TheLittleSongbird
As said many times, David Attenborough is a national treasure. He may apparently dislike the term, but it is hard to not say that about such a great presenter who has contributed significantly to some of the best programmes (of the documentary genre and overall) the BBC has ever aired/produced.It is really hard picking favourites, let alone a definite favourite, among what Attenborough has done because he has done so many gems, it is the equivalent of trying to choose your favourite ice cream flavour or your favourite operatic role (for examples) and finding you can't pick. 'Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough' is one of Attenborough's 3D documentary programmes, his first if correctly recalled in fact, and became the first 3D programme to be shown on British television and win a Bafta. Both great achievements and deserved as well. It may not among the best he has ever done, in a career that has more very good to masterpiece stuff than most working today. To say that 'Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough' is not one of his best yet still manages to be very good says a lot about how good his best work is.Would also have liked to see more of the creatures in action and more interaction, because they were there it was amazing to watch and one does wish that there was more. Occasionally the lighting is a little too filtered. Can't fault the rest of 'Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough' though.'Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough' looks splendid on a visual level. It is gorgeously filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting more with the flying creatures) way and never looking static. In fact much of it is remarkably cinematic. The editing is always succinct and smooth and the scenery is spectacular.3D has had very variable execution when used. Sometimes it can enhance the experience and look great, at other times it distracts and is both overused and abused. Luckily, the 3D here in 'Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough' is of the incredibly well made kind and enhances the experience, allowing one to see these amazing creatures up close. It is a long way from soulless either, as well as looking incredible the creature have personality and soul, making it easy to engage with them and feel for them in the same way one would with a human character (the beauty of a lot of Attenborough's best work).The music score fits very well, never overly grandiose while never being inappropriate while also being a beautiful score in its own right.'Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough' is incredibly educational and always maintains interest. Have seen a lot of television, film and books on dinosaurs but still found myself learning a vast amount. In terms of the facts there was a very good mix of the known ones and the unknown and the investigative elements and how the conclusions made are reached really do engross.Attenborough's presenting as always helps quite a bit. 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.One cannot review 'Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough' without mentioning a highlight or two. Particularly noteworthy is the truly unforgettable pursuit of the glider by the quetzalcoatlus, a tense and visually awe-inspiring scene that will stay with one forever.To conclude, beautiful and fascinating. An example of documentaries faring surprisingly very well in 3D when executed well like here. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Horst in Translation ([email protected])
"Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough" is a 39-minute documentary movie from 2011, so this one had its 5th anniversary last year. It is among the most known works by director Matthew Dyas, but the star here is obviously writer and animal documentary expert David Attenborough, who also appears in this one on several occasions as he usually does. This movie that runs shortly under 40 minutes focuses predominantly on the connection between flying dinosaurs back then and birds today, but there are also connection to other animals like we see a lizard early on who somehow manages to glide thanks to his physique. Anyway, this was a pretty good watch I must say. It taught me many things I did not know before and the effects and visual side of this short movie are really on the highest level. Also, it is a very focused film thanks to its runtime and never drags. So yeah the reason i still only give it 3 stars out of 5 is because dinosaurs and flying animals have always been among my lesser known area of interest, so it is all subjective I guess. People with a greater interest in paleontology or ornithology will have a really amazing time checking this one out, even if it probably will mot teach them as many new things as it did to me. Overall verdict is of course a thumbs-up. Go see it.
theycallmemrglass
I saw this at a preview screening in London.The format of this documentary is a typical investigative journey that we have become used to from the great Sir David Attenborough's nature programs. This is not comparable to Walking with Dinosaur series, we don't follow the life of any particular family. Instead, the documentary spans the evolution of how early dinosaurs first took to the sky through to their peak and extinction.Much of the program has Attenborough on screen with scientists investigating fossil bones and explaining how they can interpret the flying dinosaurs evolution. I would guess about 30% of this 40 minute documentary contains CGI recreation of the flying dinosaur era. It is a bit disappointing for an IMAX/big screen feature but thankfully the investigative journey is interesting and educational and no one narrates better then the authoritative and re- assuring voice of Attenborough. When we do see the flying dinosaurs, it is a visual splendour. Though I would have liked to see a little more of them in action and also some interaction with large land dinosaurs for entertainment value. But It seems to me they didn't have a budget big enough to do that which is a shame.A couple of feeding scenes might be too frightening for very small children (maybe under 4 years old). Because of the lack of land dinosaurs, older kids may also be slightly disappointed but otherwise this should be entertaining enough, educational IMAX feature for the whole family. I am not a fan of 3D, I don't like how it filters the light and makes the films darker. Unfortunately this is no exception. However, it is used well for depth and if you enjoy 3d for this reason, then you will enjoy it here.
