I segreti dei Neanderthal

It's not heavy with facts, but that's to be expected since hard evidence of Neanderthals is scanty. (Depending how you count, only about a dozen complete skeletons have ever been unearthed.)

It tries hard to give Neanderthals the benefit of the doubt, seeing them as peaceful and intelligent as much as the evidence will allow. We know they had tools and clothes, and we know they gave some attention to burial of the dead. But we have no definite evidence of art (carvings, paintings, necklaces).

What I like best is the re-enactments, including the images of landscapes and coasts. Sir Patrick Stewart sounds tired in his narration, but the gentleness in his voice conjures a simpler time.

Nothing groundbreaking in this movie, but a good respectful treatment of a fascinating topic.

This one hour and 20 minute long documentary mixes paleoanthropology with speculation, as do most programs of this type.

I very much enjoyed the depictions of Neanderthal caves, habitats and tool construction . But as soon as a scientist says "maybe..." I tune out the rest of their thoughts, because it's going to be speculation with no basis in scientific fact, merely extrapolations leading to one potential explanation (among many) for their findings. That is not science. Since the program wanted to present speculations about Neanderthal behavior, it would've been much better served to offer several alternate explanations for each speculative conclusion.

Sir Patrick Stewart is far too old to be the narrator for this program. His voice is shot, and it really shows. I was kind of embarrassed for him.

If you're curious about Neanderthals, BBC Studio's new documentary "Secrets of the Neanderthals" offers a compelling look at these enigmatic human ancestors. Narrated by the ever-intriguing Sir Patrick Stewart, the doc delves into recent discoveries that challenge traditional views of Neanderthals.

The focus on the Shanidar Cave excavation in Iraqi Kurdistan is particularly captivating. Here, we see archaeologists unearth new evidence that sheds light on Neanderthal behavior and rituals. The documentary also explores intriguing sites in France and Croatia, adding depth to the Neanderthal story.

While some sections might feel like a refresher for those already familiar with Neanderthals, the fresh research and engaging presentation make it worthwhile. However, the film could have benefited from a bit more on the reasons for their eventual extinction.

Overall, "Secrets of the Neanderthals" is a solid documentary that will leave you wanting to know more about our closest extinct relatives. It's perfect for a casual watch and a good fit for anyone interested in human evolution and prehistory. (7 out of 10)

I feel like this was an opportunity to show off more hair and makeup skills based on what we know Neanderthals to look like. We keep getting reminded that they were not a stupid species and they had thoughts and feelings, and the hair/makeup/costume team stepped it up to show that much.

I had read that upon meeting homo sapiens, that that the Neanderthals were actually a bit more advanced than they were, and had already established a way of life that involved jewellery, for example. Neanderthals were creative, and found ways to adorn themselves, and showed humans how to emulate what they knew.

Instead, this documentary shows a rather polished-looking group of homo sapiens coming into contact with Neanderthals, who look like they've all had baths and their clothes laundered before arriving. What this is suggesting in this documentary is that humans may have been a bit more refined. But is this true? This contradicts what other archaeologists have found.

"We all carry Neanderthal DNA" is also not true. This is true for those of European descent, but not African, Asian, or Native Americans.

I did enjoy the re-enactments from the actors who were dressed up to show what a typical Neanderthal may have looked like and to see what they were doing. But I really wished there was more of that. They hinted that they had language, and yet not a peep could be heard from the actors. It's as if they were told not to use dialogue together. Maybe the mouth prosthetics made it impossible? I don't know. But it would have been nice to see and hear them making sounds in conversation, rather than motioning to each other, capturing the quintessential stereotype of the caveman/meat head type.

I also enjoyed listening to Sir Patrick Stewart. It gave the documentary some warmth that added to the idea that the Neanderthal people were compassionate and emotional themselves. As for the information? I felt like so much was being held back, just to enhance the information we already know about with computer work and costuming.

I do not understand the point of this documentary.

You learn nothing about Neanderthals.

You DO learn way more than you want about the people studying them.

The weird thing is they don't even bother to ask the questions most viewers might have about the subject matter, much less answer them. Questions like how did they live? What happened to them?

Apparently the filmmakers thought Neanderthals liked to roll around in the mud.... I started laughing about it.

There are some interesting sites they visit (eg beautiful caves) but it is too little too late. The scenery plays second to the scientists roaming around in it.

I seriously don't know why they bothered to even make this. It is boring and uninteresting.

The best part was that Sir Patrick Stewart narrated it.