VeteranLight
I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
Matialth
Good concept, poorly executed.
Beystiman
It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.
StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
pruiett
This series follows the same banal story lines as National Geographic documentaries: feature a zoom view of the mating ritual of some local animals then feature some pagan, sensual ritual by natives dressed in loin cloths and a zoom view of their genital sheaths, and don't forget to remind people that the earth is billions of years old and that man and animals all evolved from the same rock in a primordial mud puddle.I wish they had spent more time on the beauty of the South Pacific, its wildlife (minus the gratuitous mating scenes), and on more modern historical events (like notable castaways, World War II battles on the islands, etc.). Frankly watching some primitive, mud-encrusted, would-be savage get beaten with sticks and dance around a fire with plumes on his head is about as interesting and inspiring as watching paint dry. Then again, it makes me thankful that God allowed me to be born in the US, instead of in the jungle of Irian Jaya or on the banks of the Zambezi.I wanted to watch something serene, educational, and tasteful with my 9 year old daughter. This series does not fit that description.
SnoopyStyle
Benedict Cumberbatch narrates this six hour-long BBC nature series about the south pacific. The first episode jumps around from island to island. The predator caterpillars are incredible although the jumping around gets random. There is a structure from episode to episode but this show needs a simple map or better computer animations to explain the structure. For example, the Castaway episode could illustrated more clearly the migration routes and the vast distances through an animated map. In the Volcano episode, the life cycle of the volcano can be illustrated with simple animation. The sixth episode does have some disturbing fishing imagery which has a sad beauty in high def.Despite the jumping around and a need for clearer expositions, this series is simply beautiful. The creatures, the waters, and even the people are impossibly exotic and wonderfully amazing. The rolling waves and 'Over the Rainbow' closing credits fill me with a relaxed deserted-tropical-beach joy.
Rindiana
Another excellent BBC wildlife documentary featuring breathtaking high-definition photography and a detailed overview on diverse aspects related to earth's biggest ocean such as insular evolution and environmental activities. While the didactic approach of Attenborough's "Life"-series is still unsurpassed in its clarity and empathy, there's more than enough informative material gathered to fill six joyous hours.Be prepared to be stunned by the brilliant use of slow motion. A technical triumph in all departments! 8 out of 10 killer waves
HallenbeckJoe
I'm usually not a big fan of documentaries, but "South Pacific BBC" is an exception. This 6-part BBC mini-series of the South Pacific shows not only clichéd postcard-style images, but also the south pacific's diverse wildlife, people, history and its condition today.Interesting stories alternate with amazing images from the air as well as in the water. At the end of every Episode, the "South Pacific Diaries" show the difficulties the team experienced while filming and the high-tech material they used.As the BBC is not only ad-driven, they were able to invest a huge amount of money, which pays off: top-notch direction, sound, narrating and image quality (check the blu-ray!). I see no big flaws, only the wildlife parts are in a few cases a bit boring.
