High price to capture natural world
When watching wildlife documentaries, I had always wondered why when film crews came across animals in distress, they never attempted to help them. In the TV Guide story on Dynasties (TV Guide, January 10), Sir David Attenborough said that helping them would distort the truth. Without wishing to denigrate Sir David, for whom I have great respect, I cannot help wondering if truth is really more important than compassion.
Michael J. Brathwaite (Christchurch)
For some weeks I had been looking forward to David Attenborough’s Dynasties (TVNZ 1, Sunday). The numerous adverts for the programme had indeed promised something special. In the event there is no doubt that this is Attenborough at his very best and the camera work for the first episode on chimpanzees was stunning. How sad though that the whole production was ruined by the background music, which far too frequently was anything but “background”. Is there anyone who can explain why producers think it necessary to have music at all? Attenborough has a distinctive, gentle and easy-to-listen-to voice. How can anyone imagine it to be a good idea to overshadow his superb narrative, at times making it impossible to determine what is being said.
Geoffrey Drewett (Nelson)
David Attenborough’s programme Dynasties is without a doubt one of the best programmes on television. It is brilliantly filmed and gives a remarkable insight into the natural world. And David Attenborough’s commentary caps it off splendidly. This sort of quality programme is what television should be all about.
DN (Napier)