Stunning footage unlike ever seen before (sorry, Sir David Attenborough)
"Serengeti" (2019 release from the UK) is a new television series about life in the famed Tanzania wild life. As the series opens, we are informed that this is a 'dramatized story" of animals in the Serengeti, and that this is "the season of plenty", after the rainy season. We are introduced to Kani, a lioness with 4 cubs who is cast out and hence needs to fend for herself and her cubs, against great odds. Next we get to know the baboons living on the Great Rock, and things are shaken up as well within the colony... At this point we are 10 min. into the documentary.Couple of comments: this is a stunning new nature documentary series created by none other than Simon "American Idol" Fuller, and directed by veteran documentarian John Downer. As you may know, the long-standing "gold standard" for nature documentaries has been the string of BBC series hosted over the years by Sir David Attenborough (Blue Planet, Planet Earth, etc.) Now comes "Serengeti", a new series showing commercial-free on the Discovery Channel (I watched the first episode last night). To say that this is a spectacular nature documentary would be the understatement of the year. In the initial 60 min. episode alone, there are so many jaw-dropping moments that I quite couldn't believe my eyes. The central "character" (yes, all of the animals get a name, as if they are human beings) is the lioness Kani, who is fighting mighty great odds to survive on her own (along with her 4 cubs). There she is fighting a lion! Then she hunts down a zebra! Here she comes in a dramatic standoff with hyenas! (Turns out that hyenas pretty much rule the Serengeti universe.) Along the way we watch flocks of elephants (the footage of the new-born baby will melt your heart), leopards, buffalos, and on and on. At then end of the first episode comes a 3 min. "behind the scenes" look of how the film makers were able to capture some of this stunning footage, and it is revealed they used, among others, remote mobile cameras and drones.)
Please note that the documentary is narrated by Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o (who spent considerable time growing up in nearby Kenya). Even better is the original score, composed by Will Gregory of Goldfrapp, which plays pretty much non-stop, and with leads vocals from Lola Lennox (daughter of Annie Lennox). I will certainly be checking that out as well (assuming it's available as a standalone CD or digital release). "Serengeti" has been touted as the "real life Lion King", and based on this stunning first episode, I can wholeheartedly agree with that. I cannot wait to see the upcoming episodes! The series airs Sunday evenings 8 pm Eastern on the Discovery Channel. If you love nature documentaries, I'd readily encourage you to check it out on TV, on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
*UPDATE 8/12/19* Last night I saw Episode 2 "Confrontation". We get more astonishing footage, including from female cheetah Kike and her cubs, the courtship (and hilarious dancing) of two ostriches, and the continuing adventures of lioness Kani and her cubs, and many other animals introduced in Episode 1. Note: Episode 2 was not commercial-free. That said, I still found it to be must-see TV.
score 9/10
paul-allaer 5 August 2019
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw5041650/15176
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