Saw the 'Wildlife' specials as a big fan of the national treasure that is David Attenborough. As much as he may dislike the term it is a perfect way to sum him up, with his best works being documentary masterpieces and masterpieces in general.
There are twenty two of these specials in total, fourteen listed under 'Wildlife Specials', the others listed as one-offs. Eighteen of these up to 2008 were narrated/presented by Attenborough, the others ('Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice', 'Penguins: Spy in the Huddle', 'Swarm: Nature's Incredible Invasion', and 'Dolphins: Spy in the Pod')up to 2014 by David Tennant. All are must sees, have a preference for Attenborough's work here (being more familiar with his work and being a big fan of it) but Tennant's contributions are very well done too.
As has been indicated, 'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest', while not one of the best of the specials, is highly recommended for nature lovers, documentary lovers and those who love Attenborough. It is very diverse/varied, looks great and shows a great deal of technological advancement in the camera work. This is apparent in 'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest' once again, this time dealing with the wildebeest, their physical and psychological qualities, the different kinds of them and how they adapt and survive in their varied habitats.
Would have liked it to have been longer than just two parts with so much to cover so that even more was explored and gone into more depth.
Loved the music score on the most part, but also felt that it was a little too constant and that there could have less of it.
First and foremost, 'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest' looks amazing. It is gorgeously filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting even more with the wildebeest), way and never looking static. In fact much of it is remarkably cinematic and intimate, the hidden spy camera is used cleverly and feels like the viewer is a presence amongst the wildebeest but as a spy invisible to them. The editing is always succinct and smooth and the scenery is pure magic.
The music score fits very well generally, generally not overly grandiose while never being inappropriate with some lovely sound.
'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest' fascinates, teaches, moves, entertains and transfixes. In terms of the facts there was a very good mix of the known ones and the unknown, of the well known species and more rare ones, some facts being familiar to us while also dealing with the subject with tact. Their intelligence comes out on screen crystal clear and how they live and their cultural aspects are handled in a way that does illuminate. We know of some of the stuff that is talked about but it is rarely seen, certainly not in the way shown here, and it is amazing that they were filmed in the first place and so intimately that you feel like a spy yourself.
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. Some may not find 'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest', and in general the 'Wildlife Specials', treating the respective animals in a human-like way in all the instalments to their taste, personally love it myself and it made it easier connecting and relating to the animals and the things covered.
It's not just visually beautiful and informative. The wildebeest featured show a mix of playfulness, pathos, cuteness and ruthlessness. 'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest' also displays a wide range of emotions and found myself really caring for everything that was shown to us on screen. The conflict has genuine tension and suspense in seeing moments of ferocity (though the wildebeest are shown as having more than just one side), seeing how the wildebeest adapt and survive amidst much adversity, there is some charm seeing the behaviours, though treated more sympathetically than most animals featured in the 'Wildlife Specials' there is a lot of personality. Found myself really caring for what is said and shown to us.
'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest' doesn't feel like an episodic stringing of scenes, but instead like the best nature documentaries both parts feel like their own story and journey, with real, complex emotions and conflicts.
In summary, excellent. 9/10 Bethany Cox
There are twenty two of these specials in total, fourteen listed under 'Wildlife Specials', the others listed as one-offs. Eighteen of these up to 2008 were narrated/presented by Attenborough, the others ('Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice', 'Penguins: Spy in the Huddle', 'Swarm: Nature's Incredible Invasion', and 'Dolphins: Spy in the Pod')up to 2014 by David Tennant. All are must sees, have a preference for Attenborough's work here (being more familiar with his work and being a big fan of it) but Tennant's contributions are very well done too.
As has been indicated, 'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest', while not one of the best of the specials, is highly recommended for nature lovers, documentary lovers and those who love Attenborough. It is very diverse/varied, looks great and shows a great deal of technological advancement in the camera work. This is apparent in 'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest' once again, this time dealing with the wildebeest, their physical and psychological qualities, the different kinds of them and how they adapt and survive in their varied habitats.
Would have liked it to have been longer than just two parts with so much to cover so that even more was explored and gone into more depth.
Loved the music score on the most part, but also felt that it was a little too constant and that there could have less of it.
First and foremost, 'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest' looks amazing. It is gorgeously filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting even more with the wildebeest), way and never looking static. In fact much of it is remarkably cinematic and intimate, the hidden spy camera is used cleverly and feels like the viewer is a presence amongst the wildebeest but as a spy invisible to them. The editing is always succinct and smooth and the scenery is pure magic.
The music score fits very well generally, generally not overly grandiose while never being inappropriate with some lovely sound.
'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest' fascinates, teaches, moves, entertains and transfixes. In terms of the facts there was a very good mix of the known ones and the unknown, of the well known species and more rare ones, some facts being familiar to us while also dealing with the subject with tact. Their intelligence comes out on screen crystal clear and how they live and their cultural aspects are handled in a way that does illuminate. We know of some of the stuff that is talked about but it is rarely seen, certainly not in the way shown here, and it is amazing that they were filmed in the first place and so intimately that you feel like a spy yourself.
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. Some may not find 'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest', and in general the 'Wildlife Specials', treating the respective animals in a human-like way in all the instalments to their taste, personally love it myself and it made it easier connecting and relating to the animals and the things covered.
It's not just visually beautiful and informative. The wildebeest featured show a mix of playfulness, pathos, cuteness and ruthlessness. 'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest' also displays a wide range of emotions and found myself really caring for everything that was shown to us on screen. The conflict has genuine tension and suspense in seeing moments of ferocity (though the wildebeest are shown as having more than just one side), seeing how the wildebeest adapt and survive amidst much adversity, there is some charm seeing the behaviours, though treated more sympathetically than most animals featured in the 'Wildlife Specials' there is a lot of personality. Found myself really caring for what is said and shown to us.
'Trek: Spy on the Wildebeest' doesn't feel like an episodic stringing of scenes, but instead like the best nature documentaries both parts feel like their own story and journey, with real, complex emotions and conflicts.
In summary, excellent. 9/10 Bethany Cox
