The Last Lions (2011) User Reviews

One of the best wildlife documentaries to date

[dblcap-1 · 8/10 · 12 February 2011]

I was one of the fortunate few who were introduced today to this cinematic dreamscape of Botswana and the incredible life of one brave lioness. The premiere in Houston, TX was presented by National Geographic and the audience was also treated to a Q&A session with the actual film makers -- Dereck and Beverly Joubert. Quite an honor and special event offered to the contributors of the Big Cats initiative where the donations help dedicated researchers and animal conservationists find solutions to the grave threats facing lions, tigers, leopards, and other big cats.

This documentary provided scenes of survival that even this Big Cat Diary watcher has never witnessed. Amazing truths of the brutal life in the wild that these creatures face every day in Africa. Incredible scenes of the adaptation of the kings and queens of the jungle and their unwavering dedication to the protection of their young.

The musical score and cinematography, together with the slightly subdued drama beautifully presented by Jeremy Irons made this a truly riveting experience that I will never forget and, for which I am proud to be a continued supporter.

This is a must see for animal lovers.

The Last Lions illustrates Survival of the Fittest

[rcreery · 9/10 · 22 May 2012]

The Last Lions is an excellent documentary that illustrates the drive to survive in nature. Without giving it away, the film clearly illustrates that Mother Nature is a system of checks and balances and outcomes aren't what they always appear to be.....As a high school science teacher, this film helps my students understand how nature works and the impact the human species is having on the natural world. The Jouberts have always made excellent films that help students understand that nature is always changing and we can help keep it from disappearing. I hope that they continue to make these documentaries and help shed light on the natural world.

Must see - Touching... Could not stop thinking about it later

[dtmoura · 9/10 · 27 June 2012]

I read in some reviews people complaining this is not a "pure" documentary, that it might have been edited to create a certain storyline. All I know is that every documentary has editing, and that clearly this one was made a bit dramatic on purpose (and that is the only reason I don't rate it 10)... but I don't care - It is excellent! It generates a wide range of feelings (good and bad) and I simply could not stop thinking about it later... It not only serves well the Big cats cause but it is also very good entertainment. Even if you are not a wildlife documentary fan, this will touch you. Please see it! It does mean it should be the only Africa documentary you should see, I've already seen other great ones, like Eternal enemies our Great Migrations, but this one is very nice complement.

Excellent film but NOT for small children

[mharding01 · 10/10 · 17 February 2011]

I was fortunate enough to see LAST LIONS at National Geographic headquarters in DC last night. It is an excellent and compelling film. Beautifully photographed and a story that will have you grasping the armrests. Just one caveat - take the PG rating seriously. Do not bring little children. Nature can be very hard and the Jouberts do not flinch from showing this side. That said, older children and of course adults will be transported. I certainly was. Though certainly the creators' intent (and NG's, too) is to educate people about the plight of lions (50 years ago there were 450,000 in the wild, now just 20,000), you will be entertained as well as enlightened.

A lone lioness overcomes the harsh reality of Botswana

[ichimitsu · 10/10 · 31 January 2012]

Oh my God! This was so good. It's probably the best documentary on lions I have ever seen. Honestly. The lioness overcame so much! I bawled my eyes out when she had to leave the cub with the broken spine. And I don't cry that often. She became a leader, and forged friendships, and thankfully still had one child. She never gave up on that herd of buffalo...she was going to get one no matter what it cost her. Usually, I watch these things and feel sad for the prey, but I wanted her get one. And you could actually see the pain of loss in her face when she lost her mate, and her two cubs, especially the second one. She knew she would have to leave it behind. I know I sound corny, but this movie was great. It made me feel sad, happy and guilty all at the same time. It makes me want to quit my job and go save lions!

Emotional, beautiful and thrilling

[peturthorra · 9/10 · 2 February 2012]

This movie gives away something more than a normal documentary, it makes us feel for our emotions, emotions for the lions we watched in this movie. It is most beautiful animal story i have ever watched, thrilling but very beautiful. It shows us the real life of lioness and her cubs going through difficulties that the wild life has to offer. Wonderful narrator, one of the best, top class cinematography and lovely music.

Emotional, beautiful and thrilling, this is not a ordinary documentary, it is a masterpiece.

10/10 must seen movie for those who have emotions and want to get more from a documentary.

The trailer doesn't give the movie the look and feel and is some kind of misleading how the film really is.

Oh so sad

[plutus1947 · 10/10 · 6 November 2016]

This Natural History documentary is in my opinion one of the best ever produced. This is in part due to the tremendous narration by British actor Jeremy Irons together with the incredible photography.

It has been given a UK PG Certificate and I agree with this because it is not recommended for young viewers.

The documentary films the life of a solitary lioness and her three cubs.

SPOILER BEGINS This story begins with the lioness (given the name Ma di Tau), her lion partner and their three cubs living on their own without a pride of lions.

Another pride invades their home and kills the male leaving Ma di Tau and her three cubs to fend for themselves.

SPOILER ENDS I am not giving any more information about the film because it should be watched and the viewer must form their own opinion about it.

I will say that for all those who have an interest in Natural History, either great or small they should watch this extremely sad and enlightening documentary and for those who do not have an interest they should watch it and perhaps they will develop an interest and a great concern for the future of this beautiful Earth's wildlife.

20 years ago 450.000 lions roamed the wild but now only 20.000 remain due to being hunted and having their natural habitat stolen from them by greedy humans.

Mostly Masterful

[OceanicEys · 9/10 · 19 February 2011]

I give this film a 9 for its technical mastery, its obvious good intentions and the gorgeous cinematography.

***SPOILERS AHEAD*** However, I'm afraid my immersion in the film's world, and my "suspension of disbelief" were sorely tested by the filmmakers' choices. Many audience members know that wildlife filmmakers take tremendous liberties with their story arcs, their substitution of one animal for another and their consistency of time, place and sound. These are necessary leaps that are simply required by the difficulty of the genre. But from very early on, when a huge elephant is shown advancing on the camera and stomping the ground angrily, and we are led by the saccharine narration to believe that it is trying to assault a pair of lion cubs... they lost me. You never see the cubs and the elephant in the same shot. Was the elephant even in the same country as the cubs? This technique is used to extremes -- the lion looks off to the left and you are told she is seeing her former mate who has been horribly mauled by competing male lions. But you never see her and the male lion in the same frame at this point (after seeing them - or is it them? - frolicking together earlier before the mauling). So did she ever really see him again? There are countless similar liberties, but I can see I'm sounding like a sourpuss so I'll stop here.

In any case, the film is beautiful, the intimate view of Mother Nature's cruelties and gifts is unique and moving. You will leave thanking God you weren't born a lion, and you will have a new or renewed concern for their well-being. My only wish is that the filmmakers hadn't expected so little of me as a viewer. I think you can enjoy the film and appreciate its mission and message even if you do see the flaws I saw. In fact, I hope I'm wrong, and I hope to read that the filmmakers did use only one lioness as the "star," so to speak. But go see it. You won't regret it. And give to support National Geographic's efforts in protecting lions and their habitat!

Human actors, watch out, these animals have go it!

[zken · 8/10 · 8 March 2011]

I walked into this movie somewhat by chance but I had heard the interview the film makers had done with Terry Gross on NPR. And I was very surprised that despite a constant narrative by the great Jeremy Irons, this film works. The question remains-can we take the humanizing of wild animals too far? The answer is, probably not, because humans NEED this point of view to develop empathy for these ferocious beasts. At least this is the point of view of the makers of this beautifully filmed and surprising documentary. What I find missing is more about the ugliness of the human condition, bent on every type of destruction of the wild, promoting guns and hunting like this is some type of sport, and a culture everywhere that promotes economies built on destructive and deadly consequences. But that is probably another film and another day. Here we have a meditation of nature, its cruelties, pathos and sheer beauty that you will never forget. Don't miss this one.

Great nature movie

[0U · 20 February 2020]

It is impossible not to love this movie - one minute it will make you laugh out loud, only to break your heart in the next and it will make you keep your breath in amazement for all of 88 minutes it lasts. Mother Nature proves once again that it can effortlessly best even the best film directors, if only someone can manage to be bothered with filming the great spectacle of life in the wild. Huge thanks must be given to the Joubert couple for this movie. Oh, and yes, having Jeremy Irons as narrator was a stroke of genius!

Great visuals but show rather than tell

[generic_elias · 6/10 · 23 February 2011]

I went to a free screening of Last Lions in Seattle and enjoyed the film. The visuals were great, music was interesting, and it really felt like you were sharing the experience.

But anthropomorphizing the main character, in this case a female Lion, didn't really seem warranted. This wasn't written for children, was it? Yes, it's helpful as scientists or experts to explain the behavior to the audience, objectively. It's not helpful saying what a lion is feeling and their motivation. I can see for myself the motivation of an animal.

In additional, I feel it could have been much better without Jeremy Irons reading a cheesy script. Some of the lines were fairly cliché. Well crafted English doesn't have to be ornate and baroque. Let the Lions be the poetry.

MOTHERHOOD has a new name

[cooldudeshwar · 10/10 · 9 January 2012]

man!i was spell bound to watch the motherhood of these iconic animals.firstly the direction of the scenes was spine chilling,raise your hands to the only mother lion who takes survival and courage to a whole new transition. my salutes to the filmmakers who made shot these fantastic story . last but not the least a huge cheers to the narration and background score.then there one question that pops in my mind.could we humans do a bit more for helping these gigantic creatures by providing enough space for them to freely inculcate the natures beauty and save our mother earth.together we all can. 10/10 from me with out a doubt.

Deceptive, Shameless

[eph007-304-665351 · 3/10 · 28 February 2012]

As an avid watcher of National Geographic and big-cat films I was able to spot the deception this supposed "documentary" tries to pull off. My great excitement immediately plummeted when i recognized footage from other videos being inserted into this one to complete the storyline- in other words create a story where there was none.

It happened numerous times, each time i was surprised how low a film by what you would think is an honorable company- national geographic- would sink to.

The lack of honesty in what was supposed to be a documentary destroyed any value this film had for me. I only gave it three stars because there were cool visuals, even though the story was dreck.

There are some good videos out there. Go watch Lions and Hyenas: Eternal Enemies. That will really knock your face off and you won't grow a long nose like Pinnochio for watching it.

A Lioness's Journey to protect her cubs.

[areegmahmoud · 10/10 · 18 October 2016]

The Last Lions, a Journey of why we should be concerned. Set in the Okavanda delta, in Africa, The Last Lions (released: 2011) documentary starts off by warning us, the audience, of how much the lions' population has declined in the past fifty years. It then takes us on a journey to discover how a lone lioness has to take care of her three cubs in the face of the harsh modern African wild-life. The documentary shows us the lioness's point of view on things and how she devices plans to get her cubs to a place safe enough, long enough so they can grow and be able to defend for themselves. The lioness's journey starts with her being named Ma Di Tau, which means protector of her young. The Documentary shows us the many obstacles that Ma Di Tau has to overcome, starting from the moment where her mate is killed, she's left all alone to defend herself from the new pack of lions that had to move because of human advancement. The documentary then shows us that although Ma Di Tau had lost her mate, she still had a sliver of hope that she wasn't all alone, she still had her three cubs to take care of. Ma Di Tau takes her cubs and starts moving away from the pack – that's trying to hunt her down to kill her. In addition, a new obstacle appears: a fire ignites; which leaves the lioness to choose between walking along the fire line, or heading off in the direction of humans, and guns. In this moment the documentary shows us an effect of human advancement: limiting the land to which she can run away. But Ma Di Tau doesn't give up; she keeps looking for new land; the lioness then finds an island – named Duba – safe enough, until the new obstacles arrive. All the while, the documentary shows us the very complex thoughts that the lioness goes through in her survival oriented mind; the narrator speaks for the lioness and how she goes through her options, and executes them precisely. Even though the documentary gives the point of view of the lioness, it also explains the logic behind her actions and what consequences these options might produce. This documentary has a specific audience, because it is not the general wild-life documentary that you might watch on a Sunday afternoon. The documentary specifically shows how this one lioness survives in the wilderness, so it'll interest people who are trying to understand how the lion mind works. On the other hand, if you are not patient enough this isn't the documentary for you because there's a lot of moments in the documentary where all you do is wait for the lioness to attack, or the lioness bonding with her cubs. It also shows a very cruel part of the wild-life, a part where the weak is left behind, so this might not be a good documentary for kids. All in all, this documentary is very informative and expressive. It shows Ma Di Tau in a very logical sense, instead of the mindless predator that a lion is represented as; it also shows a very emotional part where she's represented as a protective mother trying to save her cubs, or a grieving mother trying to get revenge for her cubs. The documentary clearly represents all these emotions and logic by showing it on camera: you can see the logical predator when she has all that blood and battle scars on her, or the protective mother look that the camera captures, and lastly the pride in which you can see in her walk when she succeeds in being a protector of her young.

Truly a great film

[photogenix · 10/10 · 11 July 2019]

I cried when i saw this movie....it really brought me to tears....a must see.

A mother's love

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 23 November 2020]

Saw 'The Last Lions' for three primary reasons. One was because of my love for nature documentaries and there are so many wonderful ones out there. Two was because lions have always fascinated me and it has always been easy for me to sympathise with their increasingly difficult plight. Being a big fan of Jeremy Irons, oddly enough ever since his iconic voice work for Scar in 1994's 'The Lion King' also was a big attraction.

'The Last Lions' did not disappoint. This is how to make a documentary that tells a emotionally wide-ranging and dramatic story and has animals worth rooting for, while mixing them with an uncompromising approach to the material, facts that educate and makes one think and affected emotionally and beautifully written and delivered narration. Actually think that 'The Last Lions' is one of the best examples of this mix in documentaries, some documentaries have failed such as 2019's 'Serengeti' and the recent DisneyNature 'Elephant' in this aspect but this one is an absolute winner.

Is it flawless? Not quite. The sequence between the mother and wounded cub went on for too long and was unnecessarily sadistic, even for a documentary that hardly sugar-coated its subject.

While loving the narration writing on the whole, we didn't need to be reminded so many times about what emotions the big cats were feeling. That did feel over-explanatory at times.

However, there is so much to recommend about 'The Last Lions'. It looks wonderful, with absolutely stunning scenery and photography worthy of cinema that adds so much to the emotions of many scenes. The music has a real presence and heft, especially in the more intense scenes, yet to me it didn't come over as too overwrought or like it was trying too hard to be anything more than needed. There are sympathetic parts in more intimate scenes.

Personally loved how the narration was written, it wasn't corny, it wasn't patronising (on the whole), it wasn't sugary. Instead it was uncompromisingly to the point (rightly so) but also honest, poetic and actually didn't take itself too seriously. It has a wide emotional range and has a good mix of the familiar and not so familiar. Irons' unmistakable gravitas-filled voice is a perfect fit, purring with authority and sincerity while clearly in awe and emotion over the material. While completely understanding why people feel that 'The Last Lions' to them came over as too dramatic and too humanised and that both were exaggerated, to me that wasn't the case apart from one already discussed sequence. The animals are so easy to root for here, their heart-breaking story really resonating, and feel incredibly real.

Ma Di Tau is a lionness every parent will identify with with a truly powerful story, the most rootable lionness on film since Elsa from 'Born Free'. The storytelling pulls no punches, appropriate actually seeing how the welfare of lions all the time has become increasingly dangerous, and absolutely heart-breaking, shocks and tears guaranteed throughout. Not just the plight of Ma Di Tau but also the quite chilling portrayal of unseen humans. Nothing cutesy or fuzzy about it, and nothing is sugar-coated or manipulative in my view. Despite being not an easy watch, there is definitely a glimmer of hope and it does leave one thinking hard about making a difference.

Overall, truly great. 9/10

Wonderful but Sad Documentary

[fossicle · 10/10 · 23 August 2015]

I know that most animal documentaries are also sad but this one got to me towards the end with Ma di Tau and her precious little daughter. I still think about the face of the little cub.

This documentary is fantastic. Great scenery and puts you in the predicament of our lions. I highly recommend watching it.

One thing really got to me. It was a review by MANOHLA DARGIS of the NY times. Did this women watch the movie or just have an agenda?

She says "Within the first 20 minutes of "The Last Lions" one adult lion dies in a ferocious on-screen fight .." Then in the next paragraph she says "First, her old man splits..."

Well, if Manohla actually watched the movie rather than looking at it she should have known that the adult lion who died was her mate fighting for her and the cubs to protect their territory. He did not split. He fought and gave up his life for the family. That is a helluva difference Manohla.

And Ma di Tau and her cubs did not "lose their home in a fire." They were forced out by the new pride that came in and took over their territory. The fire was an impediment to their escape. Geez woman get the facts right.

And you are a film critic????

Beautiful documentary

[riadganfud · 9/10 · 25 October 2019]

Beautiful story,it touches your heart. you'll enjoy it for sure.

Must watch

[pranavkumar-78657 · 10/10 · 29 September 2020]

Its a incredibly narrated true story of a lone lioness in struggle to protect her cubs. The journey of lone lioness is courageous as well inspirational to many.

Great Visuals for a fake story

[nanax1559 · 2/10 · 20 February 2011]

Beautifully shot, no question about it. But the anthropomorphizing is just too much. Why force a dramatic story where there is none. The real wild Africa is disappearing rapidly, but this type of film is not going to do anything to understand what is going on. I also find it really offensive to present a totally fabricated story as a "wildlife" documentary. Granted one has to take creative licenses and I respect the fact that you cannot shoot a film like that in a matter of weeks. But then don't present this as a document from the wild.

Warning "Spoiler" Furthermore, why pay $10 to see this in a theater when you can see wildlife documentaries 24/7 in HD at home. In 3D, yes... but then again with my iPod turned up full blast to cancel the noise coming out of Jeremy Irons mouth.

I wish I had liked this movie, but I didn't

[wlboal · 3/10 · 19 April 2011]

I saw wild lions in Kenya and Tanzania in 1983, and I am very sympathetic to their plight. I hadn't known their population had decreased to 20,000, and I completely concur with the filmmakers about the issue of dwindling habitat for so many species. However, I was irritated by the anthropomorphizing all the way through this movie, as well as by the music. I wish this had been a more straight-forward documentary. In fact, I don't think the film was all that educational. For example, I had thought that adult male lions were mainly solitary except when mating, but the movie showed a group of adult males. I would have liked to have learned more about how lions really live (including an explanation of that group of males) rather than a story that was probably made up to some extent. The lions and the scenery are beautiful, but it's obvious that to tell a story, the filmmakers must have used scenes taken at other times - probably of other animals. There's no way they could have had multiple camera angles of key scenes. I also would have been interested in seeing more of how the movie was made - the final shots of the filmmakers were tantalizing but too few. I do encourage viewers to find and donate to appropriate charities that help save wildlife habitats around the world.

Great pictures, ridiculous story

[Alex_Lo · 5/10 · 4 April 2020]

The film records are impressive without a doubt. But the humanization is exaggerated and its obvious that the pictures have been cut into a story with Happy End.

Ok let's accept that this's not a movie!

[dakuchonekobing · 4/10 · 22 July 2019]

I know this is a documentary film but I still wanna judge it on the view of a movie watcher. It's a little interesting because it's a documentary film but still have dramatic moments, touching at the end, but I really don't understand why the lions accept the existance of the lone mother so easily? I guess because of food. And the last fight is so quick. Ok I got it, because it's real nature, reality not a movie lol. So, on the hand of a documentary fan, I give this 7/10. But on the hand of a movie fan, well, I think 4/10 is acceptable.