Ocean with David Attenborough

This is one of those films that really does resonate. Using some phenomenal archive photography of the realm beneath the sea, Sir David Attenborough narrates a story of devastation, desperation and ultimately optimism as he takes us on a journey around the globe evaluating the damage caused to the Earth's oceans by a mankind who has treated this vast resource with contempt ever since industrialisation enabled us to ignore the protective forces of nature and pretty much fish at will. Some of the imagery here is truly breathtaking. It's beautiful, colourful and vibrant with creatures that look every inch as if they came straight out of science fiction. It's not just the sheer variety of life that we see that takes your breath away, though. The effects of the trawlers scarifying the scallop beds or the coral reefs renders them akin to a waste ground after a bomb has been dropped on it. The ruin is profound and quite frankly upsetting. Our continuing reliance on cheap and abundant food for ourselves and our pets is compromising the very existence of species that have existed in harmony with nature (and even humanity) for millennia. In his usually potent but understated manner, Sir David makes his points without resort to hyperbole and superlatives and as he lays out the scale of this problem before us he offers us hope that there is still time, should we take a longer-term view, for us to leave well alone and allow this crucial part of the planet's infrastructure to recover and assist with the fight against global warming. The message is clear as a bell, but it isn't laboured by the dialogue. It is illustrated by odd looking crabs, seahorses and magnificent blue whales. The production is top class and as an educational piece of cinema, this will take some beating - especially if you can catch it all on a big screen.

The first 25 minutes of Ocean with David Attenborough are breathtaking-filled with stunning visuals and fascinating, little-known facts about marine life, much like Attenborough's other masterpieces.

But then came the industrial bottom-trawling scene-and I was overwhelmed. Watching the destruction of the ocean floor was brutal. It was not just shocking; it was heartbreaking. I had to stop watching. It hurt deeply.

I'm not sure if I can bring myself to finish the documentary. As a human being, I felt ashamed. We are destroying everything that is beautiful and vital. This film is important, but it's also painful. A must-watch-but not an easy one.

No words. Must watch. This documentary is for all.

Well done to David and his team. To have experienced paradise on earth many times over in the adventure that has been his life ... And to share with the world how important it is to cherish and look after our natural world. David is a living legend. What a legacy!

Here's to us protecting more than a third of our ocean. I hope we can protect even more. How embarrassing the lengths we go for profit and greed. I knew we pillaged our oceans but I had no idea how bad it was. Or didn't want to know.

We really need to consume less, lol. Not just from the ocean, but in general.

A Thoughtful and Enthusiastic Review of an Outstanding Film Experience

I recently had the pleasure of watching what I can only describe as an extraordinary and profoundly moving film. I had the joy of sharing this experience with my son, and both of us came away from the theatre deeply impacted and in complete agreement-it was an exceptional piece of storytelling that everyone, regardless of age, should take the time to see.

From the very beginning, the film captures your attention with stunning visuals, captivating narration, and a compelling message that is both timely and timeless. There's a sense of wonder that runs throughout the film, a quality that Sir David Attenborough always brings to his work. His passion for the natural world is, as ever, deeply inspiring, and the way he communicates it draws in the viewer emotionally and intellectually.

What makes this film particularly powerful is not just its subject matter, but the way it is presented. It weaves together beautiful cinematography, thoughtful commentary, and important environmental themes with such clarity and purpose that it leaves a lasting impression. I found myself reflecting on it well after the end of the film, and my son was full of thoughtful questions and observations-something I always hope for when we watch something educational or impactful together.

That said, I would like to share two small points of constructive criticism, neither of which take away from the overall excellence of the film, but are worth mentioning in the hope they might improve future viewing experiences.

First, the sound mixing presented a bit of a challenge. On several occasions throughout the film, I found that the background music was simply too loud. This may not affect all viewers the same way, but for me-and others I've spoken to-it meant that some of Sir David's narration was difficult to hear clearly. Given that his voice and words are such a central and powerful part of the experience, this was a little frustrating. It seemed that the music, although beautifully composed and emotionally resonant, occasionally overpowered the dialogue, making it hard to catch every word and nuance.

Second, before the film began, we were told to remain in our seats after the film ended in order to watch a special behind-the-scenes feature, which would be shown after the credits. Naturally, we were very excited to see this extra content. However, the credits were exceedingly long, and although we waited patiently, the extended duration made the experience feel slightly drawn out. It would have been much more viewer-friendly to place the behind-the-scenes footage immediately after the film concluded and before the credits began. This is a common practice on television and would have been more effective here as well. The current placement meant that some audience members left early, missing what turned out to be a fascinating segment.

Despite those two relatively minor issues, I want to stress again that this is a truly exceptional film. It is rich in insight, full of heart, and offers a powerful call to action that feels both urgent and hopeful. It's not just a film for nature lovers or documentary fans-it's a film for anyone who lives on this planet and cares about its future. Sir David's work continues to be a beacon of knowledge, inspiration, and advocacy.

In conclusion, I cannot recommend this film highly enough. Take your children, your friends, or simply go alone-but do see it. It's more than just a film; it's an experience, and one that has the potential to change how we see the world and our place in it.

How important the oceans are, the lifeforms within. How much it matters to our existence.

How little we, still, even now, understand.

Yet as a whole no-one cares.

The fisherman complain, our nets used to be filled, well 8 billion people harvested the way they do will cause that. You can't change to old methods with 8 billion - and increasing remember, people.

As well there is the mining, the dredging, the minerals, everything.

We are the authors of our own destruction, the planet won't care, it will go on, new lifeforms will spread across it, but we, the stupid ones will be gone and nothing should mourn us either.