Eye of the Leopard

There were quite a number of reasons to see 'Eye of the Leopard'. The main reasons being that it was done by the same people that did the wonderful 'The Last Lions' from 2011 and also being that it is (like that documentary) narrated by Jeremy Irons (adore his voice, am a fan of him as an actor and feel he is under-estimated as a human being too). Those that have read my other reviews will know of my long term love for nature documentaries, whether David Attenborough or not.

'Eye of the Leopard' is another gem. It is a brilliant example of a documentary that tells a emotionally wide-ranging and dramatic story and has animals worth rooting for, while mixing them with an uncompromising approach to the material, facts that educate and makes one think and affected emotionally and beautifully written and delivered narration. It does it even better than 'The Last Lions' and as a documentary it was even better than that due to not finding any fault with it (had a couple of reservations with the other).

It is hard knowing when to start praising 'Eye of the Lepard' with everything being done so brilliantly. It looks wonderful, with absolutely stunning scenery and photography worthy of cinema that adds so much to the emotions of many scenes. The music has a real presence and heft, especially in the more intense scenes, yet to me it didn't come over as too overwrought or like it was trying too hard to be anything more than needed. There are sympathetic parts in more intimate scenes.

Another big selling point is Irons. His voice is one of my favourite speaking voices for any actor and one of not many truly unique, unmistakable ones. His delivery of the very honest and thought-provoking narration, that doesn't preach, over-spell out the emotions of the leopard when obvious already or over-explain (something that did happen at times in 'The Last Lions' but not here), purrs with gravitas-filled authority and sincerity.

While leopards are hardly unfamiliar animals in documentaries, that didn't stop me from learning a lot about them and being thoroughly engaged by everything that was said. The story of the journey the leopard undergoes was a truly powerful one, with a nothing held back approach that was necessary and will admit to finding myself genuinely moved. All while not being too over-dramatised and being aware of its target audience. The leopard is very compellingly real and so easy to identify with every step of the way.

Overall, brilliant. 10/10

Simply gorgeous film of a young leopard. Added plus is superb narration by Jeremy Irons' velvet voice that adds to the beauty & drama of OLD Africa.

Be advised this was filmed generations ago, in the 1980s when half of Africa was still wild.

This is NOT filmed during modern Africa where leopards no longer have vast varied habitats to survive & thrive.

Since 2000, Africa and leopards lost immense connected habitats bursting with wildlife. Watching this film is a stern reminder that humans destroyed this true garden of eden, & shows what we lost in the background footage. Since 2010, only private disconnected game parks exist where trophy hunting is allowed- leopard listed as top 5 trophy kills. This is NOT in the film, but one MUST be aware of these facts & how leopards are extinct in many areas.

Because the film is old, its not shot in HD. Yet it still looks & sounds good. The footage is so lovely, especially with Irons narrating a good, sometimes heart breaking, story. One wants a sequel at the end, to see how this gorgeous leopard continues to survive.