David Attenborough's First Life

Meeting the strange and amazing animals that once swam in our seas

It's partially the material. Whereas Sir David's previous efforts showed off many extraordinary features of life as we currently know it (complete with often mind-blowing photography), this is life as has long vanished, and that is in turn limited by the reliance on fossils, which only appear in rocks when their subjects are candidates for fossilisation - and fossilisation itself is a rare occurrence, so in a way it's amazing that we have as much as we have. The animals themselves have been dead for rather a long time, so they are reproduced (very effectively) as CGI, with occasional reference to similar living animals. However, to me, it is more material for a textbook rather than a television series, in that it is simply lacking in the visual impact of the real thing.In a way this programme is humbling, in that it portrays just how much we don't know. How did the first DNA come together? What were the origins of the "simple cell" (every one an amazing conglomeration of interdependent electrochemical complexity)? These are questions without answers and subject only to speculation. It would be interesting to get to other parts of the solar system and see whether there exists there forms of proto-life.Having said that, Sir David lays out a fascinating story of the rise of life in the sea and its emergence on land, even though everything that works well in water doesn't on land, and this is where this particular story ends. As I said, very interesting, yet to me somehow not as gripping as previous series.Another factor in this is another fossil, Sir David himself. While clearly still possessing the boundless enthusiasm for his subject, at 80-something he is clearly starting to creak a bit - he is now rather portly and walks with a pronounced limp. However, as the accompanying documentary shows, he is still willing to have a go and not to be carried/driven to venues. The famous delivery is also starting to falter. The problem is that, in the normal Attenborough nature series, the animals are the stars of the show, and Sir David makes sure that they are. Here they can't be, because they no longer exist. Moreover, the stunning landscapes and amazing wildlife photography, which are the hallmarks of the BBC series, are also not possible - and CGI simply doesn't cut it. This means Sir David has to be on camera much more than usual, and to me it doesn't work nearly so well.P.S. The new Attenborough series on Africa has just started on the BBC, and it throws "First Life" into relief. It has all the classic hallmarks - truly breathtaking images and non-intrusive commentary from Sir David - and very little of him on the screen. And the animals are the stars of the show. Business as usual, I'm pleased to say.

This is another typical high quality product both written and narrated by David Attenborough. The recording itself is an HD product, copyrighted in 2010. The programs use advanced CGI techniques to enlarge upon the real life locations and examples drawn from around the world. Viewers watching this series will have a very up-to-date understanding of the material and current expert thinking.At the time of this series David Attenborough, aged in his early 80’s, was visiting the missing coverage of his series of productions centred on the theme of ‘Life.’ His apparent intention was to make just the one series with this topic but, as it turned out, he made a sequel to this series in 2013 where he traced the evolution of the vertebrates – Rise of Animals.This current series essentially focuses on the rise of the invertebrates with only a brief mention made of the vertebrates at the series concludes. The two series’ therefore do not cover the same ground and can safely be bought as separate entities. It is worth emphasising the importance of recognising the vast variety and success of the invertebrate world as that form of life is still very much with us and accounts for 80% of all current species.The current set consists of two 60 minute documentaries, Arrival and Conquest, followed by a fascinating 60 minute documentary, Attenborough’s Journey, which shows how the film was created with alternative shots and commentary by Attenborough on set. In many ways this may be many viewers favourite of the three films as it communicates Attenborough’s desire to communicate his love of nature so compellingly.Locations and experts from around the world are used to draw together the various strands of this development. The very latest in technology is used to striking effect – striking also for Attenborough who has always been fascinated in such advances.The above is intended to simply whet the appetite of potential enthusiasts and to give a broad outline of the depths explored by these two films and supporting ‘Attenborough’s Journey. This was an invaluable addition to the sequence of invaluable films made by David Attenborough at that time. That can now be amended to being an invaluable addition to the expanding sequence of invaluable films. Long may they continue!In summary, this series is an invaluable first stage in tackling an essential & vast topic that Attenborough later expanded with his Rise of Animals series.

Arrived on time and in good condition, another david attenborough triumph, he really is the god of natural history, this gem is all about the very beginnings of life on our planet , the story told in such a enlightening way that you are left with no doubt as to the beginnings of life ,how it duplicated, how it changed in so many different ways, great CGI to give you a idea what early creatures may have looked like , who would have thought that the simple sponge still with us today is one of the first complex life forms made when ancient bacteria clumped together,The humble sponge over 500 million years old amazing, if you like natural history then this is a must not miss, very happy with this purchase 😀