David Attenborough: la vita a colori

Let me start off by saying that this is a fine documentary in the standard Attenborough-style. However the first episode, which is also the most important to get people to watch the rest is the worst of the three. It is a tad repetitive and there are a lot of scenarios avid documentary viewers will already have seen.

Episode rating for me is like this. Ep1: 7, ep2: 8 and ep3: 8.5, end result is an 8 overall.

People that haven't seen as many documentaries will be able to get more out of this series, but for me it doesn't reach the same heights as series like Planet Earth or Our Planet. Don't get me wrong, this is still a competent and enjoyable show which I do recommend.

I'm a sucker for anything Attenborough and this short two-part documentary sees him anciently roaming the land like a wonderful turtle and taking in the multifarious ways that colour affects life in the animal world. It's unclear if the brevity of the series was due to real life goings-on but even two short hours of it is lovely - darting from species to species like a magical "animal colour facts" greatest hits. The obligatory 10-minute behind the scenes bits are quite unbalanced as always but it's easy to forgive when our beloved turtle pops up so frequently here. The world will be a far less colourful place without him.

It's my first time watching a nature documentary and maybe this is why I found this one so attractive. But "attractive" wasn't the only thought. It was an amazing experience. I loved every single detail. It's interesting and full of colour. I really enjoyed it.

This has the science backing up the facts and has some intreging new technology to show the way colours are seen in nature.

'Life in Colour' is the second David Attenborough series released and aired in 2021. The other being 'A Perfect Planet', which while not one of his best was a truly fine and often brilliant series (despite the final episode not being as good as the others). 'Life in Colour' did fascinate me from the get go, due to its subject matter. A large part of me was so interested in seeing how colour is used in the depicted animals' lives and how it would benefit them or cause problems.

It turned out to be another fine Attenborough effort. Did prefer 'A Perfect Planet' of the two series from 2021 and he has done better overall. Ones that are more ground-breaking, more varied and more emotional. 'Life in Colour' however does do a great job with the subject matter and anybody who watches Attenborough's work expecting high production values, wonderful animals and footage, to be educated and memorable scenes will not be disappointed.

My only real issue actually with 'Life in Colour' (have not seen the third episode yet) was the information regarding the polarised lights in "Seeing in Colour", which did go over my head a bit and didn't need to be as complicated in explanation as it turned out.

Otherwise the series is great. One always expects Attenborough's documentaries to be well made, and calling 'Life in Colour' well made is an understatement. The best of the footage is quite dazzling, such as the strawberry coloured frogs and the significance of tiger and zebra markings, and it is amazing at how vivid the colours are. Especially in "Seeing in Colour" with the red noses and green chests.

The music has a nice atmosphere and is nicely varied emotionally, such as the mating dance and how it depicts deception. The narration is educational throughout and mostly accessible, like how one can tell whether a fruit is ripe, misfiring only with the polarised lights. Also liked its entertainment value, without it ever being childish and honesty. It is typically brilliantly presented by Attenborough, who has one of those listen to for hours type of voices.

Also cannot fault the animals and the way they behave and what is said being fascinating, with the ways of deception in "Hiding in Colour" being particularly illuminating, The footage is informative and engaging, with enough freshness given to some of the familiar material (mating dances are not new territory for Attenborough documentaries but don't get old) and with "Seeing in Colour" being particularly good in presenting new material well backed up. Actually appreciated the behind the scenes scenes and it made me appreciate the crews' efforts more.

Concluding, fine series. 9/10.