 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Blue Planet
- Planet Green
- Genre: Educational
Common Sense Media says
Stunning undersea footage trumps a few storytelling flaws.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this stunningly beautiful documentary series about the oceans features plenty of footage of marine creatures in action, hunting, eating, mating, and just playing. Kids will likely be entranced by this engrossing educational series, and there’s no reason for parents to be wary as long as their kids have a good grasp of animal behavior and won't be upset by scenes of predators in action (both the hunting and mating sequences are straightforward and honest but not sensationalized).
What's the story?
More than 70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water, but as narrator David Attenborough explains in BLUE PLANET, the seas remain largely a mystery. This beautiful documentary series tries to answer some of those mysteries, using amazing footage of marine creatures in the wild, from the largest whales to tiny krill. It also examines humans' impact on the oceans and shows how the changing climate is also changing the undersea ecosystem.
Is it any good?
This series (which originally aired in the United States in 2002) is truly beautiful to watch. The producers, and especially the camera operators, have managed to capture incredible footage of the oceans’ inhabitants in their element.
But the series sometimes seems to lack a unifying thread other than the seas. Each episode consists of several different segments that aren't always connected. A segment about the physics of waves can lead info footage of sea turtles crawling across a beach to lay their eggs. Both are interesting, but there’s little connection.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about climate change and the sea. How have humans altered the planet, especially the oceans? How does that impact marine life? Do you think ecology and conservation have become more common themes in TV shows in recent years?
How do you think the filmmakers managed to capture all this underwater footage? Do you think that sounds like a fun job? Does watching this show make you want to learn more about the oceans? How could you turn an interest in the seas into a career?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
like "Planet Earth" underwater edition, but we enjoyed this more
Beautifully shot, fascinating, goes deeper than any other movie/series on this subject. Some of the footage is first-time-ever, like the 1 night a year that corals send out spores. Our favorite episodes are Tidal Seas and Coral Seas. Some very young may be bothered by fish hunting/eating each other, but older kids should learn that's part of life.
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Kid, 11 years old
December 8, 2011
AGE
Interesting...
It's a great series, stunning footage and very educational. However, it is reasonably violent. I'd recommend it for 5 and up, but I don't think the young 'un's could enjoy it.
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| Topics: | ocean creatures, science and nature, wild animals |
| TV rating: | TV-G |
| Network: | Planet Green |
| Cast: | David Attenborough |
| Genre: | Educational |
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