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Do enjoy watching film and television on Netflix, but when it comes to the Netflix originals the odd gem crops up every now and again. But there are a fair share of films and television that don't do much or anything for me and those that start/started off very promisingly, in some cases brillantly, but decline badly, a major example being 'House of Cards'.
Am however a massive fan of the national treasure that is David Attenborough, as is my sister, and when hearing that he had done a new series and it was on Netflix we just couldn't say no to watching it. The best of Attenborough's work, old and new, are genre landmarks and are incredible in their own right, his career has spanned decades and has been remarkably consistent. In that there is not a dud in the whole of his extensive filmography, his more flawed work still being decent, which is a rarity and something that has been deliberately reiterated by me many times. The 8 part 'Our Planet' was one of our most highly anticipated programmes, watching it we were utterly transfixed by the images, fascinated by all the animals and felt a wide gaumt of emotions. Whether biting our nails, shedding multiple tears, going awww at anything cute and even laughing. After watching 'Our Planet' we were shocked, inspired, very moved and in awe, not many programmes so far this year have made me feel like this. So far this year, this has been among the very best and very special, and in a completely different league when it comes to Netflix shows. Even if it isn't one of Attenborough's best or most ground-breaking.
'Our Planet' is not about animals in beautiful environments being painted in a cute, reassuring and one-sided light, that was something that the brilliant 'Dynasties' was criticised for before it was even aired. Don't think either that it would offer nothing new. Some have criticised it for having an agenda and executing it heavy-handedly. The portrayal of the animals is far from reassuring, some are cute and some are quirky but much of the time the portrayal is complex and uncompromising, all without over-humanising them even in very human conflicts. The environments/habitats do look absolutely glorious ("Jungles" being a prime example), make no mistake about that, but there is much more to them than that with them also being unforgiving and even fragile. "Frozen Worlds" especially.
Regarding whether it offers anything new or not, the environments (jungles, the Arctic, deserts, grasslands etc.) and animals like penguins and killer whales are familiar. But there are also some rare animals not seen before (like in "Jungles" with the preening bird), familiar species doing uniquely different things like the caterpillars in "From Deserts to Grasslands" or the ants in "Jungles". It may seem on the outset that it's familiar, to me there was a different approach to the material, helped by the wide range of camera techniques where you see many animals up close in a way never seen before like with the Arabian Leopard and the cheetah it is very intimate.
Did not find its heavy emphasis on conservation too preachy, unlike some. A lot of 'Our Planet' shows both the wonders of the planet, with all the different species and their behaviours (both familiar and unique) and the different habitats and the fragility of them as their environment is threatened and what human destruction does. What was said was important and things long needing to be addressed, with harrowing sequences like the endings of "Our Planet" and "Frozen Worlds", and with the predatory fungi, making one really sit up and think as well as feeling emotional and shell-shocked. Did find that the heavy emphasis on it was not a bad thing, considering that it applies to all the environments covered and many of the animals and such, such as the megafauna. It's not all doom and gloom, parts are hopeful.
'Our Planet' does in all eight episodes look amazing. The scenery takes the breath away, especially in "Jungles" and "Coastal Seas", but it is more than just beautiful scenery. For example in "Our Planet" and "Frozen Worlds" one is reminded of how cruel that environment is. The scenery is complemented by photography of quite cinematic quality with a wider range of camera techniques rarely seen before, not just a feast for the eyes but it is also expansive and intimate in equal measure, enhancing the impact of the emotional and tense scenes of which in 'Our Planet' there are many. A big example being with the walruses in "Frozen Worlds", which really got me emotionally. The music is grand and atmospheric but also whimsical and jaunty. A memorable example being tango-inspired music in "Jungles" accompanying an amusing sequence.
As one can expect, the narration is very thought-provoking and never rambling or speculative. There are some interesting individual feeling stories here throughout and so many of the species are easy to relate to. 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's distinctive and unequalled narrative delivery, with his unmistakable voice, is sincere, enthusiastic as well as understated. One can listen to him for a long time and not tire of him, no other nature/wildlife documentary narrator/presenter has made me feel this way.
In conclusion, count me in as another person who finds 'Our Planet' brilliant. 10/10
10/10
