Human Planet Review: People and the Wild
9/10 — Human Planet (2011)
Pros
- Incredible human stories
- Beautiful footage
- John Hurt's narration
Cons
- Brief on detail
Narrated by John Hurt, Human Planet visits communities in the Arctic, mountains, jungles, deserts, oceans, grasslands and cities and shows how they interact with nature. It features extraordinary traditions and skills.
What works
The footage is arresting, from men diving for sponges to families using eagles to hunt, and the stories show remarkable resilience. It treats its subjects with respect and curiosity.
Where it falters
The overview is often quite brief for each community, and there’s less science than in other BBC series.
Verdict
A fascinating, beautiful complement to the animal series.
