Viral polar bear video sparks Web debate

 

A cross-country skier makes an abrupt U-turn after an unexpected encounter.

Viral video: Cross country skier runs into polar bear (or does he?)

By Chris Chase

A popular YouTube video that shows a cross country skier in Oslo coming upon a wandering polar bear has generated debate in the online community about whether it's real or not:

Since the clip was uploaded to the site, over 200,000 people have watched. Commenters are mixed about the clip's authenticity. After a dozen views, I still can't figure out what's what. Some arguments for both sides:

Real -- If it's a special effect, it's a pretty good one for a YouTube clip. (Notice the shadowing.) Remember when Jack, Kate and Sawyer ran into the polar bear on "Lost." That looked fake and they spent millions of dollars on that show. Plus, Norway is one of the five countries inhabited by the giant animals so it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Fake -- It's shot in the same style as every fake viral video (opens on real landmark, zooms out to suggest cinematic integrity, is shaky, shows the moment in slow motion). Why was somebody filming this in the first place? Is that a person to the left of the bear?


Maybe that's an optical illusion like the hanging munchkin in "The Wizard of Oz," but it sure looks like a guy wearing a winter hat. If so, he appears pretty calm for a guy walking near a 1,200-pound animal.
You decide for yourself.

 

News Source: Yahoo