ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Jon Favreau

Prehistoric Planet: Welcome to Cretaceous World

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We?ve always had a fascination with dinosaurs.?

It seems like every generation of kids seems to have been amazed by these gargantuan beasts that stomped the Earth millions of years ago. From Jurassic Park to Walk with Dinosaurs, many attempts have been made to capture their majesty and power, some better than others. With Prehistoric Planet though, Apple TV+ has created something truly special for those interested in trying to experience the world of these massive creatures in a different way. 

Emphasizing five different environments, Prehistoric Planet is designed to immerse the viewer in the ancient world of the Cretaceous era. By focusing on coasts, deserts, freshwater, ice worlds and forests, the five-episode event series invites families to witness the world of dinosaurs with as much authenticity as possible. From the parenting techniques of Tyrannosaurus Rex to the brutality of winter conditions and the majesty of the ocean depths, Prehistoric Planet seeks to bring the ancient world to life, one creature at a time.

Anchored by narration from David Attenborough, Prehistoric almost feels like the third entry into his iconic Planet Earth series. With each episode, the series attempts to bring these beasts to life by observing them in their natural habitat. As such, the film feels as close to a natural documentary as possible. Featuring stunning animation and exceptional cinematography, Prehistoric simply feels like a window into the lives of creatures we are never going to get the chance to see in real life. (That is, of course, unless my government funding for a Jurassic Park gets approved. I?m not holding my breath.) 

Produced by Jon Favreau and Mike Gunton, Prehistoric Planet has gone to painstaking links to ensure that the most accurate scientific information was used in developing the creatures themselves. As we gain more information about their appearances through scientific research, questions regarding feathers and body movements continue to develop our understanding of their behaviour. In essence, these are longer simply big lizards but complex creatures who share the DNA of birds and other beasts. With this in mind, from feathers to fur, the level of detail within their animated bodies is particularly impressive. (Just look at the complex skin of the baby T-Rex?s in the first episode and you?ll immediately see what I mean.)

What?s more, however, the detail is far from limited to the dinosaurs themselves. For a series comprised entirely of digital creations, the cinematography is particularly impressive as well. Using techniques that one would find in their Planet Earth series, Prehistoric manages to bring these creatures to life with subtly. Slightly blurred angles and perspectives are relatively unnoticeable but, with their inclusion, Prehistoric genuinely feels as though we are getting authentic footage. In other words, these episodes do not look like they were simply created on a laptop but rather shot in the field using actual cameras. 

Of course, holding the series together is Attenborough himself. With his gentle demeanor and calming narration, he has always excelled in helping to bring storytelling into his subjects. This is not a series designed to terrify the viewer but rather to enrapture them with a delight of the natural world. (The fact that the series is divided up by location as opposed to species is further evidence of this.) Whether it?s the drama of an infant trying to escape their predators or trying to endure the harshest of conditions, Attenborough manages to keep the viewer invested in what?s taking place. We feel the thrill of animals hunting and the sadness of the loss of others who fall victim to their hunger. We witness the birth of creatures and mourn in their deaths. Because of Attenborough?s skill as a narrator, Prehistoric maintains the beauty within creation that gives the viewer a sense of awe. 

With a passion for scientific inquiry and a loving eye, Prehistoric Planet is certainly the most realistic experience that we have gotten onscreen of dinosaurs in their way of life. Making full use of their skills as storytellers, Favreau, Gunton and Attenborough have created something visually stunning that never loses its heart.

The first episode of Prehistoric Planet is available on Apple TV+ on Monday, May 23rd, 2022 with new episodes airing daily throughout the week.

SF Radio 8.18 We Don’t Talk About BOBA FETT

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Streaming on Disney+, The Book of Boba Fett tells the epic story of the famed bounty hunter and his exploits after the Battle of Sarlaac’s Pit in Return of the Jedi… until it doesn’t. Pivoting hard at the halfway point, the series quickly brings in the best characters from The Mandalorian and focuses more on the group than Boba himself. This week, ScreenFish’r Heather Johnson returns to talk about whether or not we needed a redemption story for Boba Fett and the flaws of Jedi choices.

You can stream on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify, iHeart Radio or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can downoad the ep on Apple Podcasts!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ?Fishing for More? ? some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

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Comfort Films #7: Air Force [GLASS]

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When times are tough, what stories do you turn to? Our new series, Comfort Films, is designed to look at the stories that are important to us and why they help bring us up with everything feels down. This week, Seeing and Believing?s Wade Bearden and Kevin McLenithan return to chat about uncovering the truth in Shattered Glass, good vs evil in Air Force One and life-giving honesty in Chef.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

The Jungle Book – Updating a Classic of a Classic

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?Now this is the Law of the Jungle ? as old and as true as the sky;
And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die.

As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back ?
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.?

The Jungle Book is Disney?s new high-tech, live-action (sort of) remake of their 1967 animated film based on Rudyard Kipling?s 1894 book. The new version tries to find a middle path between the more light-hearted earlier film, and the darker, more mythic Kipling story. Director Jon Favreau purposely wanted to keep some of the elements of the earlier film that he loved as a child. But rather than produce a straight remake, he has created something much more enticing with much greater depth.

Because the film is mostly CG animation (assisted at various points of production with puppetry and motion capture), it has an amazingly realistic look to it. These are not cartoon tigers, wolves, and bears. They look real, even though they talk. That in itself makes the film a bit darker and scarier (especially for younger children). The action/adventure element can be intense at times, but that just adds to the enjoyment of the film.

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The film is part coming of age story and part hero?s journey. This is the story of Mowgli (Neel Sethi, the only actual onscreen performer), a man-cub discovered alone in the jungle as an infant by the panther Bagheera (voiced by Ben Kingsley). Knowing that Mowgli would need ?a people? to raise him, he was left with the wolf pack lead by Akela and Raksha (Giancarlo Esposito and Lupita Nyong?o). This is the only home and family that Mowgli has known. When the tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba) discovers there is a man-cub in the jungle, he vows to kill it and anyone who stands in his way.

It is decided that Mowgli must leave the jungle for the realm of men. He and Bagheera start off on a journey to the human village. Along the way there are adventures?some fun, others quite dangerous?in which Mowgli must learn to make wise choices. He also must use his resourcefulness (a part of his human nature) as he makes his way. Among those he meets on the way are Kaa (Scarlett Johansson) a massive and seductive python, Baloo (Bill Murray) a slothful but lovable bear, and King Louie (Christopher Walken), a huge Gigantopithicus (a cross between an orangutan and a yeti) who wants Mowgli to give him the secret of man?s red flower (fire) so he can rule the jungle.

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There are several themes in the story worth exploring. The first is what it means to be human and what it means that humans are animals. Mowgli, having been raised by the jungle animals, really thinks like them. He has had no contact with humans so he doesn?t know what they are like. Yet, he is also different from the animals. He has ?tricks?. He creates and uses tools. He makes complicated plans to achieve an end. But Mowgli, even though he has certain skills as a part of his nature, is never seen as above the other animals. He feels he belongs to the jungle, and most of the animals accept him as he is.

Mowgli also must choose between two approaches to life. Bagheera, his primary mentor, and the wolf pack live by order and rules. The pack regularly recites the Law of the Jungle (taken from a Kipling poem). Bagheera (as played by Kingsley) has a military swagger. But when Mowgli meets Baloo, he is exposed to a much different understanding. Baloo lives for ease and pleasure. At first look, this may come across as the kind of difference between wisdom and folly found in the biblical book of Proverbs. But Mowgli learns that each way of living has its own rewards. It is not so much that he must choose between them as he must learn to balance them. Bagheera and Baloo also learn of the need to balance.

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But the key value that The Jungle Book puts forward is that of community. Mowgli alone may be resourceful and creative, but he is no match for the dangers in the jungle. That is why Bagheera gave him to the wolf pack to raise. Much of the film is built around the idea of community: Mowgli and the Pack, Mowgli and Bagheera?s relationship, and Mowgli?s working and playing with Baloo are all about the importance of being tied to one another. And when Mowgli and Shere Kahn must settle scores, as we know they must, it is the Law of the Jungle??For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack??that sets the stage for the outcome. In Ecclesiastes it says,

?Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help. Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though one might prevail against another, two will withstand one. A threefold cord is not quickly broken.?

The importance of helping each other and living in peace with others is at the core of The Jungle Book.

Photos courtesy of Walt Disney Studios