Life

Life produced by BBC.

Plot: Following the success of Planet Earth, the series observes the major groups of animal life on the planet through the use of artful filming, exotic locations, and professional narration. The four-disk series contains episodes on insects, reptiles & amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, primates, and conservation issues.

Genre: Animals, Documentary

Reading Level: Not Rated, but some hunting scenes may be intense for sensitive viewers.

Similar Titles: Life, Mammals, Nature's Most Amazing Events

Personal Thoughts: Two versions of the series exist. The one I watched was narrated by Oprah Winfrey and seems very youth-focused. However, many viewers prefer the original version with David Attenborough, citing the more experienced narrator and professional script as a better format. The version I saw tones down biological terms and situations, preventing the seriousness of the science from making a dramatic impact, so the preference is understandable.

On a more personal note, the focus on mammals becomes annoying quickly. For a series claiming to focus on Earth's lifeforms, half of the episodes focus exclusively on mammals. While mammals are interesting (and marketable), they are a very poor representation of biology. Insects and fish offer more variations of life than mammals, so they provide a better picture of what life requires. Similarly, amphibians and reptiles are different enough to merit their own episodes. A few major groups of animals, such as crabs, spiders, and mollusks, fail to receive any notice at all. A series claiming to focus on all life-forms should avoid such bias.