Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series [HD DVD]

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Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series [HD DVD]

Average Customer Review : 4.5/5 based on 1863 reviews
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List Price : ~~$99.98~~
Price : $29.99

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Editorial Reviews
As of its release in early 2007, Planet Earth is quite simply the greatest nature/wildlife series ever produced. Following the similarly monumental achievement of The Blue Planet: Seas of Life, this astonishing 11-part BBC series is brilliantly narrated by Sir David Attenborough and sensibly organized so that each 50-minute episode covers a specific geographical region and/or wildlife habitat (mountains, caves, deserts, shallow seas, seasonal forests, etc.) until the entire planet has been magnificently represented by the most astonishing sights and sounds you'll ever experience from the comforts of home. The premiere episode, "From Pole to Pole," serves as a primer for things to come, placing the entire series in proper context and giving a general overview of what to expect from each individual episode. Without being overtly political, the series maintains a consistent and subtle emphasis on the urgent need for ongoing conservation, best illustrated by the plight of polar bears whose very behavior is changing (to accommodate life-threatening changes in their fast-melting habitat) in the wake of global warming--a phenomenon that this series appropriately presents as scientific fact. With this harsh reality as subtext, the series proceeds to accentuate the positive, delivering a seemingly endless variety of natural wonders, from the spectacular mating displays of New Guinea's various birds of paradise to a rare encounter with Siberia's nearly-extinct Amur Leopards, of which only 30 remain in the wild.

That's just a hint of the marvels on display. Accompanied by majestic orchestral scores by George Fenton, every episode is packed with images so beautiful or so forcefully impressive (and so perfectly photographed by the BBC's tenacious high-definition camera crews) that you'll be rendered speechless by the splendor of it all. You'll see a seal struggling to out-maneuver a Great White Shark; swimming macaques in the Ganges delta; massive flocks of snow geese numbering in the hundreds of thousands; an awesome night-vision sequence of lions attacking an elephant; the Colugo (or "flying lemur"--not really a lemur!) of the Philippines; a hunting alliance of fish and snakes on Indonesia's magnificent coral reef; the bioluminescent "vampire squid" of the deep oceans... these are just a few of countless highlights, masterfully filmed from every conceivable angle, with frequent use of super-slow-motion and amazing motion-controlled time-lapse cinematography, and narrated by Attenborough with his trademark combination of observational wit and informative authority. The result is a hugely entertaining series that doesn't flinch from the predatory realities of nature (death is a constant presence, without being off-putting).

At a time when the multiple threats of global warming should be obvious to all, let's give Sir David the last word, from the closing of Planet Earth's final episode: "We can now destroy or we can cherish--the choice is ours." --Jeff Shannon

More Planet Earth

Planet Earth on Blu-ray

Planet Earth on DVD

More BBC DVDs

Stills from Planet Earth (click for larger image)

Spotlight Reviews
Great films, lousy disk holder (2009-01-08)
Customer Review : 4
Planet Earth by the BBC on Blu-ray has received rave reviews by many folks and hardly needs another by me. In a word, it is awesome. However, the mechanical design of the disk holders is terrible. I almost break the disk each time I remove a disk from its holder. The center catch is just too stiff and no matter how hard I push on it the disk doesn't release. There are several superior center holder designs, why doesn't the industry settle on the few that work and stopping using the ones that don't?

Nice Video Set (2009-01-08)
Customer Review : 4
Though have not viewed entire set, video quality so far is good. Delivered fairly promptly and in good condition. Very good first buying experience with Amazon.

Just Shook My Head In Amazement (2009-01-07)
Customer Review : 5
Despite finishing this 11-part series on Blu-Ray a few weeks ago, I still shake my head in amazement at the things I saw on these discs.

Obviously, the incredible photography and sharpness/color (please see this on high-def, if you can) is the first thing that captures the viewer's eye, but as the series went on I appreciated the objectivity in here. The writers and narrator David Attenborough just present the world as it is, with no preaching. The beauty of this earth says it all, and the writers were smart enough to figure that out during this series.

After viewing 11 discs, you come to the obvious conclusions that in the Earth's world of animals, birds and fish come only a few objectives: where to find food, water, a mate, and escape being devoured by a predator. That's it, except for pets or zoo animals. On land or in water, it's simply a matter of survival, as this BBC series shows us.

What makes this so special is that, thanks to incredible work by cameramen, we are privy to many extraordinary sights we would never see, if left on our own, and never imagined existed on this planet. Much of this series is simply mind-boggling to view, especially all the overhead shots, which were stunning, especially in high-definition.

Bad Experience w/ a great product (2009-01-07)
Customer Review : 5
Ordered well in time to receive and TEST out before giving as a gift. Certainly glad I did! The DVD's did not work. Four discs, tried out on 6 different DVD players and /or computer disc drives. Seller had snarky comments about my issue and we are currently trying to get replacement. Very inconvenient, irritating and disappointing. I still have not given the gift and the holidays are over.......

great product but wrong purchase (2009-01-07)
Customer Review : 5
I did not realize one needed an HD DVD player for this product, nor did a few of my tech savvy relatives upon first thought. It will be returned.