A lot of people don’t realise, but David Attenborough is a 3D pioneer – and did in fact receive an award from T3 magazine (Tomorrow’s Technology Today) for his pushing of the boundaries. His first 3D film was David Attenborough’s Flying Monsters which looked at Pterodactyls. It was probably the best 3D I have yet seen shot especially for television, and in fact it was released into IMAX cinemas, it was that good.
He has also announced two 3D series for next year. The first Kingdom of Plants 3D is due to be shown on Sky 3D in Spring 2012, and has already been shot. The second – Galapagos 3D will be in three parts and will air at Christmas 2012. But this New Year his second feature length venture – The Bachelor King 3D - premiered on Sky 3D before again getting a cinema release in early 2012. I recorded it, and sat down with my Dad to watch it today.
I must say that the approach was interesting. Basically, a fictional story was created around the typical life of a King Penguin. They then shot on location in South Georgia so that the story could be told with real footage. The result was very interesting and certainly impressed both story wise and in 3D. Although the latter aspect was maybe not quite as good as Flying Monsters it was still a mightily impressive accomplishment.
If I did have a gripe with it, it was that it was simply too long to digest in one sitting. There are very few “wow” moments in the film – the money shot that makes the jaw drop. This did mean that 90 minutes was just a little too long for a wildlife documentary.
That said – it is wonderful that Attenborough and Sky are pushing the boundaries of wildlife documentaries in such a way. I have no interest in the plant one – but roll on Galapagos. That, I am looking forward to!
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