Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life

I would never think that I would find a David Attenborough program disappointing. For over half a century he has graced our screens, offering us consistently suggestive insights into the way our world works as well as showing us an anima mundi in which every form of life is worth studying in detail.

Then what's actually problematic about DARWIN AND THE TREE OF LIFE? It's certainly not the content; as with most of his work Attenborough has the common touch, a unique ability to render the complex comprehensible and relate the recondite to our daily lives. He is more than able to explain Darwin's unique contribution to our understanding of our world, and how his theories challenged religious dogma in the nineteenth century and continues to do so today.

On the other hand the visual style of the program detracts from its content. Petra Graf and Ian Salvage's photography is far too flashy, favoring dissolves accompanied by rapid cuts in rock video style. Dan Jones's music is both lush and intrusive, the kind of score we might expect from a romantic comedy rather than a documentary. The entire production takes a popcult approach towards its material, quite unlike most Attenborough programs.

It is not surprised Attenborough produced a perfect planned documentary in the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin birthday in 2009. As a Biologist, i can easily say that every word was diligently selected in the speech.

Attenborugh ascribed all of the controversial subjects related to Evolution and Darwin's ideas at those years.

The visual expression is very strong as well as the narration.

I don't recommend this documentary for people who has counter ideas of Evolution Theory. For the rest, i strongly recommend to watch it again and again.

I had feelings of awe and chill bumps watching this perfectly explained and easily accessible explanation of Charles Darwin and how his Origins of Life book laid out what we have to come to know as evolution. Spectacular.

It was fun to watch, there are still people who don't believe in evolution, it pisses me off.

This documentary is so perfectly done and all about facts, it is one of the most important references for the controversial issue of evolution. It's simply the approach of science to explain evolution to whoever wants to listen.

The producer/narrator being himself, David Attenborough uses very well done graphics and clips of animals from all around the world and narration as perfect as usual. Documentary starts with explaining the religious look at evolution and then explains every major question to the Darwin's "Origin of Species" scientifically.

Being a fourth year biology student; the movie is the summary of a whole year's Evolution class. It definitely is a must see if you are at least honest to yourself enough about learning facts of this highly controversial issue.