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Synopsis
From the makers of Walking With Dinosaurs and Walking With Beasts this is an epic and entertaining new exploration of life before dinosaurs, when a succession of fantastical animals and plants ruled the planet. With the aid of scientific and computer technology a time is recreated when a two-tonne predatory fish came on land to hunt, and four-metre sea scorpions sliced sushi in the shallows, and when just one species of lumbering reptile represented eighty per cent of all life.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Tim Haines and BBC have really spoiled us with their work on Earth’s prehistoric life. Both “Walking with Dinosaurs” and “Walking with Beasts” were models of an almost perfect balance between hard science and popular entertainment. With the bar set that high, a minor disappointment is inevitable, regarding this latest forage into the planet’s evolutionary past.
Let’s put the record straight: the “Monsters” series enjoys the same high standards of craftsmanship and educating-entertaining value as its predecessors. The species chosen to illustrate the drama of life’s evolution, are quite representative of the surrounding fauna, the “stars” of their time. Their stories are well constructed and develop in a seamless manner from one period to the next. And the “intermissions” with the time-clock ticking and the species changing before our eyes, give a very good picture of life’s continuity and the marvels of evolution.
But we would like to have more, much more. Why not having a six-episode series for the six periods of the palaeozoic era? The answer is obvious: costs constraints. That realization does nothing to allay our hunger. Sure there are enough scientific data to enable the series’ creators to construct complex and marvelous stories for each period. And to prehistoric life enthusiasts, Cambrian arthropods and Devonian fish (where is Dunkleosteus?) are as fascinating as Permian mammal-like reptiles.
Furthermore, the series, following the tradition of the “Walking with...” sagas, creates dramatic stories by presenting fascinating animal behaviors which I suspect lack solid scientific justification. Educated guesses, an indispensable part of paleontology, can push the “poetic license” card a bit too far, even for non-scientists. I understand of course the principles of inference, but I think that they overdid it this time
Despite the above grudges, the series manages in three episodes to convey the richness and fascination of life’s evolution on Earth, for the first 300 million years of its existence. The animals’ CGI are usually of the highest quality, but unfortunately for the computer guys, they already have spoiled us and we expect nothing less. And a measly 90 minutes of material manages to create many regrets for what might have been, if the BBC people gave it the time and money necessary.
Let’s put the record straight: the “Monsters” series enjoys the same high standards of craftsmanship and educating-entertaining value as its predecessors. The species chosen to illustrate the drama of life’s evolution, are quite representative of the surrounding fauna, the “stars” of their time. Their stories are well constructed and develop in a seamless manner from one period to the next. And the “intermissions” with the time-clock ticking and the species changing before our eyes, give a very good picture of life’s continuity and the marvels of evolution.
But we would like to have more, much more. Why not having a six-episode series for the six periods of the palaeozoic era? The answer is obvious: costs constraints. That realization does nothing to allay our hunger. Sure there are enough scientific data to enable the series’ creators to construct complex and marvelous stories for each period. And to prehistoric life enthusiasts, Cambrian arthropods and Devonian fish (where is Dunkleosteus?) are as fascinating as Permian mammal-like reptiles.
Furthermore, the series, following the tradition of the “Walking with...” sagas, creates dramatic stories by presenting fascinating animal behaviors which I suspect lack solid scientific justification. Educated guesses, an indispensable part of paleontology, can push the “poetic license” card a bit too far, even for non-scientists. I understand of course the principles of inference, but I think that they overdid it this time
Despite the above grudges, the series manages in three episodes to convey the richness and fascination of life’s evolution on Earth, for the first 300 million years of its existence. The animals’ CGI are usually of the highest quality, but unfortunately for the computer guys, they already have spoiled us and we expect nothing less. And a measly 90 minutes of material manages to create many regrets for what might have been, if the BBC people gave it the time and money necessary.
48 of 53 people found the following review helpful
After the excellent 'Walking with Dinosaurs' and 'Walking with Beasts', I hoped that the BBC would make a follow up series regarding the period in history before the dinosaurs. Hence I was pleased to see 'Walking with Monsters' coming to our screens.
Although previous entries in the 'Walking with...' series and Nigel Marven's entries have come under a fair amount of speculation and criticism, I do think that overall they are good productions. To be frank, 'Walking with Monsters' lets the side down. My complaint about the show is not the special effects; as usual they are great. What I do think is very wrong about this series is the fact that it misses out completely a few key events in the evolution of vertebrate life which are crying out to be mentioned.
The first being the origin of all vertebrate life. All we see to start off with is the so-called first fish. Where did he come from???
Secondly and, personally from my point of view most crucially, there is no mention of the evolutuion of fish into tetrapods. We just see the fish grow legs and become an early amphibian and that's it. Surely this is worth talking about!!!
Next what about the plants. The previous shows did make small comments concerning the evolution of plant life. Here they don't really get a look in.
One of the ways the BBC could have got around some of these issues would have been to make a longer series. Previous outings have had a six episode run. Why is 'Walking with Monsters' only a three episode run? Surely this series deserved a longer run, especially considering the immense time scale, the longest of all the 'Walking with...' series so far, that it covers. For example the first episode is the worst; covering about 200 million years in 30 minutes!!!!
Overall good in places and entertaining but on the other hand also very disappointing too.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
The dvd is a superb BBC production with many linked chapters. It is very informative and imaginative.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
walking with monsters
got this for my dad for xmas and he loves them he watch all the time will be buying more
Published 5 months ago by debbie
Walking with monsters
Fantastic stuff, very informative, my 5 year old was absolutely transfixed and has now watched it several times. Not particularly scary although my 2 year old doesn't like it much!
Published 5 months ago by mama lou
It's Good, But...
There are pluses and minuses with this one. The single biggest upside is that as with all the "Walking with... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Theo
for the grandkids...
brought for the grandchildren...well priced...good packing and quick delivery again from amazon...well enjoyed even by young lady of three... Read more
Published 7 months ago by nak
A monstrous success!!
I had never seen "walking with monsters" before but was determined to buy it when I bought "walking with dinosaurs", I am not disappointed that I did - although the style was... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Buyer
felt rushed
instead of doing a story based on one creature per episode like the other "walking with" documentaries this follows the sea monster series format where they pack many into each... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Christopher
best looking walking with yet
This d.v.d has only three episodes,plus a 30min documentry,but don't let that put you off.
The annimation for the most part is a step ahead of earlier programmes in the... Read more
The annimation for the most part is a step ahead of earlier programmes in the... Read more
Published 12 months ago by wildwilld
Highly entertaining
I bought this by mistake for a friend of mine, thinking it was Walking with Dinosaurs, but we all enjoyed it very much. Highly recommended if you like this sort of thing.
Published 15 months ago by Ken croft
A milestone in BBC productions
The "Walking with..." series has surely been one of BBC's best over the years!
This DVD comes with brilliant images, specials on the making-of etc. Read more
This DVD comes with brilliant images, specials on the making-of etc. Read more
Published 17 months ago by U. Breimaier
Still amazing to watch this stuff!
I originally bought the series on VHS tape and it was less hassle to buy the discounted DVDs than copy the tape to DVD. It is still amazng to watch this stuff. Read more
Published 18 months ago by P. Lucke
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