Flying Monsters 3D ★★★☆☆

There has always been an argument that film’s need to be seen on the ‘big screen’ to truly be appreciated, the same could equally be said for nature documentaries, especially concerning those made by David Attenborough a man whose name is globally synonymous with the genre and deserves every square foot given to him by the good people at the BFI IMAX.

This factual extravaganza focuses on the airborne creatures of the pre-historic age and their evolution from gliding lizards to the soaring beasts that once ruled our skies. Using hi-tech 3D stereoscopic filming techniques, combined with advanced CGI and presented on the largest cinema screen in Europe, we follow Sir Attenborough as he leads us through a journey of discovery to unearth the previously unknown details of these magnificent ‘flying monsters’

Those familiar with Attenborough’s highly acclaimed and viscerally beautiful TV series Planet Earth and Life should be warned that Flying Monsters is not a BBC production; a fact that becomes abundantly clear through it’s over reliance on the 3D elements and CGI that flood the screen. Indeed these CGI recreations sometimes leave Flying Monster looking something like a poor man’s Avatar, yet when you consider the constrictions of the subject matter it’s certainly an understandable flaw.

However, as is to be expected with an Attenborough documentary, the facts on display here are presented with such verve and passion it’s difficult not to fall into an enchanted trance, which could no doubt spark the interests of even the most devout creationists. Indeed it’s the wonderfully simplistic, yet no less intelligent way with which the information flows out from the screen that’ll make you instantly immersed instead of the special effects that’ll no doubt draw in the crowds. It’s indeed this reliably delightful skill of simply relaying this information that makes David Attenborough the highly respected broadcaster he is and ultimately makes Flying Monsters a wonderful day out for all the family, as viewers of all ages will no doubt find something to love about it without ever feeling bored, patronized or blinded with science.

 It all results in yet another sumptuous looking, informative piece of documentary making that truly deserves to be seen on the big screen.