Polar Bears: Spy on the Ice (2011) User Reviews

Innovative cameras provide intimate insight into the lives and struggles of several polar bears

[nichtssagend · 7/10 · 15 January 2013]

A very good documentary about the lives and struggles of several families of polar bears through the first year of their cubs. The cinematography, storytelling and pacing is almost up to the standard of a big BBC documentary series. David Tennant provides the narrative in his native Scottish accent, which may be a bit distracting at first.

The "stars" of this documentary are not just the bears, but also the very innovative "spy cameras" that are used to track and film the daily lives of the polar bears up-close. This provides not only a novel perspective, but also some fun moments, as the ever-curious bears initially investigate the remote-controlled cameras until they get used to them. The cameras are camouflaged to look like objects in the natural surroundings, and once the bears ignore them, they go about their business uninhibited. This, and the remarkable picture quality of these mobile cameras, allows for an unprecedented level of closeness.

The pacing is good and given a number of quite funny moments, it should hold the attention of younger viewers as well. Environmental concerns are hinted at, but not pushed like in some other documentaries. True to its title, this is primarily a documentary about polar bears and should be interesting and captivating for anyone with even a slight interest in them.

Intimate polar bears

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 6 October 2018]

Really like to love all of the 22 BBC 'Wildlife Specials', 18 of which narrated by David Attenborough and the others by David Tennant. Have a preference for Attenborough's contributions, being a big fan of his, but the Wildlife Specials narrated by Tennant have all the qualities that made Attenborough's so great.

As far as the BBC Wildlife Specials go, 'Polar Bears: Spy on the Ice' is not quite one of my favourites. It is though my joint second favourite after 'Tiger: Spy in the Jungle' and 'Penguins: Spy in the Huddle', and my second favourite of the Tennant-narrated 'Wildlife Specials: The Spy Collection' series (my least favourite being 'Swarm: Nature's Incredible Invasions' but that is still very good, just that the others focus on animals that appeal to me more.

Would have loved 'Polar Bears: Spy on the Ice' to have been longer, two episodes didn't quite feel enough for so much to cover.

'Polar Bears: Spy on the Ice' has a huge amount to love. It looks great, beautiful scenery and for the quite unique techniques used (done wrong it could have looked really amateurish) the camera work was fluid and natural, not quite cinematic but intimate and clever making us feel like an invisible presence amongst the polar bears.

Music score fits very well, not too grandiose or too inappropriately quirky. It is better than a couple of the Attenborough documentaries (though elsewhere all of those are superior) at not being too intrusive and not featuring too much.

From start to finish, 'Polar Bears: Spy on the Ice' is interesting and does very well at entertaining and teaching, not everything is new but there is a good balance of the familiar and not so familiar and the information is to the point and not too speculative or overly-subjective. The polar bears are diverse and are at points strikingly human, their curiosity, intelligence, adapting and struggles being relatable and great to watch.

David Tennant's narration is simply splendid. He delivers with enthusiasm and sincerity, making one want to know more while never talking down to the viewer. The series never felt too episodic and there is a real sense of a story being told with a real honesty and animals worth relating to without going overboard.

Overall, really great. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Promising film ruined by monotreme narration & shaky shots

[cgtam · 3/10 · 31 October 2021]

Gone are Sir David's spy narrations. This old style film,script, bad narration, repeating music snippets are good for curing insomnia. Worse are the shaky hand held style shots shown when bears investigate/ crush cameras. Polar cubs are entrancing, but script written for small kids. Tenant reads script in same dull tone, not like he's watching the film. His hushed muffled voice & childish background music notes replace natural sounds. Netflix used to have all best spy nature films, most narrated beautifully by Sir David. Discovery plus airs films with new narrators who lack the art of keeping viewer engaged.

Skip this & watch Frozen Planet.