Too much of everything

Better Late Then Never

The movie's only flaw is also a virtue: It's jammed with characters, stories, warmth and laughs.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

I've seen a number of Darwin documentaries, but I think if I had to recommend just one, it would be this series.If I could pick two others to present it with, they would be: * Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life (2009) - a brief show that I think is the only one to actually include an overall story of life on earth * Darwin's Struggle: The Evolution of the Origin of Species (2009) - this covers Darwin's life at Down House, and I think is a better technical example of filmmaking, more pleasant to watch, although a bit lighter on the details due to being shorter.But Darwin's Brave New World covers Darwin from the start of his Beagle voyage (which to my surprise did NOT head back home after visiting the Galapagos), through his time at Down House, and involving his friendships with several other figures who made On the Origin of Species possible, right up to all of their deaths. It's as complete a documentary as you're going to get on Darwin.I have only two complaints, which are: While I can tolerate the drama, I think at times it was there just to pad out what might have been a 2-episode series. But it wasn't entirely a bad thing, and did bring a sense of being there. I'd like to know what the source of the dialogue was. A documentary really should make this clear, for each scene.The CGI was laughable at times, and entirely unnecessary. I doubt Darwin imagined his children suddenly regressing into monkeys right at the kitchen table, and this is not how his theory worked in any case. While I can't for certain say it was Canada's fault, I will say we have a long tradition of making really bad made-for-TV shows with cheesy CGI just like this, to unlock federal and provincial funding. So I'll apologize as if it is our fault, because we surely have a lot else to apologize for anyway.

Unlike National Geographic's 'Darwin's Darkest Hour', also made for the centennial year of the publication of 'On the Origin of Species', this three-part TV series treats its viewers as adults. It paints a convincing picture of how Darwin's theory was shaped by his experiences on the voyage of the Beagle, his studies at Downe House and correspondence with friends and colleagues. Unlike other dramas and documentaries, this one gives ample time to the vital roles of Joseph Hooker, Thomas Huxley, Alfred Wallace and Charles Lyell in motivating, criticising and publicly defending Darwin's work.This is an Australian production, so the first episode understandably dwells a little longer than necessary on the importance of Darwin's visit to Australia and New Zealand. As a result, the vital clues Darwin found in South America and Galapagos are underexposed. On the other hand, the makers take ample time for the critical steps in the development of Darwin's ideas back in England, including his fascinating but odious experiments with barnacles.The acting is fine, though there's a hint of an Australian accent in some of the characters. The landscapes that shaped the work of Darwin and his friends are beautifully filmed, and the music is stirring without becoming a distraction. Evolutionary writers and scientists offer interesting tidbits between the scenes. Overall, a job well done.