Attenborough in Paradise (TV Movie 1996)

Attenborough in Paradise: Directed by Paul Reddish. With David Attenborough. David Attenborough travels to the forests of Papua New Guinea, where 38 of the 42 kinds of bird of paradise are found.

“As said many times, David Attenborough is a national treasure. He may apparently dislike the term, but it is hard to not say that about such a great presenter who has contributed significantly to some of the best programmes (of the documentary genre and overall) the BBC has ever aired/produced.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt is really hard picking favourites, let alone a definite favourite, among what Attenborough has done because he has done so many gems, it is the equivalent of trying to choose your favourite ice cream flavour or your favourite operatic role (for examples) and finding you canu0026#39;t pick. One of Attenboroughu0026#39;s one-off specials u0026#39;Attenborough in Paradiseu0026#39; is one of the best of them. Perhaps not quite among the best or most ground-breaking of his work, but another gem with everything done brilliantly. It has everything that makes so much of his work so wonderful, hence some of the reiteration of my recent reviews for some of his work (being on a nature documentary binge in my spare time), and deserves everything great that has been said about it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFirst and foremost, u0026#39;Attenborough in Paradiseu0026#39; looks amazing. It is gorgeously filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting even more with the birds), way and never looking static. In fact much of it is remarkably cinematic with some of the shots being unique for a documentary series, making one forget that it is a series. The editing is always succinct and smooth and the scenery is spectacular.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe music score fits very well, never overly grandiose while never being inappropriate while also being a beautiful score in its own right.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAgain, like so many Attenborough nature/wildlife documentaries, u0026#39;Attenborough in Paradiseu0026#39; fascinates, teaches, moves, entertains and transfixes. In terms of the facts there was a very good mix of the known ones and the unknown. Likewise with the plants themselves.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNarration by Attenborough helps significantly. He clearly knows his stuff and knows what to say and how to say it. He delivers it with his usual richness, soft-spoken enthusiasm and sincerity, never talking down to the viewer and keeping them riveted and wanting to know more.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eLoved the birds as expected, caring for them in the same way that one would a human. They look magnificent and are rich in personality. Thereu0026#39;s as always a wide range of emotions from tense conflict, awe and tear-jerking pathos.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eu0026#39;Attenborough in Paradiseu0026#39; never feels episodic and has much more to it than just Attenborough being in awe.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOverall, wonderful and the viewer is in as much paradise as Attenborough. 10/10 Bethany Cox”