One Life

The BBC documentary division has been making some of the best natural history documentaries of the past two decades. Much of this feature-length film presents footage shot for the 2009 BBC series Life (VL-7/10), which used modern digital filmmaking technology to get up close and intimate with a wide variety of species ranging from silverback gorillas to swordfish. Narrated by Daniel Craig, filmmakers Michael Gunton and Martha Holmes' (who produced Life) One Life focuses on how species' survive as they raise young and work together to gather food and protect themselves—often making beneficial connections with otherwise disparate species in their survival mechanisms. But as in the original series, what's most impressive here is the imagery, as cinematographers employ state-of-the-art high-definition cameras and lenses to obtain unprecedented footage of wildlife in its natural habitat in intimate scenes presented with astounding detail and clarity. While gorgeous, some of these sequences also remind us of the deadly side of life in nature, where predators feed off of weaker species in the food chain. Presented on both DVD and Blu-ray, extras include audio commentary by the directors, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and interviews. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a bonus interview with Gunton. More of a highlights reel than anything else, this is still a strong optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Axmaker)