Review Summary: More entertaining and surprising than you think it is.
Occasionally, I like a good nature documentary. It's nice to see the world from a different point of view. And over the past two decades, the advances made in camera technology help us see things that may not always be easy to see. In many ways, Elephant Queen shows that, while showcasing some interesting, educational elements that I really didn't see coming.
Of course, you can't have a nature doc without a great narrator. And Chiwetel Ejiofor fits this movie like a glove. His voice illustrates the serious and somber moments, as well as the lighter and more humorous moments. The script in general has enough light and witty moments to keep the 90-minute film going at a solid pace. And it thankfully (for the most part) avoids environmentalist discussion.
Some of these come naturally through some clever close-ups, and others come through some well-placed sound effects and shots. These also help pull off some genuine shocks and surprises (such as bullfrogs eating younger relatives, for example). The music score by Alex Heffes (Queen of Katwe, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) illustrates these tonal shifts very well also.
The cinematography is the big strong point here though. From breathtaking distance shots to some great uses of slow-motion close ups, it all works together well. There's also a lot of fantastic weather shots too, such as sandstorms to distance shots of rainstorms. The strong visual presentation is worth the watch alone.
On the downside, the overall tone does shift a lot, and not in always naturally seamless ways. The first third has a lot of light and humorous moments, then it turns more and more serious as it goes. Then it becomes light again, and then it becomes downright depressing. While it naturally reflects the journey the animals go on, it may end up being an emotional rollercoaster for more sensitive viewers. And for me, it did lessen the enjoy-ability of the overall picture at times. It also moves a bit too slow at times too.
In the end, however, Elephant Queen is a relatively strong first feature for AppleTV+. It carries more visual and factual surprises than many of the Disneynature films, and it does manage to engage at least most of the way. For fans of these kinds of films, its' definitely something worth adding to your watchlist.
My Score: 8.1/10
Content Concerns for Family Viewing:
Rating: PG (for some thematic material)
Recommended age range: 7 years and up (depending on sensitivity to animal issues).
Language: None.
Adult Content: A few moments talk about finding females "in season" or to "mate". A tortoise is seen climbing on another's back as an act of mating, while another scene shows a male fish "hugging" a female fish to make her lay eggs.
Violence: Sandstorms are seen blowing things away. Animals such as chameleons and fish are knocked off or fall thanks to an elephant's trunk or tusks. One elephant stumbles and falls out of starvation, and later is shown dead. Dead animals in various stages of decomposure are seen in dry environments (including a quick image of a zebra with its eye out). An elephant skull is seen. (Spoiler alert) A baby elephant dies and is seen lying down in the mud. (spoiler ended) Two dung beetles get into a comical fight over a manure ball.
Drugs/Alcohol: None.
Other: There's a shot of an elephant defecating (with a joke on "what comes in, must come back out"). Piles of elephant poop are seen and dung beetles are seen walking around in it.
