Pandas: The Journey Home (2014) User Reviews

It's worth seeing just for the guys in the panda suits!

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 27 September 2015]

"The Journey Home" is a nice but short documentary film about the breeding program in China that's trying to increase the population of panda--both in captivity and in the wild. The Panda Center goes to amazing lengths to do this but the funniest is watching workers dressing up in giant panda suits (with urine and feces on them so they smell more panda-like) working among the animals so that the pandas WON'T be habituated towards people and will have a greater chance of survival in the wild. I would REALLY hate to have that job!! In addition, throughout the film you'll see tons of adorable pandas and panda babies. It's all very charming and well made and worth seeing. My only complaint is that it's way too short and really is a bit more superficial than I would have liked.

Panda Panda Kopanda

[Horst_In_Translation · 8/10 · 6 February 2016]

"Pandas: The Journey Home" is a 36-minute short documentary film that, as the title already implies, tells us about a panda preservation camp in China. The director is 2-time Emmy nominee Nicolas Brown, the writer is experienced wildlife filmmaker Nigel Levy and the whole things gets narrated by Joely Richardson (Redgrave clan, "Nip/Tuck"). Well, what is there to say. It has not only pandas, but panda cubs for the most part, so this little film is cute beyond belief. But it also delivers on the informative side. There are quite a few things to learn about pandas and their lifestyle from this documentary. I found the part interesting when they exchanged the babies. Oh my god, the young pandas were so tiny. The cutest part is probably when we see a whole bunch of (not very) young pandas drinking and eating like dogs from their bowls. And the film also delivers in terms of comedy. These scientists in panda costumes were really hilarious. Typically Asian stuff. Of course, it makes sense in the context, at least the context that is not the release at the very end, but it was still unintentionally hilarious. As a whole, this documentary has really everything you can hope for. A good watch for young and old. Highly recommended.