When it comes to nature/wildlife documentaries, David Attenborough, still going strong with no signs of tiring for such an amazingly long career, is to me unequalled and every new project of his is eagerly anticipated. Everything he's done (some of it ground-breaking or the quintessential documentary on the subject in question) is so well made, educational, always compelling and have always felt a lot of emotion from a vast majority of them.
His filmography is one of the best and most consistent as far as celebrity filmographies go. A very, very rare case of even the more flawed work being decent and with not a dud in the lot. 'Dynasties' is not quite one of his crowning achievements, but again only because the gems are so many that picking a favourite is very hard. It is yet though another treasure and has everything that makes his work so great. The animals covered are familiar ones, but actually the approach 'Dynasties' takes is for an Attenborough documentary not one done much before if ever. In that it follows specific families within specific species with a tighter focus than one expects. It requires full attentions and deserves it, and again what the series was criticised for before it started is not present in the episodes, or series, at all.
After such an incredible first two episodes, with "Emperor" being especially special, it is very difficult to not expect a lot watching "Lion". Luckily, it doesn't disappoint.
It looks amazing for starters. The scenery takes the breath away but it is more than just beautiful scenery, with an at times cruel and unforgiving nature that felt very real. The scenery is complemented by truly glorious filming, some of the best of the series for me, not just a gorgeous feast for the eyes but it is also expansive and intimate in equal measure, enhancing the impact of the emotional and tense scenes. Likewise with the music which never came over as intrusive.
"Lion's" narration is very thought-provoking and never felt like it rambled or over-speculated, as to be expected. The animals here may be familiar territory, but the approach and tighter focus that they are explored in feels fresh, one seeing emotional, resourceful and shocking sides to them other than cute and playful. "Lion" once again feels like its own individual story rather than just an episode of a series, Attenborough documentaries always excelled at this aspect and did so in a way that did not compromise the facts. It is hard not to root for the lioness Charm, her struggles and the lengths she goes through to overcome them. One has to be warned that again some of "Lion" is distressing, the Red versus the hyenas (genuinely menacing here) encounter really chilled my blood.
There is again surprisingly uncompromising complexity in how the animals are portrayed, and we are not just talking about the lions, though we are especially talking about them. The Kenya Masai Mura landscape has more to it than looking glorious and nothing feels trivialised or over-humanised, scenes like the Red and hyenas encounter in fact pull no punches and one is amazed at how it even managed to be captured on film. A lot of information is covered but felt properly explored and not rushed or disjointed, and the facts educate and illuminate while not being compromised for the emotionally complex storytelling.
Once again, Attenborough delivers sincerely, enthusiastically as well as in an understated fashion, his voice as ever distinctive. One can listen to him for hours and not tire of him, no other nature/wildlife documentary narrator/presenter has made me feel this way.
Summarising, wonderful. 10/10 Bethany Cox
His filmography is one of the best and most consistent as far as celebrity filmographies go. A very, very rare case of even the more flawed work being decent and with not a dud in the lot. 'Dynasties' is not quite one of his crowning achievements, but again only because the gems are so many that picking a favourite is very hard. It is yet though another treasure and has everything that makes his work so great. The animals covered are familiar ones, but actually the approach 'Dynasties' takes is for an Attenborough documentary not one done much before if ever. In that it follows specific families within specific species with a tighter focus than one expects. It requires full attentions and deserves it, and again what the series was criticised for before it started is not present in the episodes, or series, at all.
After such an incredible first two episodes, with "Emperor" being especially special, it is very difficult to not expect a lot watching "Lion". Luckily, it doesn't disappoint.
It looks amazing for starters. The scenery takes the breath away but it is more than just beautiful scenery, with an at times cruel and unforgiving nature that felt very real. The scenery is complemented by truly glorious filming, some of the best of the series for me, not just a gorgeous feast for the eyes but it is also expansive and intimate in equal measure, enhancing the impact of the emotional and tense scenes. Likewise with the music which never came over as intrusive.
"Lion's" narration is very thought-provoking and never felt like it rambled or over-speculated, as to be expected. The animals here may be familiar territory, but the approach and tighter focus that they are explored in feels fresh, one seeing emotional, resourceful and shocking sides to them other than cute and playful. "Lion" once again feels like its own individual story rather than just an episode of a series, Attenborough documentaries always excelled at this aspect and did so in a way that did not compromise the facts. It is hard not to root for the lioness Charm, her struggles and the lengths she goes through to overcome them. One has to be warned that again some of "Lion" is distressing, the Red versus the hyenas (genuinely menacing here) encounter really chilled my blood.
There is again surprisingly uncompromising complexity in how the animals are portrayed, and we are not just talking about the lions, though we are especially talking about them. The Kenya Masai Mura landscape has more to it than looking glorious and nothing feels trivialised or over-humanised, scenes like the Red and hyenas encounter in fact pull no punches and one is amazed at how it even managed to be captured on film. A lot of information is covered but felt properly explored and not rushed or disjointed, and the facts educate and illuminate while not being compromised for the emotionally complex storytelling.
Once again, Attenborough delivers sincerely, enthusiastically as well as in an understated fashion, his voice as ever distinctive. One can listen to him for hours and not tire of him, no other nature/wildlife documentary narrator/presenter has made me feel this way.
Summarising, wonderful. 10/10 Bethany Cox
