David Attenborough may dislike the term national treasure but it is a term that he deserves. He is brilliant at what he does and his prolific body of work is of one of the most consistently high standards of anybody.
Both parts of the 2006 two part documentary 'The Truth About Climate Change' do not see Attenborough at his best, and perhaps lesser efforts. That the documentary is still well worth watching in its own way, and has a lot to say about an important and relevant subject/issue in global warming. The first part 'Are We Changing Planet Earth?' is not his most in-depth effort and it doesn't exactly cover new ground. It is agreed that the computer climate model scenes are pretty superficial and that they didn't play to Attenborough's strengths. This is sad because when 'Are We Changing Planet Earth?' is good, it's very good.
'Are We Changing Planet Earth?' is beautifully filmed, done in a completely fluid and natural, sometimes intimate way and there is nothing static about it at all. The editing is smooth and succinct. The music fits well and is memorable.
In terms of information, 'Are We Changing Planet Earth?' is very interesting and is well written, even if it doesn't educate or illuminate as much as other Attenborough documentaries before and since. The individual cases of climate change and the exploration of the changes in the natural world are very absorbing and well done.
Like all his work, Attenborough's presenting helps hugely and a large part of why, for all 'Are We Changing Planet Earth's' faults it's still worth watching. He is very candid, clearly knowing his stuff and knowing 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.
Overall, well done but considering Attenborough's calibre it's hard not to admit that one was expecting more. 8/10 Bethany Cox