Wildlife Specials Serpent (1995– ) watch online HD

BAFTA winning British wildlife documentarian Mike Beynon ("The Really Wild Show") takes a closer look at one of nature's least documented creations, thanks to the extraordinary miniature cameras of Jonathan Watts, in this BBC television special which won Best Factual Moment on the BBC's 2002 TV Moments awards show for its unforgettable shot of a python swallowing an antelope whole.

British institution Sir David Attenborough introduces this study of the snakes' movement on land, sea and even in the air as it hunts and ambushes its prey across the world as far as Snake Island itself, where even snake lovers fear to tread, with blood-chilling re-enactments of the 5 million humans bitten annually and a curious scene showing a race between an African sprinter and a Black Mamba.

A giant African python on the prowl for its biannual meal heads up an amazingly varied cast of hunted and reviled pythons, vipers, fer-de-lance and the like engaged in all manner of exotic behaviour scintillating and sensationally explained by the unmistakable dulcet tones of the most successful naturalist on the planet, whose enthusiasm entices like a snake charmer.

The filmmakers augment the serpentine cinematography of Gavin Thurston and his team with high-speed photography, x-ray imaging and some decidedly dodgy and dated computer graphics as well as the film's raison d'être snakes-eye footage from Jonathan Watts' snake mounted mini-cams, to show why they are the most successful predators on the planet.

"It's one of the great advantages of being a cold-blooded predator."

Saw the 'Wildlife' specials as a big fan of the national treasure that is David Attenborough. As much as he may dislike the term it is a perfect way to sum him up, with his best works being documentary masterpieces and masterpieces in general.

As of now, fourteen episodes for 'Wildlife Specials' here are listed. There are actually twenty two, the others listed as one-offs. Eighteen of these up to 2008 were narrated/presented by Attenborough, the others ('Polar Bear: Spy on the Ice', 'Penguins: Spy in the Huddle', 'Swarm: Nature's Incredible Invasion', and 'Dolphins: Spy in the Pod')up to 2014 by David Tennant. All are must sees, have a preference for Attenborough's work here (being more familiar with his work and being a big fan of it) but Tennant's contributions are very well done too.

As has been indicated, 'Wildlife Specials' is highly recommended for nature lovers, documentary lovers and those who love Attenborough, also a good way of being introduced to Tennant's narrative work. It is very diverse/varied, looks great and shows a great deal of technological advancement in the camera work. This is apparent in "Serpent" once again, this time dealing with snakes, among the most effective and dangerous predators on the planet, their physical and psychological qualities and how they adapt and survive in their varied habitats. It is so well constructed and attention-grabbing that it is easy to overlook the odd moment of dodgy graphics.

First and foremost, "Serpent" looks amazing, graphics aside. It is gorgeously filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate (a great way of connecting even more with the snakes), way and never looking static. In fact much of it is remarkably cinematic and intimate, with really clever serpentine photography that further enhances how frightening their predatory behaviour is. The editing is always succinct and smooth and the scenery is pure magic.

The music score fits very well, never overly grandiose while never being inappropriate with some lovely and authentic local music.

"Serpent" fascinates, teaches, moves, entertains and transfixes. In terms of the facts there was a very good mix of the known ones and the unknown, some facts being familiar to us while also dealing with the subject with tact. Their intelligence comes out on screen crystal clear and how they live and their cultural aspects are handled in a way that does illuminate.

Narration by Attenborough helps significantly. He clearly knows his stuff and knows what to say and how to say it. He delivers it with his usual richness, soft-spoken enthusiasm and sincerity, never talking down to the viewer and keeping them riveted and wanting to know more.

It's not just visually beautiful and informative. The snakes featured are great to look at and their predatory nature is captured brilliantly here. "Serpent" also displays a wide range of emotions and found myself really caring for everything that was shown to us on screen. The conflict has genuine tension and suspense, seeing how the snakes adapt and survive, there are parts where a more exotic, more playful side can be seen but it's the more predatory parts that provide the chills, enough to chill the blood in fact.

"Serpent" doesn't feel like an episodic stringing of scenes, but instead like the best nature documentaries it feels like its own story and journey, with real, complex emotions and conflicts.