Lately, more and more TV documentaries were so well shot, with wide, beautiful images, that they seem to be worth watching on a cinema screen. THE PENGUIN KING 3D, directed by a team of documentary film makers, is an example of this, though it is questionable whether it is worth spending the extra money on 3D.

The documentary, suitable for children, shows the life cycle of penguins and creates a story and characters to lead through the film. Filmed with different penguins, to create suitable scenes, it has interestingly managed to create a plot which works quite well, though probably more in the eyes of a child. It certainly managed to create a good mixture of comedy and drama through editing and commentary. The scenery was nice and some of the shots really make you wonder how the camera team managed to get so close to the animals.

Set in South Georgia, an island in the South Atlantic Ocean, a huge colony of penguins, referred to as “penguin city” is shown. Among other animals, the king penguins go through a year’s time, from mating to the adulthood of their chicks. While it is nice to watch, as mentioned earlier, especially on a big screen, the plot seems a bit stretched and could also have worked as a short film. The 3D is quite unnecessary, though huge wobbly 3D seal elephants, described as “blubbery and flatulent creatures” in the great narration of David Attenborough, are worth a watch. THE PENGUIN KING 3D can be recommended to nature documentary enthusiasts and families, though it is nothing new. All of this has already been seen on PLANET EARTH or similar shows and does not surprise any more. Nevertheless, it is nice to have those beautiful HD shots on a big screen, at least for those who are interested in it.