BBC Television programmes permalink
Wild Arabia
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Message 1.
Posted by GeometryMan (U12739007) on Friday, 22nd February 2013
Starts tonight 9.00 (England & Scotland; 9.30 NI; tomorrow 8.30 Wales):
www.bbc.co.uk/progra...
Dramatic scenery and creatures living in a hostile environment - should fill the gap left by 'Africa'. -
Message 2
Posted by madauntydawn (U6675998) on Friday, 22nd February 2013
I tempted.
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Message 3
Posted by madauntydawn (U6675998) on Friday, 22nd February 2013
..............or even, I'm tempted.
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Message 4
Posted by GeometryMan (U12739007) on Friday, 22nd February 2013
By the programme - or just in general?
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Message 5
Posted by the_cleaner (U3423083) on Friday, 22nd February 2013
Been looking forward to this since a saw the first trailer for it.
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Message 6
Posted by signonymous (U14407751) on Friday, 22nd February 2013
Well the first episode was rather enchanting. Some creatures I hadn't seen before filmed exquisitely. The irrigation footage was also spellbinding.
I guess we'll have to get used to the euphemisms "special filming tunnels" and "special filming techniques to recreate the drama of their lives" to mean staged under controlled conditions but it doesn't detract from the wonderful production skills involved. Did they also use "special filming Bedouin" I wonder?
It was an odd choice to devote the 'Diaries' segment solely to the human scenes and a bit too slick in approach to feel truly behind-the-scenes. One day they will have to give the studio boffins their moment in the spotlight. A Foley artist at work would be a step too far obviously! -
Message 7
Posted by ashleyhr (U14203741) on Friday, 22nd February 2013
I've enjoyed this week's Miranda (diving) and Mike (otters) wildlife films on the One Show. (Also, if I'm allowed to mention them in passing, this week's Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in Antarctica and Ray Mears in the Scillies films have been compelling.)
But the first 50 minutes of Wild Arabia were a real treat. Some great reptiles, and I always love seeing bee-eaters on TV. -
Message 8
Posted by GeometryMan (U12739007) on Friday, 22nd February 2013
I've enjoyed this week's Miranda (diving) and Mike (otters) wildlife films on the One Show. (Also, if I'm allowed to mention them in passing, this week's Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in Antarctica and Ray Mears in the Scillies films have been compelling.)
But the first 50 minutes of Wild Arabia were a real treat. Some great reptiles, and I always love seeing bee-eaters on TV.
I'm following Ray Mears but not The One Show - I take it Miranda is Krestovnikoff not Hart (who I love, but not in a wildlife diving context!).
My reaction to Wild Arabia isn't totally positive I'm afraid.
There was a line in (I think) Lawrence of Arabia - "You British have a love of desolate places", and the first programme of this series appears to be based on that premise.
For me it fell a bit short. The wildlife was too sparse, the camels and Bedouin were interesting but not really fulfilling the "Wild" promise.
Worst of all, I watched in HD and the D was definitely not H. It looked to me like a poor upscaling effort from archive film (or else I need new glasses - someone please tell me if they had a different experience). I should have known from the trailer, which seemed blurred.
I can't comment on the 'making of' 10 minutes at the end - I never watch it, and wish it wasn't there. -
Message 9
Posted by GARGLEBLASTER (U3191065) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
Wonderful programme and as always, beautifully photographed. Stunning in HD.
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Message 10
Posted by saffiewalks (U11222674) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
A great way to pass an hour. Knowledgeable and unobtrusive commentary, no personality camera hog and beautiful pictures and animals. Loved the fighting rodents but the footage of the ousted old Oryx limping off alone was sad.
Once went on a short trek in the Sahaha guided by Bedouin, was told my camel was called Ibraham, quickly became known to me as You Bastard, they have few redeeming qualities.
Looking forward to next week. -
Message 11
Posted by MCrawford (U14684488) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
I thoroughly enjoy the last 10 minutes as well as the whole programme. I imagine that is tagged on so that the programme itself is 50 minutes which makes it marketable to the US and other countries that insist on commercial breaks.
Other BBC programmes (The Planners and Food and Drink for example) are starting to imitate Channel 4 with their natural breaks which can be filled with ads. Personally, I find it very irritating as the producers seem to treat us like idiots with the attention span on gnats as if we cannot remember what we were watching five minutes before. -
Message 12
Posted by SpartaJBcus (U15618262) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
Following on from the intensely censored Wild China, once again a fine wildlife documentary is spoiled by the inclusion of 'Nanuk of the North' style phony human narratives.
Very Orientalist and patronising. I look forward to Al Jazeera's "Wild London" featuring roaming bands of Pearly Kings and Queens and luvable Cockanees all dancing with theirbraces in their hands chanting their sacred cry of "Ave-a-Banana!"
Just point the flippin camera at the flippin Amminuls!
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Message 13
Posted by Essential Rabbit (U3613943) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
Grrrrr
I have to wait until tonight, then I'll have to record it because it overlaps Spiral.
Last night on BBC2 Wales we had a two hour rugby programme, followed by a two and a quarter hour rugby programme, followed by a half hour mainly rugby programme.
Aren't we lucky.
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Message 14
Posted by GeometryMan (U12739007) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
Following on from the intensely censored Wild China, once again a fine wildlife documentary is spoiled by the inclusion of 'Nanuk of the North' style phony human narratives.
I didn't find anything wrong or phony about the narrative.
I'd hardly say "following on" from Wild China - it's a year since that excellent series was last repeated and 5 years since it was made. Also why do you say it was intensely censored? - I don't believe that was the case, it was made by the Beeb's natural history unit and a Chinese production company working in collaboration. -
Message 15
Posted by the_cleaner (U3423083) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
I've enjoyed this week's Miranda (diving) and Mike (otters) wildlife films on the One Show. (Also, if I'm allowed to mention them in passing, this week's Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in Antarctica and Ray Mears in the Scillies films have been compelling.)
But the first 50 minutes of Wild Arabia were a real treat. Some great reptiles, and I always love seeing bee-eaters on TV.
I'm following Ray Mears but not The One Show - I take it Miranda is Krestovnikoff not Hart (who I love, but not in a wildlife diving context!).
My reaction to Wild Arabia isn't totally positive I'm afraid.
There was a line in (I think) Lawrence of Arabia - "You British have a love of desolate places", and the first programme of this series appears to be based on that premise.
For me it fell a bit short. The wildlife was too sparse, the camels and Bedouin were interesting but not really fulfilling the "Wild" promise.
Worst of all, I watched in HD and the D was definitely not H. It looked to me like a poor upscaling effort from archive film (or else I need new glasses - someone please tell me if they had a different experience). I should have known from the trailer, which seemed blurred.
I can't comment on the 'making of' 10 minutes at the end - I never watch it, and wish it wasn't there. "For me it fell a bit short. The wildlife was too sparse, the camels and Bedouin were interesting but not really fulfilling the "Wild" promise."
The Tag line for this series, does have People in it....
"Extraordinary wildlife, landscapes and people - Arabia is a land of magic and surprise."
But I have to agree....the HD wasn't very HD.
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Message 16
Posted by technologist (U1259929) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
But I have to agree....the HD wasn't very HD.
I and other saw that it was in HD - and looked very realistic .... except the obvious slo mo sequences.
There was no archive material that I noted - and all the cameras we saw were most definitely HD.
I viewed at about 1.5H from the screen and could not see any of the defocusing and other things that creep in during the work flow
( usually at final grading!) ...
.... but perhaps the Time lapse was gathered at TV resolution not DSLR....
But it was a very good programme with the story telling enhanced by the image framing and quality.
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Message 17
Posted by Essential Rabbit (U3613943) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
quickly became known to me as You Bastard
Was it a mathematician? -
Message 18
Posted by GARGLEBLASTER (U3191065) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
Knowledgeable and unobtrusive commentary, no personality camera hog
Oh yes, I forgot to mention the excellent commentary. Very well done. -
Message 19
Posted by saffiewalks (U11222674) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
quickly became known to me as You Bastard
Was it a mathematician? Possibly, you could count on it being either stubborn, obnoxious or once or twice downright dangerous. Have stuck to horses ever since.
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Message 20
Posted by Dotbrass (U15627209) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
I would like to congratulate BBC2 for Wild Arabia. It is a most beautiful and sensitive production. Many times the glorious shots are allowed to speak for themselves, no need for any commentory. I remain enchanted, thank you
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Message 21
Posted by Bouillaguet (U14312340) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
I concur with the last poster.
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Message 22
Posted by madauntydawn (U6675998) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
By the programme - or just in general?
Quite a lot, now you come to mention it Geometry. -
Message 23
Posted by madauntydawn (U6675998) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
I loved watching the Bedouin watching themselves at the end, but I would have liked more animals.
The water shots were stunning. -
Message 24
Posted by ashleyhr (U14203741) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
Message 13
There's thread for that:
www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb...
BBC Wales are clearly blinkered Rugby Fanatics (a good result in Rome today though).
I got a bit bored with the camel racing item tacked on at the end of Wild Arabia. But I think it was really more about how the programme makers built up a good rapport with the locals (and perhaps about how neither any militant religion or xenophobia got in the way). -
Message 25
Posted by shytalker (U15033137) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
Knowledgeable and unobtrusive commentary, no personality camera hog
Oh yes, I forgot to mention the excellent commentary. Very well done. As you say the commentary was quite unobtrusive(unlike the manic drummer) but one big gripe-the horned viper,or any other snake come to that,is not poisonous.It is venomous,so many people get this wrong but I would have expected it to be correct in a wildlife documentary -
Message 26
Posted by GeometryMan (U12739007) on Saturday, 23rd February 2013
Knowledgeable and unobtrusive commentary, no personality camera hog
Oh yes, I forgot to mention the excellent commentary. Very well done. As you say the commentary was quite unobtrusive(unlike the manic drummer) but one big gripe-the horned viper,or any other snake come to that,is not poisonous.It is venomous,so many people get this wrong but I would have expected it to be correct in a wildlife documentary
Please explain - what's the difference between venomous and poisonous? -
Message 27
Posted by Essential Rabbit (U3613943) on Sunday, 24th February 2013
If it bites you and you die*, it's venomous.
If you bite it and you die*, it's poisonous.
* In the most extreme cases. -
Message 28
Posted by Jeff (U13971268) on Sunday, 24th February 2013
I didn't know the horned viper was a real animal, having only seen it before as a hieroglyph on Only Connect
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Message 29
Posted by GeometryMan (U12739007) on Sunday, 24th February 2013
If it bites you and you die*, it's venomous.
If you bite it and you die*, it's poisonous.
* In the most extreme cases.
Ah, thanks. -
Message 30
Posted by signonymous (U14407751) on Sunday, 24th February 2013
Presumably they released the desert fox and gerbil creature in the studio at different times?
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Message 31
Posted by saffiewalks (U11222674) on Sunday, 24th February 2013
I loved watching the Bedouin watching themselves at the end, but I would have liked more animals.
The water shots were stunning. Presumably there is a paucity of wild animals in an environment like that. Only the very specialised creatures like the Oryx and the camel survive. For me the fascination lay in being shown what could actually survive out there and how they did it. -
Message 32
Posted by GeometryMan (U12739007) on Sunday, 24th February 2013
Presumably they released the desert fox and gerbil creature in the studio at different times?
That was a jerboa, not a gerbil.
Yes, I agree they weren't filmed together.
The sequence was prefixed with the statement, "using special filming techniques, we can re-create the drama of their lives". -
Message 33
Posted by signonymous (U14407751) on Sunday, 24th February 2013
Yes - I'm going to have to find some excuse to use that marvellous phrase myself. They also use it at the start of such shows as 'The Only Way Is Essex' and 'Made In Chelsea' don't they?
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Message 34
Posted by Guv-nor (U7476305) ** on Friday, 1st March 2013
Tonight (regional variation) we can look forward to an Arabian leopard, chameleons and honey-badgers rare whales, green sea turtles and foxes, striped hyenas and Arabian wolves.
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Message 35
Posted by dave (U2043922) on Friday, 1st March 2013
I would like to congratulate BBC2 for Wild Arabia. It is a most beautiful and sensitive production. Many times the glorious shots are allowed to speak for themselves, no need for any commentory. I remain enchanted, thank you
Yes a good programme, great pictures and a good commentary
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Message 36
Posted by GeometryMan (U12739007) on Friday, 1st March 2013
Tonight (regional variation) we can look forward to an Arabian leopard, chameleons and honey-badgers rare whales, green sea turtles and foxes, striped hyenas and Arabian wolves.
Looks like a good one tonight.
I didn't even know there were such things as Arabian Leopards and Arabian Wolves. -
Message 37
Posted by signonymous (U14407751) on Friday, 1st March 2013
Another spellbinding episode. Great locations and more wild creatures I'd not seen before. The crew clearly knew their subject.
Interesting to see the cameramen using long lens DSLRs. The Bushnell tracker cams certainly aren't capable of producing the quality footage some scenes implied. And you can't leave them running for "a full year" in video mode with a standard battery pack!
Honey badgers should get their own series. -
Message 38
Posted by signonymous (U14407751) on Friday, 1st March 2013
Oh, and most effective use of timelapse I've seen for ages.
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Message 39
Posted by Bouillaguet (U14312340) on Friday, 1st March 2013
Stunning photography, good commentary and minimal music = great series.
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Message 40
Posted by dave (U2043922) on Friday, 1st March 2013
Stunning photography, good commentary and minimal music = great series. Another excellent programme
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Message 41
Posted by saffiewalks (U11222674) on Saturday, 2nd March 2013
Another great programme well worth watching.
One thing that irritates me about wild life programmes now. How they know the precise numbers, or indeed any numbers, of endangered species remaining. Last night we had the Arabian Sperm whales - "only 100 left", then the "very rare, elusive and seldom seen" Arabian leopard - "only 100-200 left". As this animal is so rare, elusive and seldom seen I wonder how they counted them. -
Message 42
Posted by Jeff (U13971268) on Saturday, 2nd March 2013
Last night we had the Arabian Sperm whales - "only 100 left"
It was worse than that. He said "less [sic] than 100 left". -
Message 43
Posted by saffiewalks (U11222674) on Saturday, 2nd March 2013
Oh dear, maybe only 98 left then!
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Message 44
Posted by dave (U2043922) on Saturday, 2nd March 2013
Another great programme well worth watching.
One thing that irritates me about wild life programmes now. How they know the precise numbers, or indeed any numbers, of endangered species remaining. Last night we had the Arabian Sperm whales - "only 100 left", then the "very rare, elusive and seldom seen" Arabian leopard - "only 100-200 left". As this animal is so rare, elusive and seldom seen I wonder how they counted them. Interesting question when they were surprised there were 12 wolves in the pack, and they aren't rare -
Message 45
Posted by the_cleaner (U3423083) on Saturday, 2nd March 2013
Oh, and most effective use of timelapse I've seen for ages. So Green....
Thought last nights, was even better then last weeks.
But those Rats, with the teeth....
....
and the Scorpion in the Camera Bag...
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Message 46
Posted by Jeff (U13971268) on Saturday, 2nd March 2013
But those Rats, with the teeth.......
Best eaten with a jar of Hyrax Tonight from the local supermarket. -
Message 47
Posted by GeometryMan (U12739007) on Saturday, 2nd March 2013
Oh, and most effective use of timelapse I've seen for ages. So Green....
Thought last nights, was even better then last weeks.
But those Rats, with the teeth........
and the Scorpion in the Camera Bag...
I also thought it was better than last week's.
Very interesting animals, and super photography.
Once again though I was disappointed with some of the HD quality (only some of it). I watched via satellite but had a back-up recording of Freeview HD - checked that and it seemed to be a bit better - is this possible?
The timelapse was great, but leaves of trees in the foreground seemed to be fluttering normally in the breeze as the landscape aged weeks within seconds, which makes me a little suspicious that the sequence wasn't achieved via timelapse photography alone. -
Message 48
Posted by signonymous (U14407751) on Saturday, 2nd March 2013
The timelapse was great, but leaves of trees in the foreground seemed to be fluttering normally in the breeze as the landscape aged weeks within seconds, which makes me a little suspicious that the sequence wasn't achieved via timelapse photography alone.
Hmm, interesting. There wasn't a single jitter which is also unusual for DSLR timelapse sequences over such a long period.
In fact the sand dune timelapse sequence in 'Africa' also featured clouds scudding slowly by as the weeks flashed past beneath them. A multiple layered composition presumably? -
Message 49
Posted by cjp1979 (U9972316) on Tuesday, 5th March 2013
Episode 1 - fine
Episode 2 - great
The Dhofar Mountains episode was an excellent programme. I loved the technique they devised of following the two conservationists as a way of introducing the footage of the big carnivores, which the BBC would have had a hard time getting themselves.
Agree with some of the other comments above. I too was disappointed to hear another reference to "special filming techniques" which immediately took me out of the scene and wondering about how it was filmed. Totally unnecessary.
I'm also getting fed up of timelapse sequences now, they are becoming a cliche. Especially when they are so obviously doctored in post-production like this week's. -
Message 50
Posted by cjp1979 (U9972316) on Tuesday, 5th March 2013
Following on from the intensely censored Wild China, once again a fine wildlife documentary is spoiled by the inclusion of 'Nanuk of the North' style phony human narratives.
Very Orientalist and patronising. I look forward to Al Jazeera's "Wild London" featuring roaming bands of Pearly Kings and Queens and luvable Cockanees all dancing with theirbraces in their hands chanting their sacred cry of "Ave-a-Banana!"
Just point the flippin camera at the flippin Amminuls!
This made me laugh!
I do agree with your comment on Wild China which was a propaganda vehicle for the Communist Party as much as a wildlife series. But I guess the BBC would have had their hands tied and argue that it was better to make the series than not go there.
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