South Pacific

I'm usually not a big fan of documentaries, but "South Pacific BBC" is an exception. This 6-part BBC mini-series of the South Pacific shows not only clichéd postcard-style images, but also the south pacific's diverse wildlife, people, history and its condition today.

Interesting stories alternate with amazing images from the air as well as in the water. At the end of every Episode, the "South Pacific Diaries" show the difficulties the team experienced while filming and the high-tech material they used.

As the BBC is not only ad-driven, they were able to invest a huge amount of money, which pays off: top-notch direction, sound, narrating and image quality (check the blu-ray!). I see no big flaws, only the wildlife parts are in a few cases a bit boring.

If, like me, you're watching after discovering that Benedict Cumberbatch struggles to say "penguins", you might be bit disappointed. The actually says it correctly frequently. Of course, it's still funny when he says "peng-wings" or "peng-lings". If you're unfamiliar, just google it. It's hilarious.

That being said, I didn't just watch it because of his narration. I'm a nature lover & former Sea World Educator, as well. The photography & cinematography is absolutely stunning. Its also very interesting. I do wish that the narration didn't say the types of animals all the time. For example, it specifies robber/coconut crap, but not rock hopper & other breeds of penguins.

Whether you're watching because you're a nature lover, Benedict Cumberbatch fan (CumberCollective), or both, I highly recommend this documentary.

Side note- as BC has a great choice for narration you can discover more documentaries under the "as self" category on his page. He also narrates audiobooksn as well.

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

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.