Am a big fan of nature documentaries, especially the work of David Attenborough. Having been recommended 'Hidden India' on here while being on a documentary binge, it was instantly put down on my list as a must see. Also heard nothing but praise for it, which has nearly always been a good sign, so that further sparked interest.
'Hidden India' may not be among the best documentaries there is and falls short just of masterpiece and piece of art status, then again this is coming from someone who thinks highly of nature documentaries but always expects a lot. It is still excellent, its best parts actually feeling much more than just a documentary. Throughout it's an awe-inspiring, utterly transfixing experience that should have lasted longer than the three episodes it had, for a look at amazing scenery and its wildlife it is a more than recommendable watch. Also feel that it deserves to be seen here and be rated higher here.
Not really anything wrong here, though there are a few parts that could have gone into more depth. Otherwise "Land of Mountains" is a great second episode and every bit as good as, perhaps even better than, the still excellent first episode.
It is hard knowing when to start with the praise. "Land of Mountains" for starters may lack the cinematic quality of some other documentaries but nonetheless looks amazing. It is gorgeously filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting even more with the animals), way and never looking static. The scenery and habitats are some of the most breath-taking personally seen anywhere, whether in visual media and real life. The rich colours just leap out and the scenery from this part of the world has rarely looked more beautiful. The music here is a remarkably good fit, throughout it not only complements the visuals but enhances them and there is an authentic flavour to it.
What of the narrative and information aspects? Can find little to fault "Land of Mountains" in this aspect either. The narration has a great well-balanced mix of facts that will be familiar to the viewer and others that will induce the right amount of surprise. In short, it's just fascinating, informative and thoughtful.
From start to finish, "Land of Mountains" managed to intrigue and illuminate, and there is a freshness to the material, not feeling derivative of anything. The narration is delivered articulately and subtly by Geraldine James, there's an enthusiasm and precision about the delivery and it never feels preachy and always lets the scenery and such speak for itself.
The wildlife themselves are a wonderful mix of the adorable and the dangerous, and one actually finds they're rooting for them in exactly the same way they would a human character. Seeing them adapting to, surviving and interacting with their habitats is fascinating to watch as are the human and religious elements that don't feel out of place at all.
"Land of Mountain" feels much more than a series and it doesn't feel episodic or repetitive. It instead feels like its own story, without being too reliant on that approach, with real emotions, sceneries and landscapes that are like characters of their own and animals and such that you engage with.
In summation, excellent second episode to an underseen and under-appreciated series, even though it got even better in the next two episodes. 9/10 Bethany Cox
'Hidden India' may not be among the best documentaries there is and falls short just of masterpiece and piece of art status, then again this is coming from someone who thinks highly of nature documentaries but always expects a lot. It is still excellent, its best parts actually feeling much more than just a documentary. Throughout it's an awe-inspiring, utterly transfixing experience that should have lasted longer than the three episodes it had, for a look at amazing scenery and its wildlife it is a more than recommendable watch. Also feel that it deserves to be seen here and be rated higher here.
Not really anything wrong here, though there are a few parts that could have gone into more depth. Otherwise "Land of Mountains" is a great second episode and every bit as good as, perhaps even better than, the still excellent first episode.
It is hard knowing when to start with the praise. "Land of Mountains" for starters may lack the cinematic quality of some other documentaries but nonetheless looks amazing. It is gorgeously filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting even more with the animals), way and never looking static. The scenery and habitats are some of the most breath-taking personally seen anywhere, whether in visual media and real life. The rich colours just leap out and the scenery from this part of the world has rarely looked more beautiful. The music here is a remarkably good fit, throughout it not only complements the visuals but enhances them and there is an authentic flavour to it.
What of the narrative and information aspects? Can find little to fault "Land of Mountains" in this aspect either. The narration has a great well-balanced mix of facts that will be familiar to the viewer and others that will induce the right amount of surprise. In short, it's just fascinating, informative and thoughtful.
From start to finish, "Land of Mountains" managed to intrigue and illuminate, and there is a freshness to the material, not feeling derivative of anything. The narration is delivered articulately and subtly by Geraldine James, there's an enthusiasm and precision about the delivery and it never feels preachy and always lets the scenery and such speak for itself.
The wildlife themselves are a wonderful mix of the adorable and the dangerous, and one actually finds they're rooting for them in exactly the same way they would a human character. Seeing them adapting to, surviving and interacting with their habitats is fascinating to watch as are the human and religious elements that don't feel out of place at all.
"Land of Mountain" feels much more than a series and it doesn't feel episodic or repetitive. It instead feels like its own story, without being too reliant on that approach, with real emotions, sceneries and landscapes that are like characters of their own and animals and such that you engage with.
In summation, excellent second episode to an underseen and under-appreciated series, even though it got even better in the next two episodes. 9/10 Bethany Cox