Deep Blue

From Jaws to Finding Nemo, the oceans and seas have always held a certain mystique for film-makers. This documentary film from the BBC's Natural History Unit, explores the vast bodies of water that make up so much of the Earth, yet remain vastly under-explored. The journey takes the viewer through a range of scenarios, from following the birds that dive in from the skies, to sea lions, killer whales, sharks and the majestic blue whale, right through to the strange and wonderful creatures lurking on the sea floor.

Taken from footage compiled for the BBC TV series The Blue Planet, this visual compilation maintains the BBC's reputation for making outstanding natural history programmes. Although there is no sign of David Attenborough's distinctive tones, thespian Michael Gambon steps up to the mark as narrator. There is also a colourful score by George Fenton, which is performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, offering waves (pun intended) of crashing crescendos and muted calm, enabling viewers to fully immerse themselves in the stunning imagery.

Despite the number of wildlife programmes produced for television, to see such amazing footage of the variety and diversity of nature on the big screen is a great awe-inspiring opportunity not to be missed!

Alex Coe