Warner Bros. recently sent me the fascinating blu-ray, Planet Earth. Planet Earth is a wonderful documentary about the numerous climates
and landscapes the planet has to offer. The camera-work is fantastic and the
sections at the end of each program look at how certain parts of the picture
were filmed which is very interesting. You see the dedication of the crew who
go out to these desolate spots for months to film sections that will last only
a couple of minutes on screen. Much of the wildlife has barely been filmed and
some such as the wonderfully agile wild Amur Leopard have probably only been
seen by very few living people in the flesh.
David Attenborough’s commentary is very calm, soothing and
informative. He adds insight and expertise when needed, but is also quiet when
he wants the viewer to take in the sights. He makes all parts of the
documentary both entertaining and educational.
The special features show what went into the making of the
series. The most expensive documentary ever filmed, it took 4 years to film and
was filmed with relatively untested equipment. It worked out tremendously as
the quality of the shots and locations are second to none. The aerial shots in
“ice worlds” following a female polar bear and her cubs, as well as a solitary
male polar are remarkable. In the “great plains” you feel as though you are a
part of the herds when the camera is moving with them. The nighttime shots are
surprisingly clear as a pride of lions is hunting an elephant in pitch black.
Overall this is a great series that does a
great job of presenting the beauty of the world but just about having enough
educational value to it to avoid it just being a collection of wildlife photos.
It is definitely a must have for blu-ray owners. The shots are impressive and
the range of creatures and habitats that are presented makes this well worth
seeing. The high definition and presentation on the blu-ray enhances the images
to something never before seen in a wildlife documentary. Very impressive.
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