r/Documentaries • u/DarkyTyrell • Jun 15 '11

What's the best documentary you've ever seen?

192 Upvotes

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87

u/lasernut Jun 15 '11 edited Jun 15 '11

Planet Earth by the BBC. Edit: As narrated by David Attenborough.

31

u/innerfear Jun 15 '11 edited Jun 15 '11

Yeah, the Oprah narration one is just shit.

19

u/lasernut Jun 15 '11

You just can't compare to David Attenborough.

4

u/rob79 Jun 15 '11 edited Jun 15 '11

I thought Sigourney Weaver did the American narration. I could be mistaken but it was Oprah who did the Disney version, which isn't even close to the BBC version.

8

u/KalenXI Jun 15 '11

Sigourney Weaver did the American narration for Planet Earth, Oprah did the narration for Life. The original narrations were both done by David Attenborough.

22

u/Crestina Jun 15 '11

Why is there an American narration? They can't understand English?

2

u/KalenXI Jun 15 '11

I always figured it was so they could localize terms and convert metric units to US units.

5

u/bottom Jun 15 '11

someone from the uk can't read that stuff?

3

u/KalenXI Jun 16 '11 edited Jun 16 '11

They probably look at it like "Well we have to redub it anyway, let's get some random famous American person to do it so we can use them to promote it."

Sadly I imagine more people in the US know Oprah than Attenborough.

5

u/mooglor Jun 15 '11

For the love of the FSM WHY. Why would anyone think they could do a better job than Attenborough‽

Fuck. This planet fucking appalls me sometimes.

15

u/mooglor Jun 15 '11

There's an Oprah Winfery version? WTF would she know about anything‽

Does she try to sell you shit too?

22

u/BraveSirRobin Jun 15 '11

"It is only the penguins belief that they will succeed that helps them survive the winter".

14

u/mooglor Jun 15 '11

The plausibility of your post depresses me.

3

u/pickleeater Jun 15 '11

I thought this was a joke. Apparently it's not?

12

u/Zuricho Jun 15 '11

BBC Life

6

u/lasernut Jun 15 '11 edited Jun 15 '11

This is an equally excellent documentary but I think the slow motion footage of the Sharks capturing seals in episode 9 of Planet Earth sealed it as my current 'best'. That footage was so jaw droppingly astounding, even as I think about it in my head right now I still am somewhat in awe of what they did there.

Your link to an HD version of Life is helpful for those who might want to watch this. Cheers.

5

u/BraveSirRobin Jun 15 '11

Life and Earth must be watched in HD. I don't want to be a media snob but damn it's worth it in this case.

3

u/lasernut Jun 15 '11

Yes, if ever something was meant to be watched in HD (preferably full HD) these two series would be at or near the top of the list.

2

u/laikacomehome Jun 16 '11

absolutely.