The Ballad of Big Al

The Ballad of Big Al is really the follow-up that greatly increases the class of "Walking with Dinosaurs".

Big Al MUST be seen in combination with the second part of the special (The Science of Big Al). This way you at last get an idea of what clues we have on Dinosaurs and how the clues have been put together to get an idea of how the Dinosaurs might have lived.

Using the clues found within the skeleton of an Allosaurus (Big Al), the team has put together something like "This is your life", Big Al. Big Al is born, grows up, hunts and dies. Although the story is (of course) only speculation, it is very interesting and put together with a lot of love. Unlike the series (Walking with Dinosaurs), the Ballad of Big Al really tells the viewer that this is only an assumption of Big Al's life while also letting the viewer in on many of the key reasons for this assumption.

All in all this is a great follow-up. It's just too bad that "Walking with Dinosaurs" didn't have more of Big Al and the qualities of the follow-up.

After years and years of being desensitised and not actually caring all that much about dinosaurs anymore, mainly due in part to the mind-numbingly corporate overexposure of them in everyday commercialism living (i.e. Films, books, TV, toys and a heap load of other merchandising content), rewatching this self-contained one-off special of BBC's Walking With... documentaries from 2000 - respectfully titled "The Ballad of Big Al" in honour of the individual - has honestly reminded me why I loved dinosaurs to begin with in the first place; it's because I always enjoyed seeing them when they're naturally portrayed simply as realistic animals, and not movie monsters (might sound weird to some, but it's just my own personal preference).

Despite my resentment of the blockbuster industry meeting consumer demands for manufacturing fictionalised bloodthirsty beasties, it's refreshing to go back and see an actual attempt at producing a dinosaur-themed project that's both accurate and has high-end production values. To put it bluntly, The Ballard of Big Al is topnotch quality in every single way imaginable. It's literally chocked full of enriching educational knowledge regarding natural history and has immensely entertaining scenes that'll leave a lasting impression on you long after your initial viewing (see, this is how "edutainment" SHOULD properly be done). Sure there're a few wonky moments of poor CGI and some of the facts haven't help up as well over the years, but those are just very minuscule nitpick that aren't even worth mentioning (they're petty, really). It's so cram-packed with idealistic displays of everyone's fan-favourite recognisable dinos which are actually appropriate to this specific geological/temporal range (Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Diplodocus and Stegosaurus) that you could almost describe it as a "Best of the Jurassic Period" complication, if you wanted.

I love how the intro sequence for the beginning has the perfect setting to start things off, located within the exact same natural history museum where the real Big Al specimen is actually housed. It allows you to get a genuine up-close and personal feel for the very essence of this once magnificent creature in action, especially with his majestic presence being felt via witnessing a ghostly image wandering about the place (this is genius atmospheric stuff for putting you in the right mood). And here on out, we see this fine specimen's journey as he grows from a clumsy-weakling babe to an accident-prone teen, perfectly presenting a myriad of notable bumps-&-bruises (a supreme collection of the absolute best skeletal wounds preserved in the fossil record). The speculative scenarios that serve as a likely explanation for how Big Al may have gotten these types of hindering injuries are immensely fascinating, to say the least. This captivating aspect engrosses you to keep on learning more by fully sticking with the programme until it's eventual conclusion (sure gives this colossal fossil poetic justice, putting it eloquently).

Of course, the standout sequence of pure spectacle in the whole entire thing (in regard to its technical filmmaking details; cinematography, effects shots, editing, pacing, sound design and musical score) would without a doubt have to be the sauropod hunt that Al joins in with midway through (not a major spoiler!), as numerous other Allosaurs try and breakup the hurrying herd of beautiful long-necked behemoths (I tend to favour these portrayals the most). I simply adore how for once in a story they don't demonise, vilify or antagonise the meat-eating theropods but instead, feature one as a central character, which only makes me want to root for the big guy even more. But alas, things don't always go swimmingly as life can deal you a bad hand at the worst of times and Al's no exception to this rule because he somehow managed to stumble his unlucky way into more hazardous blunders than possibly any other carnivorous dinosaur ever has done, either before or after him (you can't help but feel bad for the poor predator). It's a fantastically executed underdog plot, making you enthused and intrigued to see this weedy runt of the litter make it through his current plight of horrendous predicaments and successfully mature to adulthood (as told to us through Branagh's gentle narration). And as for when our boy Big Al finally meets his untimely demise, I'm not going to ruin tour experience by saying anything about it anywhere in here (because that would be doing a disservice) but let's just say he succumbs to a rather fitting end as he at least goes out of this world with some shred of his dignity still left intact (almost reminiscent of a tragic hero's character arc).

I'm fully aware how I come off as extremely cynical and pessimistic "dino-hater" with that downer of an opening statement up above, but it's just the cold-hearted truth of my past bitterness. When something's insanely popular and forever being talked about nonstop by the mainstream populous, I think you'd admit and even have to agree that it can get pretty tiresome real fast (similar to "Frozen fatigue" when Disney saturated their IP's brand), especially when it's concerning the hot topic of spreading misinformation in today's world (such as the case with glorifying long-outdated stereotypes and purposefully choosing to ignore more-updated facts, which ARE actually interesting to learn about). Not to sound like a jaded drama queen but it's kind of a little disheartening when you actually think about it, seeing this many people worldwide actively blindsiding real-life science like that, all because they still hunger for the same old big scary killing-machines (that continuously eat people and constantly fight each other all the time) and only want to see the Hollywood conglomeration continue to make THAT sort of stuff. Maybe if I were a young oblivious kid again, then I'd still be suckered into it. But I'm a rational adult now, so its "fantasy" appeal has lost its hold over me since I got a more firm grip on reality.

Instead of showing their willingness to be open-minded and embrace, all they do is demonstrate their reluctance by being incredibly closed-minded on the matter (it's like they're stuck in a rut). I suppose that's the predominant reason for why I lost interest and turned away from the subject in my later life (more rebellious years, going against the popular opinion), deciding then to basically convert my "childhood dino obsession" by investing all that time-&-energy into researching "life after the dinosaurs" instead (just out of spite).

This was alot of effort to make these two 30 minute episodes. Simply something we would not get anymore. Smashing documentary that any dinosaur fan should watch. Great technology on the show to make not only the TV show but to also document the fossils. A really is a must-watch show.

I was honestly touched by this show, really. Both parts of it, how they entirely made the show in part 2, and the show itself in part 1.

Big Al is an amazing insight into the life of this creature, and what amazes me even more, was that I felt for the creature. I felt as though I was watching its life, and when Al died, I honestly felt bad for how it all ended for him.

I thought it was greatly done, just all in all. visually stunning, extremely informative, and it really does tell a story, a story that seems real.

For making me actually care about this, and for just such beautifully work (scientifically and story-line, which is also technically science :P) I give Big Al a 10/10.

And I'd like to say. Rest in Peace Big Al.

This is without doubt one of the very best documentaries have ever seen. The Ballad of Big Al is a follow-up or extra episode for Walking With Dinosaurs. It describes the life of a particularly big Allosaurus, called Big Al, from the point where it hatches to it's death.

The amazing CGI seen in Walking With Dinosaurs was even better in The Ballad of Big Al. This documentary is missing absolutely nothing. It has breath-taking scenes as well as suspenseful and terrifying moments. I found myself often at the edge of my seat.

The story was well thought out and directed very nicely. The music and sound effects were top notch. Overall there are no real flaws in this documentary. There are absolutely no boring parts.

If you have the slightest interest in dinosaurs this documentary will definitely greatly satisfy you.

My Rating: 9.8/10