Sete Mundos, Um Planeta

I have been waiting for this series to come out for a long time. And, the wait is over.

The first episode is magnificently breathtaking, the shots are eyegasmic, scenes are marvelous and the theme which runs through the episode is eye-opening.

Such a beautiful planet with all Her creatures closely and mysteriously entwined, making the viewers wonder and ponder over the beauty and majesty of all these correlations and existence.

Of course, there are harrowing scenes which are part of this mystery and beauty. This Our Planet with all her beauties and harrowing scenes. However, those scenes are nothing compared to what human beings are doing to each other and the Planet we are living on.

Unfortunately, we humans are wreaking havoc on all this majesty and glory, blithely producing waste, consuming too much and dumping all the contamination on this magnificent Planet.

The gem, Sir, David Attenborough, added more beauty to this episode and brought more enjoyment to watching it. May this shining gem live for another 50 years to bring more delights and pleasures to our eyes for the generations to come.

Yet another superb production of the most amazing filming and narration by the master legend David Attenborough. You will be taken on such beautiful journeys and see species up close that you would never in a lifetime experience or know exist! Simply Stunning and put together like a story sad at times amusing many breathtaking always.

Great cinematography and a few interesting facts though we've seen much of it before in the many shows of this variety that have aired before. Not much on the 'ways' and 'hows' of the planet and it's continents, but more of a quick overview of pinpointed areas that then focuses on a few animals in these areas and how they live and survive, especially in the dire situation of deforestation and climate change. (A dark and worrisome theme throughout many episodes). More of a new version of the vintage "Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom," than a in-depth series like BBC's 'Planet Earth' or 'Blue Planet.' Though like those, it is narrated by the great David Attenborough. It is listed on TV as season one, so maybe it will benefit from additional seasons that when combined will give us a more thorough overview of our world's continents. I was hoping more for a thorough look into everything about each continent, from their land, the forests, deserts, rivers and climate, to their societies and people. Instead we just get some selected tales of how a selected animal hunts and struggles in about an hour's run time. Still an important series to understand what man is doing wrong to this planet.

Have been a massive fan of David Attenborough for most of my young adult life and see any new project of his without fail. Amazing images, information that entertains, teaches, moves and shocks, cute and menacing animals, complex mix of emotions and unforgettable sequences are abound in everything he does, and it is hard to not listen to his distinctive voice for hours. 'Seven Worlds, One Planet' looked great from the advertising and looked like one of the year's must sees.

Seeing all seven episodes, with each episode detailing one continent each, 'Seven Worlds, One Planet' was not a let down in any way. Perhaps not one of Attenborough's very finest but still a gem, and it doesn't matter that some of what is presented here is familiar ground (i.e. the opening scene of "Asia" being reminiscent of the 'Our Planet' episode "Frozen Worlds") because everything here is so brilliantly done with no obvious flaws. All seven episodes are equally brilliant and must sees.

Despite airing in the early evening instead of the usual post-watershed time, 'Seven Worlds, One Planet' is much darker, more unsettling and more emotionally devastating than one would think. Regarding whether it is suitable for younger audiences and whole families, there is more than enough to be educated and wowed by, that is easy to understand and is not too heavy or scary. Be warned that there is at least one bit in each episode that will disturb even older viewers not easily disturbed.

All the episodes look fantastic, not just the wonderfully varied environments and the dazzlingly vivid photography (i.e. the above shot of the humpback whales' spiral of bubbles) but also sequences that leaves one amazed at how they were caught on film, a lot of "South America" and everything with the male oxen in "Europe" being primary examples. The music is grandiose without being over-powering and add a lot to the emotional scenes.

Throughout, the narration entertains, thought-provokes and teaches. One is left to ponder on any issues addressed, and all the information makes a lot of harrowing impact and to me without being preached at. The animals, prey and predator, are a great mix of cute and menacing, a great mix of familiar and rare and are worth rooting for. The more maternal moments in "South America" and "Australia" are very human, as is any competing in the likes of "Asia" and "Europe", without any over-humanising.

Like all other Attenborough documentaries, 'Seven Worlds, One Planet' is so much more than just cute animals in beautiful habitats. It actually pulls no punches and the darker, more intense moments are actually pretty uncompromising. Many will be reaching for the hankies watching the weddell seal sequence ("Antarctica") and the opening of "Asia", biting their nails watching wolves hunting at night and fighting male oxen (both in "Europe"), amazed by the determination and instinct of the puma and dingo mothers, ahhing at any baby animals like the bears in "North America", unsettled by what is said or shown about the environment (the gales and a lot of the final episode "Africa"), amused by competing for mating in "Asia" and the hamster action in "Europe" and shocked by an unexpected jump-scare moment where flinching is guaranteed.

Cannot praise Attenborough himself enough. He delivers the information so sincerely and enthusiastically, without talking down, and he is easily in the top 10 of voices that one can listen to for hours tirelessly.

In summary, wondrous. 10/10

It does seem unfair when attempting to compare a masterpiece, (as this most definitely is), against 'popular', well-executed fiction 'blockbusters'. (A look at IMBD's most highly-rated films shows public discerning proof of this). As indicated, four years in the making, editing many thousand of hours footage, would render a 90+ minute slice of popular entertainment rather inconsequential by comparison. It is more a reflection of our world and its precious diversity that is magnificently portrayed here. Yes,it is 'political' exhibiting how we, (as a supposedly superior race ), are systematically annihilating creatures that do not have our capacity to protect and preserve this beautiful planet that we are so privileged to inhabit. But we do have an obligation to tell future generations why their ancestors did what they did to reduce diversity. Place yourself 100 years from now - would 'The Shawshank Redemption' resonate over how our present generation disregarded, exploited and left the planet they were left with ? The choice is yours. I'm not an activist in any form - have never been on marches, signed petitions, called for changes, to my shame. I'm like the majority of the people who read this - benignly concerned, yet apathetic. I'm an old failure. And I'm truly, truly sorry for my lack of action. SHAME ON ME.