "Movies allow me to experience parts of Earth that I'd never otherwise get to see."

Sit down and shut up, smarty!

For most of us, our chances to travel to exotic and far-flung places, to experience nature's extremes are slim to none. Thankfully, intrepid film crews and actors have done the work for us. Most of the movies on this list were shot on or at least near location, and all are available on DVD. Runners-up include Deliverance, The River Wild, White Fang, and 90° South.

5.) The Straight Story (1999)
No way could I leave off this David Lynch oddity, a G-rated Disney movie about a man's journey from Iowa to Wisconsin… by lawn tractor. When Alvin Straight hears that the brother he hasn't spoken to in years is seriously ill, he wants to reconcile, but is unable to qualify for an automobile driver's license due to poor vision and reflexes. His six-week trek on his John Deere through small towns of middle America may not show Earth in its wild and natural state, but the farmland and amber waves of grain are beautiful. The movie was shot along the actual route taken by the real-life Alvin Straight. Lovely landscapes, a heart-tugging story, and as the very last film for the actor Richard Farnsworth, The Straight Story is a tearjerker on every level.

4.) A River Runs Through It (1992)
With the natural beauty of wild Montana rivers and Brad Pitt, I can't not include it…

3.) Into The Wild (2007)
In 1990, after graduating from Emory University, Christopher McCandless severed ties with his family and friends, disposed of all his money, and set off into the wilderness. After two years of wandering, he starved to death in Alaska. Like 1981's Silence Of The North, the incredible natural beauty of the Earth translates into a rigorous struggle for livelihood. Director Sean Penn does a pretty good job of showing us the aspects of nature that made McCandless value his connection to it over his human relationships.

2.) Never Cry Wolf (1983)
It's no surprise that a lot of wonderful nature movies are set in the cold regions. They're less populated and more pristine. As perhaps the only movie on this list that's explicitly about ecology, this Disney film boasts a cast of one man (for most of its run time), about 10 wolves, hundreds of mice, and shows the vast Arctic.

1.) The Lion King (1994)
For all I know, this was shot in beautiful downtown Burbank, but there's no underestimating the influence of this Disney classic. Millions of environmentalists were born the minute they beheld the rapid decline of Mufasa's kingdom into a sorry wasteland under Scar's habitat neglect and ecosystem rape. Plus, the jungle scenes prior to Scar's reign are absolutely gorgeous.

*****

Jane Black does not know what to make of the fact that out of these five movies, The Mouse House is responsible for more than half.

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