Frozen Planet Review: The Poles in All Their Glory
9/10 — Frozen Planet (2011)
Pros
- Spectacular cinematography
- Dramatic animal stories
- Climate change message
Cons
- Zoo controversy
- Gentle pace
David Attenborough narrates seven episodes exploring the Earth’s polar regions through the seasons, including footage of a polar bear mother and cubs and a time-lapse of the ice. It involved years of filming in extreme conditions.
What works
The cinematography is stunning, and the polar bears and penguins make for dramatic storytelling. The series is also frank about the effects of climate change in its final episode.
Where it falters
A controversy over a polar bear den scene filmed in a zoo, which was only explained in the behind-the-scenes material, caused some unease. The pace is gentle.
Verdict
A worthy follow-up to The Blue Planet and Planet Earth.
