I'd like to start this review off by saying that Benjamin Bartletts music for this episode is just perfect again. The fact that the Manmoth Journey theme is present in almost every scene of the episode in some variation is just a whole other level of brilliance. Now to get to the actual episode. As far as animals go, I have to say that this is the least interesting episode, due to this one featuring mostly the ones everyone knows and loves. The Neanderthal costumes also look a bit uncanny, even by 2001 standards. Walking With Cavemen definitely pulled them off better. Story-wise however, this is pretty much perfect. They really upped their game when it came to storytelling this time around. And I think the final scene of this episode might be my favorite scene in all of Walking With. I still get goosebumps to this day whenever Kenneth Branagh says "No species lasts forever" at the end of this one.
Walking with Prehistoric Beasts (TV Mini Series)
Mammoth Journey (2001)
User Reviews
Review this title2 Reviews
Dangerous journey of the mammoths
TheLittleSongbird7 June 2018
Have always been fascinated by dinosaurs, whether reading about them or seeing documentaries and films on them. Love documentaries, especially those of the national treasure that is David Attenborough, and admire Kenneth Branagh a good deal. So my expectations for 'Walking with Beasts' were quite big and that's an understatement.
Expectations that were actually mostly lived up to, a good thing for me having seen my fair share of wastes of potential recently. 'Walking with Beasts' is not one of the best documentaries personally seen (far from it), and there are better ones on the subject of dinosaurs. It is also not as ground-breaking as 'Walking with Dinosaurs', as far as dinosaur documentaries go, still a big achievement to this day. Standing on its own without comparing it to anything, 'Walking with Beasts' was very interesting and mostly very well done.
Once again the sixth episode "Mammoth Journey" is very good.
Sure "Mammoth Journey" isn't perfect. Sometimes the effects are on the stiff side in movement.
Did actually appreciate the storytelling approach "Mammoth Journey", and 'Walking with Beasts' in general, took and it made it entertaining and emotionally investable and it was never less than compelling. It did get in the way at times though too much of the documentary aspect, which interested and compelled throughout but there could have been more focus on the evidence and such to stop things from being too speculative.
However, when it comes to how it's written, "Mammoth Journey" does just as good a job entertaining and teaching, it's all very sincerely done and it never feels like a sermon. There are things here that are common sense and knowledge but one is taught a huge deal as wel (mostly the latter).
Kenneth Branagh's narration delivery is similarly spot-on, very sensitively delivered and very dignified, his expertise in Shakespeare helps the delivery. The narration is comprehensive and sincere, with a good balance of things known to me and things new to me (really like it when documentaries do that), as well as compelling.
Visually, "Mammoth Journey" may lack the awe-inspiring, almost cinematic quality one anticipates. With that being said, it is beautifully shot, shot in a fluid and non-static way. The sceneries and landscapes are handsomely rendered and mostly the dinosaur effects are impressive.
"Mammoth Journey" is appropriately scored, never intrusive or too low-key. There is fun, tension and pathos throughout and the dinosaurs, prey and predator, are like characters that one cares for in the same way they do a human. The documentary aspect is grounded and well researched, coming over as if there was evidence to corroborate what was said.
Overall, very good though could have been great. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Expectations that were actually mostly lived up to, a good thing for me having seen my fair share of wastes of potential recently. 'Walking with Beasts' is not one of the best documentaries personally seen (far from it), and there are better ones on the subject of dinosaurs. It is also not as ground-breaking as 'Walking with Dinosaurs', as far as dinosaur documentaries go, still a big achievement to this day. Standing on its own without comparing it to anything, 'Walking with Beasts' was very interesting and mostly very well done.
Once again the sixth episode "Mammoth Journey" is very good.
Sure "Mammoth Journey" isn't perfect. Sometimes the effects are on the stiff side in movement.
Did actually appreciate the storytelling approach "Mammoth Journey", and 'Walking with Beasts' in general, took and it made it entertaining and emotionally investable and it was never less than compelling. It did get in the way at times though too much of the documentary aspect, which interested and compelled throughout but there could have been more focus on the evidence and such to stop things from being too speculative.
However, when it comes to how it's written, "Mammoth Journey" does just as good a job entertaining and teaching, it's all very sincerely done and it never feels like a sermon. There are things here that are common sense and knowledge but one is taught a huge deal as wel (mostly the latter).
Kenneth Branagh's narration delivery is similarly spot-on, very sensitively delivered and very dignified, his expertise in Shakespeare helps the delivery. The narration is comprehensive and sincere, with a good balance of things known to me and things new to me (really like it when documentaries do that), as well as compelling.
Visually, "Mammoth Journey" may lack the awe-inspiring, almost cinematic quality one anticipates. With that being said, it is beautifully shot, shot in a fluid and non-static way. The sceneries and landscapes are handsomely rendered and mostly the dinosaur effects are impressive.
"Mammoth Journey" is appropriately scored, never intrusive or too low-key. There is fun, tension and pathos throughout and the dinosaurs, prey and predator, are like characters that one cares for in the same way they do a human. The documentary aspect is grounded and well researched, coming over as if there was evidence to corroborate what was said.
Overall, very good though could have been great. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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