Deep Blue - a natural history of the oceans' film review

Despite the fact that the sea constitutes two-thirds of our planet, we know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the deep oceans. Now, for the first time ever, it is possible to explore a world few have ever seen. From the familiar to the unknown, Deep Blue reveals the sea and its communities at their most enchanting, alluring and fierce. Directors Alastair Fothergill and Andy Byatt assembled 20 specialised camera teams, shot over 7, 000 hours of footage in more than 200 locations around the world for more than 5 years, and descended as far as 5, 000 meters in the most powerful submersible crafts. New species of ocean dwellers were discovered, and many photographed for the first time ever.

This film of highlights from The Blue Planet' is visually stunning. But at 90 minutes, it's an hour too long.

The film could have been drastically improved in two ways. First, edit the best bits into an IMAX style thrill ride. The dramatic episodes where we scud over the waves in a speeded up helicopter sequence, killer whales battle for six hours to destroy a three month old grey whale, and we see a fish eye's view of a storm crashing overhead. The breathtaking bits where dolphins surf through intense blue waves. The cute bits where penguins do impressive dives and belly flop onto the snowy shore, and a polar bear does the doggy paddle through the ice floes. And the pyrotechnics where we see Las Vegas deep-sea disco jellyfish flashing multicoloured tentacles in the darkness.

Second, add an interesting soundtrack. Soundwise, the most effective moment was when the Classic FM style music gave way to a fast and funny Latin track to accompany high-speed crab antics. Someone like Luke Vibert, David Holmes, William Orbit or Massive Attack could have added a sense of narrative and helped entertain 30 somethings taking their kids to see the film.

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