The Lemon Fool

So nice to see David Attenborough back on the job. 'National Treasure' seems too slight a compliment, somehow. And nor are we only nation that think so. My American contacts are crazy about him as well. I think it's his voice, which always carries such quiet authority.

How nice, also, to hear Attenborough standing up for good old-fashioned British values. Last Sunday we were told that a certain type of grass can grow by two feet a day. Not "600 millimetres", whatever that is. But then the penny dropped. One of the odd things about this programme is that none of the larger animals ever seem to get killed. A sure sign that the series is being bankrolled by American interests, who have to factor in the potential loss of income if their programmes are considered to be un-schoolworthy.

Great series, though. I'm really looking forward to next Sunday's edition, which is about how wildlife is adapting to the urban environment.

BJ

I have to agree. DA is fantastic and the photography is just mind blowingly good.

It is one of the few programmes that has me thinking about buying a super duper ultra high definition TV.

John

bungeejumper wrote:So nice to see David Attenborough back on the job. 'National Treasure' seems too slight a compliment, somehow. And nor are we only nation that think so. My American contacts are crazy about him as well. I think it's his voice, which always carries such quiet authority.

How nice, also, to hear Attenborough standing up for good old-fashioned British values. Last Sunday we were told that a certain type of grass can grow by two feet a day. Not "600 millimetres", whatever that is. But then the penny dropped. One of the odd things about this programme is that none of the larger animals ever seem to get killed. A sure sign that the series is being bankrolled by American interests, who have to factor in the potential loss of income if their programmes are considered to be un-schoolworthy.

Great series, though. I'm really looking forward to next Sunday's edition, which is about how wildlife is adapting to the urban environment.

BJ

It's already available via some sources...

http://solarmovie.sc/movie/planet-earth ... layer-area

Paul

Really good first episode!

bungeejumper wrote:One of the odd things about this programme is that none of the larger animals ever seem to get killed. A sure sign that the series is being bankrolled by American interests, who have to factor in the potential loss of income if their programmes are considered to be un-schoolworthy.

You certainly see large animal carcases, such as the rhino in the grasslands and the water-buffalo being mauled by the lions was a bit rough.

Slarti

Slarti wrote: You certainly see large animal carcases, such as the rhino in the grasslands and the water-buffalo being mauled by the lions was a bit rough.

Ah yes, but the important point was that it survived, so that was all right then. (In fact, as Attenborough said, with a two inch thick hide the buffalo bull was never in much danger anyway, which was presumably why it didn't expend any energy in trying to run away in the first place.)

I gather it doesn't take much to disqualify a film from being thought unsuitable for screening in US schools. (And, come to think of it, a bloody death might also impact on the ad revenues that the programme might attract on mainstream TV.) Whereas, out there in the real world, a Minnesota dentist with an assault rifle would have dispatched both the buffalo and all the lionesses in record time. Sigh.

BJ

Speaking of which, the violent giraffe fight (also US-financed, via Discovery Channel) is still one of the most extraordinary things I've ever seen on television. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKVYAqtKBVI . I seem to remember that the loser eventually got up and recovered. Wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

BJ

The photography is fabulous but too much slowmo graphic death for me.
Could be old age but am I alone in feeling the background music a tad irritating?