Deep Blue
A BBC Production
Directed by Andy Byatt and Alistair Fothergill.
Narrated by Michael Gambon.
Orchestration by George Fenton.
"A journey into liquid space"
From tropical to icy waters, from shallow coastal estuaries to the deepest trenches… this documentary explores the great ocean’s amazing ecosystem before our eyes.
Curling waves envelope a symphony of albatross in a deep blue bounty… this is just the beginning…
Apparently ocean sustains more life than land… Spectacular unheard of visual facts are an amusement and wonder to behold…
Thematic of life cycle of birth, death and renewal… Similar to Travelling Birds (Winged Migration) in this concept… but failed to hold my attention to anywhere near the same extent — Even the silent dazzling disco with deep down jelly creatures amongst the glorious imagery lulled me to sleep (although admittedly tired to begin with). Perhaps it was the obvious made-for-television style…? Or maybe I’ve just done my dash with so many other nature docos — including Travelling Birds a number of times! Nevertheless, I’m sure that for the non-drowsy viewer, this is a worthwhile viewing pleasure — even if you are not already specifically fascinated with the creatures of the ocean…
The photography/cinematography may be far from dull in this piece however I was left wondering what sets this apart from other ocean life documentaries…
Warning: Not for vegetarians’ or the squeamish’s appreciation! (I am both) — Who needs to go watch commercial slaughter of man to man in film when there is plenty of blood, violence & suspense in nature, eh?
Recommendation: Go with a good coffee in you or after a good night’s sleep! Very cool animals sure, but as a film and piece of entertainment, a sleepy 6.5/10 for me. Don’t take my word for it — go see it yourself.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365109/
Tamara Stevers
The Study Guide accompanying this awesome film informs that it consists of 22 “stunning ocean segments”. From sweeping vistas of blue, polar ice-caps and sandy shores it plunges beyond the coastal shallows through tropical coral forests, deeper and deeper into the darkest depth of the Abyss, a hellish ‘fire and brimstone’, inhabited by other worldly creatures emanating light.
It seems we must travel the depths of the oceans to appreciate the achieved heights of life on this blue planet. On observing the grace, in movement and design, of animals of the sea we can only wonder at the grace of wit that enabled our predecessors to emerge and triumph this deadly game.
This film documents the mother of all narratives, that of nature. It is directed but you can be sure that whichever particular segments were selected — from the 7000 hours of footage filmed by the BBC Natural History Unit over 3000 days across 200 locations — and whatever was said in their regard, the story would remain the same. This is the greatest story ever told, the survival of the fittest.
Travelling Birds, and its literal bird eye view, was the first challenge to our collective longing for a paradise lost. No more can ‘free as a bird’ resonate without the accompanying exhaustion of having to stay up there, in the clouds, having to get there to feed, and to fuck, to continue the race. Deep Blue presents a completion of the quaternary of animal instincts; those of fight and flight.
All performances are outstanding. They have to be in this ultimate reality show. Watch out for the brilliantly-hued fish hiding under a ledge of coral in the dark of night as a hoodlum shark skims past, searching.
Deep Blue offers the breathtaking beauty of nature’s canvas, on which is played out the savagery of its bloodied tooth and claw.
Lou Crow
