If your job ends with ‘gist’,
or if you majored in something that ends with ‘ology’,
you will most definitely find this 6-disc set extremely entertaining
and educational. I truly enjoyed watching BBC’s nature
journey through Africa and Europe. I often find myself watching
programs that are educational, so this was truly a treat that
took me on a rollercoaster of enjoyment. It has vast amounts
of visually stimulating footage. However, this great footage
had some rather bland narration. As always, however, the BBC’s
visual performance of these wonderful nature series are spectacular.
I give this set 7 out of 10, noting that the visuals were
spectacular but the narration lacked a bit of excitement.
Make sure to visit the BBC America Shop and get your set
here!
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Cast: Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Sean Bean,
Rupert Graves, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane
Rating: NR, 90 minutes, BBC, A&E, and Warner Bros, 2004
Pride, a BBC and A&E video, is an imaginative and spirited
movie of lioness cub Suki, who was born in the Serengeti.
We watch her as she grows into puberty, and the strain that
these changes bring upon her and her family. She pays dearly
for her rebellion, and realizes, in the end, that nothing
is more important than that of her family – her Pride.
Character effects and animation were completed by Jim
Hensen’s Creature Shop. While watching this movie,
I found myself trying to figure out where the special effects
ended and the true lion began. It was very difficult to see,
if mostly impossible. In a few instances, the effects were
a bit off, but the expressions on the different lions were
priceless. Consternation, suspicion, loving, playful and awestruck
visages were easy to differentiate, even without the cubs’
playful banter.
The voices of Pride were done with a crowd of famous British
actors, including Kate Winslet as Suki, Helen Mirren, Sean
Bean, Rupert Graves, Jim Broadbent and Robbie Coltrane. Kate
Winslet does very well as the sometimes over reactive and
sometimes sulky Suki. It was very amusing to listen to (and
watch in the behind-the-scenes portion) the actors trying
their best to growl like their character.
The script is good, if a bit dry in the middle, as if it
were struggling to keep the movie going. As adults, we pretty
much know how this is going to end, but children would have
a harder time. There are a few twists, like what happens to
Suki’s cubs, which was a bit surprising, but true to
life.
Director and Producer John
Downer is renowned for his nature programs. Some of the
techniques used to film the movie I found to be quite amazing.
Taking nearly three years to complete, this movie contains
some of the most amazing scenes in the world of nature that
I've seen. Most of the scenes were filmed by his ingenious
‘bouldercam’ – a camera that was placed
on wheels that were remote controlled, and had a rock-like
structure over the top, with a portion cut out for the lens.
It was amazing to have such close-up and open access to the
pride that bouldercam filmed, as the pride accepted this ‘boulder’
without suspicion. For me in particular, it was astonishing
to see the true fights of the lions and lionesses. These animals
are magnificent, and we see why the lions truly are the kings.
The DVD extras include “Pride: Talking With Lions”,
which is the making of the movie. This gives all the information
on how the animated faces came to life, and the details of
how they filmed the lions. The wildlife special “Lions:
Spy in the Den” gives another great look at the bouldercam,
and how it was able to literally become part of the pride.
I enjoyed the movie, and feel there is much for children
to learn from it – mainly the importance of a family
sticking together, as without this important alliance, there
are many weaknesses to be had.
Overall rating of 3.5 of 5. |
