Ocean with David Attenborough

I was lucky enough to view this film in the presence of the director and a panel of European dignitaries, scientists and policy makers. I cried. Trawlers have destroyed the oceans, with government subsidies! Insane. But the cinematography was beyond beautiful. I cried at the beauty, despair and glimmer of hope the movie portrayed. David Attenborough is the world's best narrator and lover of nature. At 99, he has inspired generations and I hope, like Carl Sagan still inspires today all things of the Cosmos, Attenborough will continue to do so after he has been gone. And like Sagan's 21st century inheritor, Neil Degrasse Tyson has continued his legacy successfully, I still cannot imagine who can take Attenborough's place yet. He is legend. Pure visual and intellectual delight. Thank you for making these films. They inspire.

Profoundly highlights the ubiquity and devastating impact of industrial fishing practices, particularly seabed trawling, on our marine ecosystems (that otherwise have the potential to save our planet from climate catastrophe). This method indiscriminately scrapes the ocean floor, destroying fragile marine habitats such as cold-water coral reefs, seagrass beds, and nursery grounds that are essential for fish populations and carbon storage. The documentary makes a compelling case for global action to ban this destructive practice and establishing no-fishing zones, which have been shown to have rapid success in allowing marine life to recover. Let's save our sea, save our planet.

This is one of those films that really does resonate. Using some phenomenal archive photography of the realm beneath the sea, Sir David Attenborough narrates a story of devastation, desperation and ultimately optimism as he takes us on a journey around the globe evaluating the damage caused to the Earth's oceans by a mankind who has treated this vast resource with contempt ever since industrialisation enabled us to ignore the protective forces of nature and pretty much fish at will. Some of the imagery here is truly breathtaking. It's beautiful, colourful and vibrant with creatures that look every inch as if they came straight out of science fiction. It's not just the sheer variety of life that we see that takes your breath away, though. The effects of the trawlers scarifying the scallop beds or the coral reefs renders them akin to a waste ground after a bomb has been dropped on it. The ruin is profound and quite frankly upsetting. Our continuing reliance on cheap and abundant food for ourselves and our pets is compromising the very existence of species that have existed in harmony with nature (and even humanity) for millennia. In his usually potent but understated manner, Sir David makes his points without resort to hyperbole and superlatives and as he lays out the scale of this problem before us he offers us hope that there is still time, should we take a longer-term view, for us to leave well alone and allow this crucial part of the planet's infrastructure to recover and assist with the fight against global warming. The message is clear as a bell, but it isn't laboured by the dialogue. It is illustrated by odd looking crabs, seahorses and magnificent blue whales. The production is top class and as an educational piece of cinema, this will take some beating - especially if you can catch it all on a big screen.

The first 25 minutes of Ocean with David Attenborough are breathtaking-filled with stunning visuals and fascinating, little-known facts about marine life, much like Attenborough's other masterpieces.

But then came the industrial bottom-trawling scene-and I was overwhelmed. Watching the destruction of the ocean floor was brutal. It was not just shocking; it was heartbreaking. I had to stop watching. It hurt deeply.

I'm not sure if I can bring myself to finish the documentary. As a human being, I felt ashamed. We are destroying everything that is beautiful and vital. This film is important, but it's also painful. A must-watch-but not an easy one.

Went to see this documentary, released to mark the 99th birthday of David Attenborough. The plea to save our oceans is heartfelt and moving, with David telling us that he's coming to the end of his days. I was appalled at the wanton and greedy destruction of the ocean habitats and sea creatures through profligate overfishing. However, despair turns to hope as David explains how easy it is to repair the ravages we have wrought on the marine environment. We really must not turn a blind eye to the blight of overfishing, horrific trawling and the near extinction of marine species. David narrates with as much passion and dedication as ever, and it was quite poignant to see him standing on the white cliffs at the end.