Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a savage, riveting documentary, 20 May 2005
This is without question the most violent, horrific animal documentary I have ever seen; the fight for survival between the lions and hyenas is brutal, but goes beyond fighting over food, to actual territorial warfare. The cruelty shown in this footage should not be seen by children, but is extremely educational for those who have the stomach for it.
There is also a segment on the agony of a poisoned lioness that is terribly sad, and hard to watch.You will learn things about hyenas that will surprise you: It is a matriarchal society, where the males are smaller, and their role in the pack quite marginal. The females also have the appearance of hermaphrodites, and engage in "mock mating", caught on film here for the first time. We also witness their habit of fratricide, where the most powerful of the young will kill its weaker brother or sister.
The ferocity of the hyenas, coupled with their "laughing" sounds, make these scavengers truly "the horrors of the night". Much of this documentary is chilling, some of it is very moving, and all of it is unforgettable. Filmed in the northern regions of Botswana, the creative forces behind this film are Dereck and Beverly Joubert, and the narration of the beautifully written (and often quite poetic) script is by Powers Boothe.
Watching a film like this puts the harshness of nature into perspective, and also says a lot about our lower instincts, and the "endless cycles of life and death", shown here with some spectacular cinematography.
Total running time is one hour.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nature's primal instincts at its very scariest., 26 Oct 2000
By A Customer
This amazing account of the "real lives" of two of Africa's most formidable predators, is filmed in a unique way, which has surpassed, in my opinion, any other wildlife documentary I have ever seen. In graphic detail, with no holds barred, the video tells the story of a pride of lions that are literally at war with a clan of hyenas. The filming of the action is close-up, impressive and also offers moments of shear terror, even as a viewer sitting in your armchair. The tale explains how once thrown into turmoil by the death of their matriarchal female leader, the hyenas quickly become disjointed as they fight to agree upon a new leader. As part of their chaos the hyenas attack and kill one of the local lions, which sparks all kinds of different reactions from both families. The characters of the animals can be sensed and almost felt, as you watch how each development in the story has its natural knock effect. This video is not for those who wished all nature documentaries, were based on the Bambi movie. Without any consideration for the shear mayhem and violence, the video portrays two of the world's most feared predators in all manners of situations. Fear, desperation, natural instinct and survival all play their role in this account which has stuck in my memory, ever since I first watched this amazing and factual tale. If you like wildlife documentaries which hold your attention throughout the entire showing, watch this video it won't be a disappointment.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Transcendent Documentary, 22 Jul 2001
By A Customer
I have watched this video over and over, time and again, and it never fails to blow me away. There is a unique quality about this piece, for it paints such a complete picture of both lion pride and hyena clan, social structure, relationships between individuals, hierarchy. The filmakers did a fantastic job in capturing emotion from these powerful animals. The joy and ferocity of the lions alternated with the tenacity and almost criminal nature of the hyenas. I know that sounds strange, but the social structures of both species are really illuminated. Beyond that is the drama of the relationship between, and the individuals involved. He Who Greets With Fire will _never_ be forgotten by anyone watching this documentary. This is a must see for any lion fan, nature lover, or ANYONE. It has more drama, blood, and action than a hundred hollywood blockbusters, and it is real. Watch it in surround sound wih lots of bass if possible. The sounds of the lion pride (sans males) being driven off of a kill by the clan of hyenas at night is unbelievable.
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