Life indeed does find a way.. as Apple TV+ showcases a documentary event that travels back 66 million years to a dominion when these extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, seas, and skies. The wonders of our world are brought to life like never before.
Dinosaurs continue to spark the imagination in all of us and with new updated scientific research and the latest imaging technology we are able to bring these titans to life. Throughout this five-night event, you’ll see a different terrain showcasing these creatures in extraordinary climates whether it’s the swooping sky, coastal depths, deep-sea, Icecaps, desolate desert, or fresh forests. What I’ve witnessed is that throughout each episode all dinosaurs of every kind are facing the one common thing which is the struggle to survive.
Prehistoric Planet which is now streaming on Apple TV+ teams up with the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the team behind many successful nature documentaries such as “Planet Earth” and The Moving Pictures Company’s visual effects team who’ve worked on Hollywood movies such as 2019’s “The Lion King”. this is all thanks to a great partnership between Mike Gunton, the BBC’s most senior natural history producer and Hollywood director Jon Favreau. Filming took place in real-world locations and the result is absolutely astonishing, as the scientifically accurate dinosaurs are brought to life and showcase behaviour in ways we’ve never seen before.
Prehistoric Planet is a feast for curious minds, it showcases one of the most exciting times in our world’s history which is a world populated by these extraordinary creatures. Some you may have never heard of but imagine flying reptiles the size of a giraffe soaring the skies, devil toads hopping around the marshlands and massive Dreadnoughtus march the desert. The series also brings to life many well-known dinosaurs such as Triceratops, Velociraptors, and Tyrannosaurus Rex, one of the many marvels during the dinosaur dynasty.
Transporting back 66 million years ago brings with it a combination of real and imaginary as Prehistoric Planet is a wildlife documentary that features the dramatic elements of struggle, conflict, life and death. The heart of the docu-series and what I witnessed is that you get a front-row seat to the greatest show on Earth set in the land of the dinosaurs.
Prehistoric Planet is something spectacular and is populated by these magnificent prehistoric creatures. It’s a big breakthrough into understanding their behaviour, their anatomy, and their appearance, it’s truly something that must be believed to be seen.
What kind of animals were they? what did they look like? and how did they live?. These are the questions that scientific research can now finally answer not just about Tyrannosaurus Rex but the other species that lived alongside it. And with dozens of dinosaurs featured throughout the five episodes, I’d like to tell you more about Prehistoric Planet’s new stars and some of my favourites.
DEINOCHEIRUS
Deinocheirus, with its feathered body and duck bill, the eight-ton creature wades through the Asian wetlands. first named in 1970, originally scientists only had a pair of arm bones with big, long claws. In 2014 new evidence revealed that Deinocheirus had a unique, large hump on its back supported by its back bones. Name meaning “terrible hand” Deinocheirus was a large omnivorous theropod.
CARNOTAURUS
Carnotaurus meaning “carnivorous bull” is another large theropod. It’s known for its hollow bones and three-toed limbs and was discovered by Argentinian palaeontologist Joes Bonaparte in 1984. Their thick muscular neck and distinct horns sticking out of its eyes help identify the this creature which can get up to twenty-six feet in length which makes it a formidable predator. However Prehistoric Planet showcases these creatures in a whole new way as we witness a touching display as a Carnotaurus male puts on a courtship performance with only the smallest of arms, does he succeed in wowing the female well you’ll just have to tune into this epic five night event.
MONONYKUS
Mononykus meaning “single claw” was a small theropod, measuring just around one metre in length. With long thin legs, shaggy featuring and small specialised forearms used for foraging. Mononykus also was very nimble which is very useful in the open desert plains. This desert expert patrols the vast lands to find enough food. As mentioned the long thin legs help to keep the body cool whilst its features form a shield protected it from the suns rays. super sense facial discs make her hypersensitive to sound which gives the Mononykus a mental map. Another skill this remarkable creature has is a flexible lounge, twice the length of her head as she uses her single claw to break into the tree bark and feast on termites.
BARBARIDACTYLUS PTEROSAURS
Barbaridactylus Pterosaurs is a nyctosaurid pterosaur, a kind usually associated with coastal areas and hunting for fish. Originally discovered in Morocco, it uses its sixteen foot wingspan to swoop down and dive into oceans, snatching any fish swimming close to the surface. Meaning of name comes from the Barbary Coast of North Africa.
NANUQSAURUS
Nanuqsaurus meaning “polar bear lizard`’ was built for life in the polar north regions,It was first described and named in 2014. This species is also related to Tyrannosaurus rex, however its about half the length as this Tyrannosaur grew to around six metres in length. They displayed powerful predatory skills.
CORYTHORAPTOR
Corythoraptor meaning “crested thief” is an oviraptor newly discovered in 2017. Its part of a group of crested, toothless, and feathered dinosaurs that are equipped with parrot-like heads, this omnivore is similar to that of a cassowary a relation also to the emu. Corythoraptor’s can reach approximately five feet tall as they had long legs and were very much likely to be fast runners.
Prehistoric Planet will truly stand the test of time as this Revolutionary series documents the riveting journey each species goes through, which is thanks to new scientific research such as Phylogenetic bracketing. This technique looks to see where animals sit on the evolutionary tree of life and also seeing what creatures were alongside them, for instance a Tyrannosaurus has crocodilians on one side of the spectrum and the other you have modern birds. This helps understand the behaviours of each species and their fossil records.
Prehistoric Planet on Apple TV+ truly is a big breakthrough in showing what the world these dinosaurs lived in was like and the series breathes new life into some of the most misunderstood creatures that ever walked the earth.
When Apollo Kagwa’s father disappeared, he left his son a box of books and strange recurring dreams. Now Apollo is a father himself–and as he and his wife, Emma, settle into their new lives as parents, exhaustion and anxiety start to take their toll. Apollo’s old dreams return and Emma begins acting odd. At first Emma seems to be exhibiting signs of postpartum depression. But before Apollo can do anything to help, Emma commits a horrific act and vanishes. Thus begins Apollo’s quest to find a wife and child who are nothing like he’d imagined. His odyssey takes him to a forgotten island, a graveyard full of secrets, a forest where immigrant legends still live, and finally back to a place he thought he had lost forever.
When Apollo Kagwa’s father disappeared, he left his son a box of books and strange recurring dreams. Now Apollo is a father himself–and as he and his wife, Emma, settle into their new lives as parents, exhaustion and anxiety start to take their toll. Apollo’s old dreams return and Emma begins acting odd. At first Emma seems to be exhibiting signs of postpartum depression. But before Apollo can do anything to help, Emma commits a horrific act and vanishes. Thus begins Apollo’s quest to find a wife and child who are nothing like he’d imagined. His odyssey takes him to a forgotten island, a graveyard full of secrets, a forest where immigrant legends still live, and finally back to a place he thought he had lost forever.
The Crowded Room, Apple TV series has notoriously been trending on socials for multiple reasons whether it is divided opinions between the critics and the fandom, Tom Holland’s resilience promoting the show and finally, the most recent viral scene that was trending.
Did you know that James Cameron, the mastermind behind Avatar, was originally set to write and direct The Crowded Room? However, it turns out that the screenplay was actually written by Todd Graff (The Abyss). You can easily find the script online, as it’s been plastered all over the internet. Cameron actually acquired the rights to adapt The Minds of Billy Milligan written by Daniel Keyes. The initial story revolves around a serial rapist who has an extreme case of multiple personality disorder, set in the 1970s. Cameron even met with Billy Milligan himself and the two became friends. The talented John Cusack (Say Anything) was set to play the lead role, but unfortunately, the project fell through when Milligan filed a lawsuit and tried to change the storyline. Since then, many people have tried to revive the project, including David Fincher with Leonardo DiCaprio as the main lead.
The Crowded Room [credit: Apple TV+]
In April 2021, Akiva Goldsman, who won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for A Beautiful Mind, announced that he will adapt The Crowded Room as a TV series instead of a film. The show will focus on the complex issue of mental health and how it affects young men who have experienced trauma. Goldsman was drawn to this theme and hopes to explore the impact of trauma on the brain of an adolescent. This was reported in an article by the Hollywood Reporter.
The Apple TV series revolves around Danny Sullivan (Tom Holland) who gets arrested due to his participation in a shooting incident that took place in New York City in 1979. In the series, curious psychologist Rya Goodwin (Amanda Seyfriend) conducts a series of interviews with Danny, which reveal his mysterious past that influenced him and led him to a life-changing realisation.
The Crowded Room’s opening credits are a work of art, with mesmerising colours and drawings that become a part of the story. The cinematography of the first episode is also outstanding. The lighting and set locations are spectacular and leave you in awe. One set location, a barn filled with broken scaffolding, is particularly impressive. The camera work allows the audience to see from a subjective point of view.
Critics and audiences have questioned the pacing of the show, wondering if it should have had fewer episodes or if it dragged on for too long. Some have also discussed whether the storyline should have grabbed the audience’s attention sooner. However, the slow pacing at the start allows viewers to take the time to understand each character presented on screen, which is similar to a great TV series. Although it may seem slow at first, it may ultimately enhance the viewing experience.
Previously, Goldman wrote for the film, which has a different structure compared to TV series. This particular show requires patience from the audience, as they need to pay attention to the timeline of Rya and Danny’s interview. That’s why weekly episodes give the audience time to process and enjoy each episode. Otherwise, watching the entire series in one sitting could be mentally taxing.
The Crowded Room [credit: Apple TV+]
The talented Tom Holland not only played the lead role in the show but also served as an executive producer. He displayed his impressive acting skills by utilising his dialect, body language, and delivery to convey every emotion experienced by his character, Danny. The final episode, which includes the challenging courtroom scene, has now been released. According to Holland, this was the most difficult scene he has ever filmed in his career. In a previous interview, he mentioned that he listened to his friend Stormzy’s song “Mel Made Me Do It” to help him get into character and stay focused mentally.
It is important to recognise not only Holland’s acting skills but also Amanda Seyfried’s notable performance. During that time, women in psychology were often dismissed, but Seyfried’s portrayal of a caring and compassionate psychologist truly embodies the essence of the profession – to genuinely care for others.
The series displays a deep understanding of the complexity of each mental health illness, and this is not solely due to the excellent acting performances, but also the editing work of the crew. The transitions of the stunt work and the emotional aspects of the plot provide a layer of empathy that Goldman aimed to achieve.
For those who have not started the series, there may be confusion about whether to bother. The final episodes of The Crowded Room have left the audience, including myself, emotionally enthralled, staring into the abyss each time. With the series coming to an end, Holland’s best performance to date stands out, given the toughest script that physically and mentally drained the actor.
The entire cast and crew deserve appreciation for coming together to bring forth this storytelling with compassion and empathy. The show does an excellent job of focusing not only on one character’s mental health but also on multiple characters and how they handle their mental health.
Have you checked out The Crowded Room? If so leave a comment below on what you thought about the series!
Tetris | Official Trailer | Starring: Taron Egerton
An American and Russian computer geek form an unlikely friendship as they try to evade the KGB and smuggle the world’s most famous video game out of the Soviet Union.
An American and Russian computer geek form an unlikely friendship as they try to evade the KGB and smuggle the world’s most famous video game out of the Soviet Union.