Drew 0 Posted December 10, 2011 I have to say... I never thought I'd ever see this from Sir David Attenborough, the god father of natural history docos: It's a wonderful world all right! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeanB 19 Posted December 10, 2011 Heard this a few days ago... Slightly cheesy but he has the Midas touch, maybe we should do a wetpixel 'we are the world' Dean Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Bantin 101 Posted December 10, 2011 Did Attenborough need to try to emulate Louis Armstrong? I don't remember Satchmo climbing into any termites nests! I thought he just demonstrated what an awful performer he was! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew 0 Posted December 10, 2011 Not a Pops fan, John? Whatever you say about Louis' music (and how can you not like Hello Dolly, Baby it's Cold Outside and It's a Wonderful World?), this song has such meaning when he first sang it in the 60s and it still has political meaning now for a different set of circumstances. The song is wonderfully contextual in almost literal terms. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fontaine 0 Posted December 11, 2011 Wetpixel needs a "like" button Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATJ 1 Posted December 11, 2011 It is a tad cheesy, but works (and works well) because the world depicted in the accompanying video (and every other DA doco) is indeed wonderful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JimG 26 Posted December 11, 2011 I was surprised and sad too....it sounded like Attenborough's farewell. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew 0 Posted December 11, 2011 He's 85, Jim. But he still went to the Antarctic and Arctic with the crews. He may be slowing down and need a walking stick, but I think unless health stops him, he's going to keep on plugging away, hopefully! The BBC must've wanted extra talk with that "song." Hopefully it isn't his swan song! Even if it is, "On Thin Ice" would be a fantastic legacy for him to end on. It probably contains the most fantastic cinematography than ever before, and the story lines were interesting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Bantin 101 Posted December 11, 2011 (edited) Attenborough is without doubt natural-history films Royalty but HM the Queen got Brian May to play Happy Birthday on the roof of Buckingham Palace rather than doing it herself. It was a pity they used the Attenborough delivery. I thought it was ill-judged and made him sound old and feeble, which he patently is not! Edited December 11, 2011 by John Bantin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew 0 Posted December 11, 2011 Well JFK got Norma Jean to do it. Personally I think that tops Brian May! Maybe David doesn't take himself as seriously as some people do! I thought it was funny and apt for the occasion. He's trying to push conservation but not in a fire and brimstone way. It's got us talking about it and that montage was amazing! 2 hippos in combat and geese mating dance @ "really saying I love you!" LOL At least he didn't go..."Oh yeah!" at the end. Discovery had many of their series hosts singing a few years back: Stephen Hawkings sang! Talk about fun! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scorpio_fish 5 Posted December 11, 2011 Doing a "Shatner" can mean so many things, I just had to read the post and watch the clip. I think some of you are too close to the business and have too much of a serious critic's eye. Cheesy or not, I liked it. I'm sure the audience that it was intended for liked it, too. I hate to admit it, but I always think of Sir Richard as the guy who was in "The Great Escape", not the documentarian. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew 0 Posted December 11, 2011 LOL George, you may have started a whole new tangent toward sibling rivalry! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damo 4 Posted December 11, 2011 I 'grew up' with Sir David Attenborough....as did many of us. As far as I am concerned...he can be cheesy all he wants- but the clip did bring a tear to my eye. Would love to know what he thought when he saw the above clip!! :-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeanB 19 Posted December 11, 2011 I 'grew up' with Sir David Attenborough....as did many of us.As far as I am concerned...he can be cheesy all he wants- but the clip did bring a tear to my eye. Would love to know what he thought when he saw the above clip!! :-) You lucky Bugger Damo ... Actually growing up with the 'Master' ... If you read his life on air biography you will see he is very witty and his interview with Parkinson was hilarious Dean Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loftus 42 Posted December 11, 2011 I love Satchmo; and I think this was a brilliant, lighthearted, use of the song. He was not taking himself too seriously, why should anyone else. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeanB 19 Posted December 11, 2011 HM the Queen got Brian May to play Happy Birthday on the roof of Buckingham Palace rather than doing it herself. Hilarious!!! I would love to see 'her Madge' blasting out a few licks on top of Buck house ... Rock!!! Dean Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uwxplorer 4 Posted December 11, 2011 Nice. But is the editing a bit off at times? "Clouds of white" is said a tad too late (after the sequence with white clouds drifting down a valley), and so is "Red roses", "I love you", etc... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnjvv 11 Posted December 11, 2011 Nice. But is the editing a bit off at times? "Clouds of white" is said a tad too late (after the sequence with white clouds drifting down a valley), and so is "Red roses", "I love you", etc... Does it really matter??? I watched it twice today and both times made me wonder what the hell am I doing working in an office...nature is wonderful and I wish I could spend every minute in it... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uwxplorer 4 Posted December 12, 2011 It matters, because if it is done on purpose, I've got to get up to speed in terms of editing style and if it was not done on purpose, it's kind of a sloppy synchronization by whoever put the piece together... Since I am in a provocative mood today, I'll just note that there are some quite wild and violent footage among all the shows and movies commented by Attenborough, which would make for an equally convincing "Life is so cruel" short. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deep6 7 Posted December 12, 2011 Did Attenborough need to try to emulate Louis Armstrong? I don't remember Satchmo climbing into any termites nests! I thought he just demonstrated what an awful performer he was! John el , Who is "he"? If you mean Armstrong, then maybe you didn't get to experience a live performance in a close venue as I did. For a teenage that though Buddy Holly hung the moon, I loved his performance. Bob Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Bantin 101 Posted December 12, 2011 (edited) John el , Who is "he"? If you mean Armstrong, then maybe you didn't get to experience a live performance in a close venue as I did. For a teenage that though Buddy Holly hung the moon, I loved his performance. Bob Both are/were undeniably "Greats". It's a pity one strays into the territory of the other. Imagine the end of the documentary with Satchmo's rendition. Fabulous! The BBC saved on the expense and got a tacky ending that clashed with wonderful visuals. (For those that don't know, Richard was David's brother!) Edited December 12, 2011 by John Bantin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Drew 0 Posted December 12, 2011 Err John... Richard still IS Dave's brother, AFAIK. Still in the living! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATJ 1 Posted December 12, 2011 It matters, because if it is done on purpose, I've got to get up to speed in terms of editing style and if it was not done on purpose, it's kind of a sloppy synchronization by whoever put the piece together... Couldn't it simply be getting out of sync because it is playing on YouTube over the 'net? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
John Bantin 101 Posted December 12, 2011 Err John... Richard still IS Dave's brother, AFAIK. Still in the living! My mistake! In August 2008 Richard Attenborough was hospitalised with heart problems, and was fitted with a pacemaker. In December 2008 he suffered a fall at his home and was admitted to St. George's Hospital in Tooting, southwest London. He went into a coma, but came out of it within a few days. In May 2011, David Attenborough revealed that his brother Lord Attenborough was now in a wheelchair but is still capable of holding a conversation. He added, however, that "he probably won't be making any more films." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wbk 1 Posted December 13, 2011 Think you gotta take it for what it is... It does show how wonderful the world is.. BUT on a lighter note.. anyone notice just how camp they monkey (or baboon) was wading in the water! that made me giggle!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
