"Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives" The Rare Glimpses (TV Episode 1989) Poster

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10/10
Early prehistoric life
TheLittleSongbird22 March 2018
As said many times, David Attenborough is a national treasure. He may apparently dislike the term, but it is hard to not say that about such a great presenter who has contributed significantly to some of the best programmes of the documentary genre and overall.

It is really hard picking favourites, let alone a definite favourite, among what Attenborough has done because he has done so many gems, of which 'Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives' is definitely one of them. 'Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives' may not quite emotionally connect with me or have the wide range of emotions the way Attenborough's wildlife documentaries do, but it is still exceptionally well made and fascinating. As far as documentaries on fossils and evolution go, it is also from personal opinion ground-breaking and important.

The final episode of 'Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives' "The Rare Glimpses" is an example of how to end a consistently superb series. One where everything that makes Attenborough's work as good as it is is in sight and to dead on effect. A lot is covered without feeling like too much information is being given to us.

Like as anticipated, "The Rare Glimpses" is very comprehensive, detailed and honest, is well-researched and doesn't make the mistakes of being one-sided or basing the information around poorly backed-up assumptions. Really cared for what was said and understood and appreciated fossils and evolution far more watching it. That's part of the beauty of Attenborough documentaries, when it's a subject one is not so knowledgeable on or usually indifferent to his work sheds a whole new light on them, clears up misconceptions and makes one appreciate and understand them more. The same went for his documentaries on invertebrates and reptiles.

As always with Attenborough, his work and individual episodes of them, "Dinosaur" looks great. It is beautifully filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate, way and never looking static. In fact much of it is remarkably cinematic with some of the shots being unique for a documentary series, making one forget that it is a series. The editing is always succinct and smooth.

The music score fits very well, never overly grandiose while never being inappropriate while also being a beautiful score in its own right.

Narration by Attenborough helps significantly. He clearly knows his stuff and knows what to say and how to say it. He delivers it with his usual richness, soft-spoken enthusiasm and sincerity, never talking down to the viewer and keeping them riveted and wanting to know more.

Nothing is too episodic and it's all structured and paced beautifully.

Overall, how to end a superb and ground-breaking (in subject matter) series. 10/10 Bethany Cox
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