Despite how much he apparently dislikes the term "national treasure", that term really does sum up David Attenborough to a tee. He is such a great presenter (in his 90s and still sounds, and looks on a side note, great) and whenever a new series of his is aired they are often among the best the BBC has done in years.
Attenborough has done so many treasures over his long and remarkably consistent career (even his lesser work is still good) that picking a favourite is not easy. 'Frozen Planet' is one of those treasures, perhaps not as ground-breaking as something like 'Life on Earth' and anybody who was familiar beforehand with 'Planet Earth' may find themselves not finding much truly innovative. Having said that, it left me in the same amount of awe as when watching that series, both 'Planet Earth' series and 'Blue Planet' (am loving the second series too). It is a shame that despite being one of IMDb's highest rated shows, the ratings here for each episode individually has such a wide divide between them and that for the show overall. To me, the series overall is wholly deserving of its acclaim and the individual episodes are rated far too low.
'Frozen Planet's fifth episode "Winter" doesn't disappoint in any shape or form. Said in my review for 'Frozen Planet' that it transfixed, fascinated, moved and educated me more than any other documentary seen in a long time and is an example of how documentaries should be done. Still stand by that. Likewise with saying that one forgets they're watching a documentary and instead feeling like they're watching art.
Visually, like all the 'Frozen Planet' episodes and all of Attenborough's work, "Winter" looks wonderful. It is gorgeously filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting even more with the animals), way and never looking static. In fact much of it is remarkably cinematic. The polar region scenery is some of the most breath-taking personally seen anywhere, whether in visual media and real life. The behind the scenes stuff gives a touch of honesty and humanity.
George Fenton's music score soars majestically, rousing the spirits while touching the soul. It not only complements the visuals but enhances them to a greater level. Some of my favourite work from him in fact, coming from someone who's liked a lot of what he's done. The main theme is unforgettable.
Can't fault the narrative aspects in "Winter" either. There are things already known to me, still delivered with a lot of freshness, but there was a lot that was quite an education and after watching the full series it honestly felt like the series taught me a lot (and no it's not just the Latin names for the animals), much more so than anything in my secondary school Geography class. Attenborough's narration helps quite significantly too, 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. Loved what was said about the tiny polar bear cubs.
Two scenes in particular stand out. One is the extraordinarily adorable one with the tiny polar bear cubs and their want for milk, even cuter than anything with the penguins. The other, and particularly good, is the wolf taking on bison, as shockingly savage and suspenseful an animal hunt and attack that one will find anywhere on film, a 2011 television highlight without a shadow of a doubt and am still amazed to this day at how a scene was captured. Then there are a couple of animals that are a mix of both, in particular the weasel, a deceptively sweet-looking animal while being dangerous at the same time.
Nothing episodic or repetitive here. Instead, it feels like its own individual story with real, complex emotions and conflicts and animal characters developed in a way a human character would in a film but does it better than several.
In short, a wintry delight. 10/10 Bethany Cox
Attenborough has done so many treasures over his long and remarkably consistent career (even his lesser work is still good) that picking a favourite is not easy. 'Frozen Planet' is one of those treasures, perhaps not as ground-breaking as something like 'Life on Earth' and anybody who was familiar beforehand with 'Planet Earth' may find themselves not finding much truly innovative. Having said that, it left me in the same amount of awe as when watching that series, both 'Planet Earth' series and 'Blue Planet' (am loving the second series too). It is a shame that despite being one of IMDb's highest rated shows, the ratings here for each episode individually has such a wide divide between them and that for the show overall. To me, the series overall is wholly deserving of its acclaim and the individual episodes are rated far too low.
'Frozen Planet's fifth episode "Winter" doesn't disappoint in any shape or form. Said in my review for 'Frozen Planet' that it transfixed, fascinated, moved and educated me more than any other documentary seen in a long time and is an example of how documentaries should be done. Still stand by that. Likewise with saying that one forgets they're watching a documentary and instead feeling like they're watching art.
Visually, like all the 'Frozen Planet' episodes and all of Attenborough's work, "Winter" looks wonderful. It is gorgeously filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting even more with the animals), way and never looking static. In fact much of it is remarkably cinematic. The polar region scenery is some of the most breath-taking personally seen anywhere, whether in visual media and real life. The behind the scenes stuff gives a touch of honesty and humanity.
George Fenton's music score soars majestically, rousing the spirits while touching the soul. It not only complements the visuals but enhances them to a greater level. Some of my favourite work from him in fact, coming from someone who's liked a lot of what he's done. The main theme is unforgettable.
Can't fault the narrative aspects in "Winter" either. There are things already known to me, still delivered with a lot of freshness, but there was a lot that was quite an education and after watching the full series it honestly felt like the series taught me a lot (and no it's not just the Latin names for the animals), much more so than anything in my secondary school Geography class. Attenborough's narration helps quite significantly too, 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. Loved what was said about the tiny polar bear cubs.
Two scenes in particular stand out. One is the extraordinarily adorable one with the tiny polar bear cubs and their want for milk, even cuter than anything with the penguins. The other, and particularly good, is the wolf taking on bison, as shockingly savage and suspenseful an animal hunt and attack that one will find anywhere on film, a 2011 television highlight without a shadow of a doubt and am still amazed to this day at how a scene was captured. Then there are a couple of animals that are a mix of both, in particular the weasel, a deceptively sweet-looking animal while being dangerous at the same time.
Nothing episodic or repetitive here. Instead, it feels like its own individual story with real, complex emotions and conflicts and animal characters developed in a way a human character would in a film but does it better than several.
In short, a wintry delight. 10/10 Bethany Cox
