'Life' on BBC1 tonight

SusieBee · #21 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 09:12 PM

Hmm Enid, whatever floats your boat I spose!

I thoroughly enjoyed tonights episode of 'Life'. I like the bitty narrative, it's great for simpletons like me......lol

ChrisR · #22 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 09:52 PM

Enid was excellent actually, you missed Helena Bonham Carter at her very best

When I said Life was bitty, I wasn't trying to suggest that it wasn't high-brow enough, far from it. The photography is excellent and a lot of money has been spent on it and I think that's great - I love nature documentaries that inspire people. But previous Attenborough series have all had a script and a narrative that has hooked me in to every episode ... they all tell a story and you can't look away in case you miss a bit. But Life (for me anyway) lacks that story or it seems incoherent - jumping from one example to another. It's like someone had a list of interesting things they want to film and they stitched all the footage together but forgot to link the bits together in the script ... except by the general theme of the episode - insects, fish, birds etc.

I still enjoy watching Life - the filming is excellent and DA is a pleasure to listen to - I just wish he had had more input in production

britnik · #23 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 10:10 PM

DA said that the Damsel Fly had to mate quickly as they have a very short lifespan.
This may be true for Mayflies but I thought Damsels live many weeks.

ChrisR · #24 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 10:23 PM

Hmm, the script also said that the male Dawson's bees have to "sting and bite each other to death" ... which is odd because male bees don't have a sting (stings are usually adapted ovipositors) ... unless this species has some strange, unexplained adaptation.

I'm probably being a bit picky but the BBC has set the bar pretty high and a mistake like that seems a bit out of character.

Jim Ford · #25 (**permalink**) 16-11-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisR

Enid was excellent actually, you missed Helena Bonham Carter at her very best

I watched 'Enid' in preference to 'Life'. I agree, it was an excellent performance by Helena Bonham Carter. I can watch 'Life' on 'catch-up'.

I'm looking forward to the talented Jane Horrocks playing Gracie Fields next week. If you'd seen her in 'Little Voice' you'll know what I mean.

Jim

pressld2 · #26 (**permalink**) 17-11-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by britnik

DA said that the Damsel Fly had to mate quickly as they have a very short lifespan.
This may be true for Mayflies but I thought Damsels live many weeks.

Also one of the slow motion shots of one being eaten by a frog was clearly a large dragonfly, possibly a southern hawker, and not a damselfly at all.

I've only watched half of last night's episode so far - will finish it tonight - but I just loved the long-jawed beetles. I won't spoil it for anyone who's going to watch it later but talk about love 'em and leave 'em!

Dave P.

partyboy · #27 (**permalink**) 17-11-2009, 08:05 AM

for me it lacked the passion which is usually present when d.attenborough is a physical presence rather than just a voice over but the quality of filming is excellent.

Ukwildlifeo · #28 (**permalink**) 17-11-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pressld2

Also one of the slow motion shots of one being eaten by a frog was clearly a large dragonfly, possibly a southern hawker, and not a damselfly at all.

I've only watched half of last night's episode so far - will finish it tonight - but I just loved the long-jawed beetles. I won't spoil it for anyone who's going to watch it later but talk about love 'em and leave 'em!

Dave P.

I laughed out load at the beetle bit - Im pretty sure Ive met him in Romford

The large dragonfly I think was an emperor and the frogs were either marsh or edible frogs (well one of the species/hybrid mess that is the water frogs!). It was great to see them eating the dragons and damselflies slowed down, after witnessing a splash that was a marsh frog eating the dragonfly I was trying to photograph in real life!

artful todger · #29 (**permalink**) 24-11-2009, 07:54 PM

Could someone help me try & figure out what i saw in this week's programme!?

It's driving me nuts!

There was something in the water during the whale/seal section. If you look on the iplayer it appears at the 47.30 mark... Looks kinda like a small whale with it's mouth open, but just doesn't look right! or maybe i'm not looking at it right

Thanks for anyone who goes to the trouble of looking!

PMG · #30 (**permalink**) 25-11-2009, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artful todger

Could someone help me try & figure out what i saw in this week's programme!?

It's driving me nuts!

There was something in the water during the whale/seal section. If you look on the iplayer it appears at the 47.30 mark... Looks kinda like a small whale with it's mouth open, but just doesn't look right! or maybe i'm not looking at it right

Thanks for anyone who goes to the trouble of looking!

I think its the seal dead in the water .........

Pauline