Despite its name, Life in Cold Blood concentrates almost entirely on Reptilians, a subject that has been exhausted these days. So, in that respect, I will only discuss things that make this one unique. First of all, it's David Attenborough, whose pleasant voice and passionate storytelling keeps you plugged throughout the series. Then there are things inherent to using latest technology on reptile tracking, especially in behavior that hasn't been filmed before. One of that is the painstaking job of trying to film a rattlesnake making a kill, a task that took days and real personal hazards to complete. Another is the sound made by turtles mating, or filming lizards that give birth to live young and mate for life. Then of course there is this absolutely unique behavior among certain crocodiles who tend for young that aren't necessarily their own. The list of new things can go on... In a few words, for anyone interested into this class of Vertebrates, this documentary comes as a safe recommendation. What I missed was more covering of reptiles' evolutionary biology, which is such an interesting subject in itself: how they evolved from Amphibian-like creatures 300 million years ago and at least some consideration onto how they achieved their current diversity. Also, one order of reptiles has been completely ignored, the Tuataras, even though their behavior and biology contains aspects just as interesting that have rarely been filmed.
The scripted text binds the story together, whereas filming & sound is as good as one expects from BBC's nature series. What I missed was the artistic quality I've so much enjoyed in Life in the Undergrowth, who continues to stand as perhaps the most gorgeous nature documentary ever to be filmed.
A very fitting bonus is how each episode, and there are five of them, ends with a section that describes the process of shooting and other technicalities, as well as narrator's personal view on the subjects filmed. Attenborough's lifetime dedication and genuine marvel of nature's artworks are to be met with highest praise.
The scripted text binds the story together, whereas filming & sound is as good as one expects from BBC's nature series. What I missed was the artistic quality I've so much enjoyed in Life in the Undergrowth, who continues to stand as perhaps the most gorgeous nature documentary ever to be filmed.
A very fitting bonus is how each episode, and there are five of them, ends with a section that describes the process of shooting and other technicalities, as well as narrator's personal view on the subjects filmed. Attenborough's lifetime dedication and genuine marvel of nature's artworks are to be met with highest praise.