Brothers in Blood: The Lions of Sabi Sand (2015) User Reviews

Difficult to watch at times, but that's how lions live

[rtgannon1 · 8/10 · 3 September 2021]

I've watched many wildlife documentaries over the years, and this one really stands out. The film does a great job of capturing the brutality and savagery that wild lions must contend with in their struggle to survive. The video presentation is very good, with most scenes in high resolution, along with a few scenes from lower resolution sources. The audio is good - the only issue I noted was difficulty understanding dialogue spoken by some of the cast members who had heavy South African accents. Subtitles would have helped with that issue. All in all, I would highly recommend this film to those who enjoy a good nature documentary, but be warned - there are very graphic scenes of violent predatory behavior that can be difficult to watch for the faint of heart.

Not too bad

[riadganfud · 7/10 · 25 October 2019]

I loved it but the only thing I didn't like is they use a lot of unreal scenes or scenes which has been taken from other documentaries.

Deserves a good rating~

[elanetczn-19540 · 9/10 · 31 October 2019]

This documentary is about the 6 Mapogos brothers. It is simple and it got me hooked. If only we have more documentaries about the six brave lions, I'd watch them in any day.

The Saga Continues - The Selati Lions - Most fascinating documentary

[ceejayinsa · 10/10 · 23 November 2015]

One of the most fascinating powerful documentaries to date. This gives one the other side of the coin, how ferocious lions really are. It keeps one on the edge of the chair from beginning to end. The footage and interviews are perfectly put together and even some of the clips I recall over the years from You Tube. As a South African I had the opportunity to visit the reserve next to the Sabi Sands, the Manyeleti Game Reserve, where the pack of Selati lions are roaming, so the saga continues. See link to the blog of Tintswalo Safari Lodge of the Selati males and for the first time they have cubs now, blog dated 15-16 October.

Shocking, fascinating, unpleasant, sickening, and then loving, amazing and fantastic how one's emotions took a roller coaster just watching this amazing footage taken over 16 years making this documentary. The guides and people being interviewed was done so superbly and to see how many emotions were involved in the making of this documentary absolutely gave this a top score.

Not recommended for younger viewers for the footage is very shocking at times. I hope that this documentary to be entered at Cannes and if this does not walk away with a win it should get many awards anywhere else.

If you are a wildlife lover and enjoy the African wildlife type documentaries, from Sir David Attenborough's "Africa", Animal Planet or NatGEO, this should be added to the collection of top best Wild Life documentaries of most recent years ever filmed.

Please let me know where this can be ordered from and will it be available on Amazon?

One of those movies you need to see a second time.

[billboonnz · 10/10 · 24 August 2015]

This would have to be the most powerful animal documentary I have seen. Sixteen years of work (what patience and understanding) show that coveting of power is not just a human trait nor is retribution.

Normally I find personal input from observers and stake holder in a documentary is more of a filler and clinical but in this movie they help build not only a foundation of timing and behaviour but also a deeper , more personal understanding of the desire for a single lion to be king of all and the retribution of others as the power wanes.

This is not a movie for the faint hearted, it is not only extremely graphic but true to life and death. One of those movies you need to see a second time.

Greatest documentary ever made on the life of lions

[jazzkt · 10/10 · 25 March 2017]

I always find Discovery Channel documentaries as fascinating and new things to learn, enhance knowledge and feel the same astonishing moments while making these documentaries. By watching Brothers in Blood: The Lions of Sabi Sand, it is entirely different from any documentary that we mostly see how a lion's pride hunt as a team and whole pride stay together.

Again, I really appreciate all the team members' work for making Brothers in Blood: The Lions of Sabi Sand, as one of the greatest documentary ever made on the life of lions.

Great documentary

[candlekeep · 10/10 · 22 May 2016]

One of the most fascinating documentary i've ever seen. Great scenery, great story, smart commentaries and lots of love of those great animals. This film is a must see for or lion lovers and fans of wild nature.

Great work and masterpiece of long work (this film took 16 years to be made).

So hope that creators of the film will make something more about wildlife in Africa. All in all is 10 out of 10. Recommended for everyone except children. This film shows lots of cruel things. But the reality is so. Now we now what male lions are really are and why they are called kings.

Gripping, riveting, fascinating & brutal.

[avprav · 10/10 · 28 July 2018]

I rarely write reviews. I am usually content with rating movies. But this documentary is extraordinary. I love lions for their majestic appearance, their power, their strength and leadership. But this documentary showed the raw & brutal nature of life for lions. To survive they have to dominate period. And boy did the Mapogos dominate other male lions by unleashing unprecedented terror.

Mr.T is the pablo escobar of Sabi sands and this documentary is the Narcos I of Lion world.

Great

[0U · 20 February 2020]

This is the real deal... Graphic and unabated. You see the beauty, travesty, injustice and cycle of life as seen through this brotherhood of Lions over almost 20 years. Have the tissues nearby as some scenes will move you as did me. Am still affected by what I had seen. Yet this is what really happens our there - not through rose tinted specs It's amazing how these beasts can be so firm and gentle at the same time. Without words, they let their opinion be known, and surprisingly, democracy is evident in their decisions. For example if there is a territory dispute, the king and his warriors assemble to show solidarity, and set forth to sort out the issue using ancient communication methods. Should the initial greeting sounds fail to establish an amicable situation, they murder each other.

Life Changing

[nicepoeci · 10/10 · 13 February 2021]

We all have our pet cats, some of us even hoard them. This movie will get you a greater appreciation for life and death. Its one of the most comprehensive and honest animal documentaries you will ever see. It might even change your spirituality.

Great for some, average for others

[zs_786 · 6/10 · 26 May 2020]

This was shot over the period of 16 years, following the Mapogo lions and is interesting as a concept. It is interesting to follow the story of the lions at some pivotal points, but I feel as though it was a documentary that was pieced together by many different people and sources, therefore it lacked the cohesion of a well-produced documentary.

Lots of hype; lots of bland talk; little lion footage

[cgtam · 1/10 · 1 January 2021]

This film is a documentary of mostly guides or rangers reminiscing about unique large lion brotherhood & their quest for prides. This is a "people talking" film, not a film showing lions behaving in a unique large scale manner. Some scenes are brutal because only results of the brothers takeovers are filmed - not advised for very young kids. No night vision cameras back then, so the rangers / guides attempt to describe what they witnessed or heard focused on the takeover years & how the coalition ended, not a 20 yr succinct tale & clearly no script. Few scenes are irritating, I,e., many tourists gawking at various unnamed lions in various states of health or injury during their reign. One expects in 20 years there'd be some interesting filming of the brothers due to their widespread fame, but NO. This is a ONE dimensional doc of an adult male lion large coalition projected as mindless killers. Sadly, no real story or glimpse of their interesting complex lives. This film can easily be SKIPPED since nothing is actually shown nor learned, & this event claims to be "one of a kind."