South Pacific

5+ hours of nature and some parts showing humans. The refreshing thing about this series is that it doesn't go with major interviews or opinions of any specialist, just the narration and that too with Benedict Cumberbatch is awesome not to the level of legendary David Attenborough but inch closer.

Big plus is the visuals as with all the great documentaries. Blue Waters or Green forests, visuals are mesmerizing to say the least. Exploring the fauna and ocean species and their expansion throughout the pacific islands and slowly moving to cover the exploitation of the pacific and its imact on world. A job well done. Some repetitive footage across episodes and incoherence in stitching various themes in each episode is the one which hindered me on giving a 10. Extremely satisfied with 5 episodes and a bit sad on the last one. Last episode is a sad truth on our exploitation of pacific. Even though its brief one hour, it pack a punch. My heavenly bliss faded to sadness on finishing the last episode.. that's it. 5 episodes of paradise and one on how we are losing it. Satisfied 5 + hours of my life.

This series follows the same banal story lines as National Geographic documentaries: feature a zoom view of the mating ritual of some local animals then feature some pagan, sensual ritual by natives dressed in loin cloths and a zoom view of their genital sheaths, and don't forget to remind people that the earth is billions of years old and that man and animals all evolved from the same rock in a primordial mud puddle.

I wish they had spent more time on the beauty of the South Pacific, its wildlife (minus the gratuitous mating scenes), and on more modern historical events (like notable castaways, World War II battles on the islands, etc.). Frankly watching some primitive, mud-encrusted, would-be savage get beaten with sticks and dance around a fire with plumes on his head is about as interesting and inspiring as watching paint dry. Then again, it makes me thankful that God allowed me to be born in the US, instead of in the jungle of Irian Jaya or on the banks of the Zambezi.

I wanted to watch something serene, educational, and tasteful with my 9 year old daughter. This series does not fit that description.

This is outstanding series of exploration of region never filmed or no human ever seen before. The way stories are covered are very well organized and gives pleasant when watching. There are plethora of shots which clearly seem to be taken with well planning and patience with perfect angle and position.

Every series prepared with rhythmic storyline. For example, Endless Blue starts with lost sailors and move towards life of sperm whale, and then go in-depth of middle south-pacific to explore species that we never ever seen and never filmed before or say explored by anyone.

Use of high-definition and slow-motion cameras makes the scenes perfect

Benedict Cumberbatch narrates this six hour-long BBC nature series about the south pacific. The first episode jumps around from island to island. The predator caterpillars are incredible although the jumping around gets random. There is a structure from episode to episode but this show needs a simple map or better computer animations to explain the structure. For example, the Castaway episode could illustrated more clearly the migration routes and the vast distances through an animated map. In the Volcano episode, the life cycle of the volcano can be illustrated with simple animation. The sixth episode does have some disturbing fishing imagery which has a sad beauty in high def.

Despite the jumping around and a need for clearer expositions, this series is simply beautiful. The creatures, the waters, and even the people are impossibly exotic and wonderfully amazing. The rolling waves and 'Over the Rainbow' closing credits fill me with a relaxed deserted-tropical-beach joy.

Another excellent BBC wildlife documentary featuring breathtaking high-definition photography and a detailed overview on diverse aspects related to earth's biggest ocean such as insular evolution and environmental activities.

While the didactic approach of Attenborough's "Life"-series is still unsurpassed in its clarity and empathy, there's more than enough informative material gathered to fill six joyous hours.

Be prepared to be stunned by the brilliant use of slow motion.

A technical triumph in all departments!

8 out of 10 killer waves