A beautiful look at why we need to change
In what is a very impressive power move Netflix have managed to somehow steal Attenborough right out of the hands of the BBC. Attenborough, known for his spectacular documentaries which are watched by millions around the world is usually found teaming up with the BBC. This time around he is exploring something a little different but instead it’s with Netflix.
Our Planet, much like Attenborough’s other documentary series, is a nature and wildlife series. Instead of simply being about the animals this time around it’s a bit of a mixture between them and how we affect, yep you guessed it, Our Planet. The series is on Netflix and is the same form of Attenborough material that you’re used to seeing.
Caring about the planet and wildlife myself I always like to Attenborough’s documentaries for further insight into the issues that people don’t usually know about. Sometimes I just want to watch them for the cute animals and then to cry because I want to save said animal and apologise to it. Much like Attenborough’s other series, Our Planet has this same effect by introducing the animal, and surrounding animals, and then breaking your heart as you watch them try to survive.
What Our Planet does do that is different is show the chaining affect that we have on the animals. Usually, the focus will be on one animal or one environment. This is still relatively the same except Attenborough goes a step further by adding us to the equation. The series does a fantastic job at showing how one thing, say the destruction of coral, can lead to another thing, loss of home for most fishes, which can lead to another thing, no food for sharks, which can lead to more and more consequences down the road which end up affecting us greatly.
Shot beautifully, as always, the series doesn’t get as involved or close up as the Planet Earth series but instead goes for the more overall approach. The use of drone/helicopter shots do a fantastic job at showing the overall affect we have on these creatures and the land. I find that the camera is usually focused on a single animal or a pack of animals but instead Our Planet does a great job of showing you every animal in that environment, how they all live together.
It is this living together that the series is trying to make it’s viewer understand. The decision to focus on huge wide shots, trying to get you to react to scenes of destruction or scenes of beauty in the wild. This all mixed together with Attenborough amazing, as always,