Was expecting a lot of great things from 'DisneyNature: Wings of Life'. Disney and nature documentaries sound like a perfect combination for fans of either or both, being somebody in the latter category. The subject did sound fascinating and different from the other DisneyNature documentaries. Meryl Streep is no stranger to narration, she narrated a few of the Rabbit Ears Productions literary adaptations from the 80s and 90s and beautifully.
'DisneyNature: Wings of Life' didn't quite deliver enough for me and am saying this with regret. As usual for DisneyNature documentaries, it looks absolutely amazing as are the inhabitants focused upon and their journeys. Like other DisneyNature documentaries, it does suffer from severely flawed narration. Both in writing and delivery. While 'Wings of Life' is a lot better than particularly 'Born in China' and 'Elephant', if you want to see a great DisneyNature documentary 'Earth' is your best bet followed by 'Oceans' and 'African Cats'.
As has been said above, 'Wings of Life' excels the most in the visuals. Simply put, visually it looks amazing. Especially the gorgeous photography that is more cinematic than quite a lot released at the time. The colours are wonderfully vivid and there is a wide variety in the locations and habitats, all of them beautiful-looking while also uncompromising. Enough of the music is grandoise and characterful, while not being too jaunty or overbearing.
The animals etc. themselves are so photogenic and their personalities fascinate and move. Some very sweet, humorous and moving scenes here in 'Wings of Life', nothing is too childish or too dark and the struggles are relatable and worth investing in. Enough of the information interests.
Other DisneyNature documentaries though did a lot better on the educational front, what is provided here is not very illuminating or fresh (or certainly not enough), as well as on the entertainment value. Did appreciate that 'Wings of Life' didn't go down the too jokey route, but at times it felt almost too serious and not as involving as it could have been.
Letting 'Wings of Life' down most is the narration. The writing is too over-explanatory, patronising and a case of mentioning the facts but doesn't really explore them properly. Streep's delivery disappoints too, she has a lovely speaking voice but the sincerity and warmth that was there in her Rabbit Ears Productions' narrations is not present here. Here she sounds bored or like her heart wasn't really in it, like a teacher reading from a science text book out loud in class while in half asleep mode.
In summary, above average but could have been a lot better. 6/10
'DisneyNature: Wings of Life' didn't quite deliver enough for me and am saying this with regret. As usual for DisneyNature documentaries, it looks absolutely amazing as are the inhabitants focused upon and their journeys. Like other DisneyNature documentaries, it does suffer from severely flawed narration. Both in writing and delivery. While 'Wings of Life' is a lot better than particularly 'Born in China' and 'Elephant', if you want to see a great DisneyNature documentary 'Earth' is your best bet followed by 'Oceans' and 'African Cats'.
As has been said above, 'Wings of Life' excels the most in the visuals. Simply put, visually it looks amazing. Especially the gorgeous photography that is more cinematic than quite a lot released at the time. The colours are wonderfully vivid and there is a wide variety in the locations and habitats, all of them beautiful-looking while also uncompromising. Enough of the music is grandoise and characterful, while not being too jaunty or overbearing.
The animals etc. themselves are so photogenic and their personalities fascinate and move. Some very sweet, humorous and moving scenes here in 'Wings of Life', nothing is too childish or too dark and the struggles are relatable and worth investing in. Enough of the information interests.
Other DisneyNature documentaries though did a lot better on the educational front, what is provided here is not very illuminating or fresh (or certainly not enough), as well as on the entertainment value. Did appreciate that 'Wings of Life' didn't go down the too jokey route, but at times it felt almost too serious and not as involving as it could have been.
Letting 'Wings of Life' down most is the narration. The writing is too over-explanatory, patronising and a case of mentioning the facts but doesn't really explore them properly. Streep's delivery disappoints too, she has a lovely speaking voice but the sincerity and warmth that was there in her Rabbit Ears Productions' narrations is not present here. Here she sounds bored or like her heart wasn't really in it, like a teacher reading from a science text book out loud in class while in half asleep mode.
In summary, above average but could have been a lot better. 6/10