User reviews

This documentary has so much story to it. The characters make you laugh and smile. And it's amazing to see the stories that elephants bring among them. Probably one of the best nature documentaries I've watched in a while!

Be prepared to see the full circle of life. Excellent program.

Overall this was good, narration was really good and so to was the photography. The one bit I did find annoying, which detracted from the documentary som what was some of the dumb sound effects e.g. helicopter sounds when following a beetle flying, or the 1950 sound effect of punching added to beetles fighting. To me, it was totally unnecessary.

Such a raw and beautiful chronicle of Athena and her family. Elephants are beautiful, loving family oriented creatures. I loved watching their struggle to survive the dry season. I was moved to rears and elated share in their triumphant return to their homeland. Beautifully shot and narrated! A must see!

This is one hell of a documentary. Well made and a rollercoaster of emotions following these amazing elephants. Looks amazing in 4K HDR too, you will not be disappointed give it a watch.

2018's 'The Elephant Queen' appealed to me straightaway. Am a great fan of nature documentaries, especially the work of David Attenborough. Love elephants and have done ever since seeing 'Dumbo' for the first time and instantly relating to the titular character, such majestic beautiful animals. Chiwetel Ejiofor is an actor of considerable talent, evident in '12 Years a Slave', and has the right sort of voice for this kind of documentary.

'The Elephant Queen' is a triumph. Have not seen a better documentary on elephants anywhere (much, much better than last year's DisneyNature documentary 'Elephant', which was chiefly let down by disastrous narration), and it is a truly beautiful documentary and film in its own way. Also the best nature documentary seen since 'Eye of the Leopard', reviewed in January. This is a primary example of how to balance educational facts and telling a very human but not over-humanised story that resonates. Also a primary example of how to have more than one tone and balance them expertly.

Visually, 'The Elephant Queen' looks gorgeous. Have not seen the savannah look so imposingly beautiful yet uncompromisingly unyielding in quite some time. The elephants are a spectacular sight and everything is spectacularly photographed, with no cheap gimmicks in sight, the vivid colours popping out on screen. The music is an expert balance of the grand and the subtle, without sounding over-scored or lacking in presence.

Can find absolutely no fault with the elephants, they are amazing and it was very easy to root for them, their triumphs and struggles every step of the way. The narration has no clumsy or childish attempts at humour and is not too serious, it also doesn't spell things out too much and doesn't over-explain. Instead it entertains, it teaches (with a good mix of the familiar and the not so familiar) and moves. Ejiofor delivers this great material with dignity and charm.

Absolutely loved the storytelling, which had amusing humorous moments but it's the dramatic and emotional moments that fare even better. There are parts that are darkly disturbing, but not in a traumatising way. This was necessary though, as the struggles that elephants have to endure are very harsh and life-threatening. Their journey really warms the heart, not since 'The Last Lions' has a portrayal of the love of a mother animal warmed my heart or moved me to this extent. And it also moved me to tears, this is quite the emotional experience.

Summing up, absolutely wonderful. 10/10.

This movie shows the all day survival fight of an elephant family. It's heartwarming but also very emotional. Worth watching for nature loving people.

The next movie on Apple Plus was another documentary, this one a 2018 nature feature, centring on an African waterhole, and the Elephant herd that call it home.

A small waterhole in Kenya provides support for an ecosystem including bullfrogs, chameleons, dung beetles, geese but most notably a herd of Elephants. When the dry season arrives, the waterhole dries up and the elephants are forced to trek for miles to find a more reliable water source. Led by the Matriarch, Athena, there are difficult choices to make as the journey is long and the herd includes young children.

I should say, upfront, I'm not really a massive fan of animal documentaries. I'm not convinced that anthromorphising creatures helps our understanding that much and on a basic level, the stories are limited as eat, procreate and die is all wild animals really do. That said, it's not difficult to appreciate the work that goes into them. Hours of covert filming must be done in order to capture the key moments and then be edited into a narrative, it's a massive undertaking. There's lots of beautiful shots of the savannah, particularly drone/helicopter shots showing the massive distances that that herd will traverse and conversely, the extreme close ups to show tadpoles when they are little more than a few cells.

Whilst it's not exactly nature in "tooth and claw", indeed predators are largely but not entirely absent, there are some moments which are surprising and unexpectedly sad and show a reality of life for these animals that human endeavour is only making worse. Chiwetel Ejiofor's narration is good, and his occasionally funny or mildly suggestive script helps sell the narrative more. Like another reviewer, I could have done without the silly sound effects added to certain elements though.

A nicely made documentary, just one that given its subject, and my tastes, I'm unlikely to revisit.

I love this film. It makes you open you eyes on another reality. Wonderfull photography and incredible situations. There are some funny moments, but it shows you the cruelty of the wild nature.

Amazing story of the life of elephants. The struggles,heartbreak and the joys off life.

Viewing this documentary has additional resonance in the week when the plight of Botswana's elephants has been widely reported. A mysterious cause has resulted in the mass death of hundreds of these endangered creatures, in a country home to one third of Africa's elephants. So watching this movie has been doubly moving as we become witnesses to a tribe of elephants led by the brave Athena. At times funny, as they tip toe around tortoises and frogs, they must navigate drought and other challenges. Magnificently filmed to the standard we would expect from David Attenborough's BBC crew. I hope it makes people wake up to the real dangers these magnificent creatures face, and that we help their future in the wild.

This documentary about an elephant mother that guides her family across the African savanna is an amazing story that includes beautiful photography. Definitely a must watch.

Nature is not made for us. We are made for nature and our mission is to exponentially revolve and expand life across the galactic landscape. This is humanity's Purposehood. It all start by ensuring nature flourish in our common homeland, Earth.

This is the best animal document I have ever seen. I don't really watch animal documentaries any more. As I get older, I find that I cannot take the attacks by predators, and the inevitable scenes of animals dying. Makes me cry like a baby. This one has only one scene that will make you cry. Otherwise, it is pretty tame and uplifting.

It's not only about the elephants. It shows how other animals (birds, reptiles, insect and other mammals) interact and live alongside them in harmony in the harsh environment, and the changes from a paradise to a baron dryland.

There are some hilarious scenes too. The dung beetle scenes are embellished with sound effects. Like when three of them get into a skirmish over a dung ball. Or when they smell some newly "placed" elephant poop, and hundreds of them flock towards it, accompanied by the soundtrack from the helicopter scene in Apocalypse Now, including the music from Ride of the Valkyries. Or Steven, the alway late, always last baby goose. Even frogs and turtles get some humorous on-screen time. Really makes you wonder how they capture all this amazing footage!

This is definitely a show to be shared by the family. I absolutely loved it!

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It would be a much better world if God gave humans elephants brains there caring compassionate and there only focus in on there family's and the protection and happiness of there families. I gotta say God for it wrong when it came to humans there selfish greedy heartless and flat out stupid. Family values mean nothing in this society at least the elephants understand what family and loyalty really means.

Watched The Elephant Mother on Apple tv and realized how alike we really are as mothers. A mother who is sacrificing everything to the extent possible just to make the little one a little bit stronger, a little bit healthier; delaying everything until the little one gets a little older. Waiting and hoping and praying and delaying.

A year in the life of a family of African elephants: their plight, and that of many other animals who are dependent upon them. The narration is profound, poetic and informative. The cinematography is breathtaking.

I'm so touched from the story of the elephants. It is sad how the climate change make the lives so difficult. If it was raining one more time probably the story of the little elephant would be different. Incredible how every animal species play his role for the survival other animals.

Truly amazing - I am lost for words! Get ready to experience the full cycle of life from a great laugh to a somber heartbreaking moment. I strongly recommend this documentary, the filmmaking is really amazing, the storyline - from start to end is really well put together.