A departure from traditional wildlife documentaries, this video focuses as much on the humans observing the leopards as on the big cats themselves. The 95-minute tape--part of Turner Original Productions' Wild! Life Adventures series--centers on cinematographer and wildlife expert John Varty's 12-year documentation of a matriarchal leopard and her cubs. In addition to providing an outstanding, if brutal, look at leopard life, the film asks some legitimate questions about whether it is ethical to interfere with nature. While this personal approach can be more heartwarming than the typical matter-of-fact attitude toward jungle existence, it can also make the everyday carnage more disturbing with reaction close-ups, mostly of Varty's novice assistant, Gillian Van Houten. The cynic can't help but wonder if Van Houten's obvious beauty played a role in her selection, as she seems to do little more than respond and take a few snapshots. Purists will also take issue with some obviously setup scenes, including one with actors portraying hunters who kill one of the cubs. On the plus side, for once an African native is given relatively extensive airtime in the form of former leopard-hunter-turned-guide Elmon Mhlongo. --Kimberly Heinrichs
