Earth (2007)

Directed By: Alistair Fothergill, Mark Linfield
Narrated by: Patrick Stewart

When the BBC produced Planet Earth it was one of those great moments in Television history. Not only did it arrive at a time when HD was beginning to break into the home, but also at a time when global warming was becoming the big issue of our times. So this cinematic realise, a brilliantly structured best of essentially, is as mouth-watering as it gets when it comes to documenting the natural world.
The film goes through a calendar year around the world giving us a glimpse into the life and times of our planet. Starting in the Artic and introducing us to a family of polar bears, the film proceeds to move across the globe throwing up fascinating facts and breathtaking images which are infinitely better when shown on a cinema screen. If you’ve seen all of Planet Earth much of these moments and facts will feel familiar, but the grandeur and magnificence of this planet can never be fully appreciated until it witnessed on a full sized cinematic screen; remember those moments from the TV series when the shark jumps out of the water whilst catching the seal, the massive Whales, the flocks of birds, which block out the ground.
Patrick Stewart replaces David Attenborough on voiceover duties, and although it seems somewhat peculiar and unnecessary, Stewart’s soft, relaxed voice is perfectly suited to the images on screen, and thankfully most of the voiceover is used sparingly allowing you to marvel at the wonders Earth.
In a world which is becoming more and more concerned with global warming, this films theme is positioned specifically to raise awareness of the environmental effects global warming is having on species around the world. In fact, this feature length version feels like it may have been commissioned with the sole purpose of alerting people to the devastating future some of the world most prized animals face.
The one overwhelming result of Earth, is how varied and diverse our planet it. A desert which becomes a wetland for a few months of the year. A forest in Russia big enough to replenish the entire world’s supply of oxygen. The threat of the entire ocean ecosystem because of the decreasing numbers of Plankton. These revelations, all draw in to a central theme about the fragility of our Planet and the intrinsic link between all of the ecosystems and environments, however different, on Earth.

A masterclass in visual beauty, Earth takes all of the brilliance of the BBC TV show and condenses into 90 minutes of an absolute must see film. The likes of which we may never see again, especially if our planet continues on it current path.