Planet Earth - The Complete BBC Series [Blu-ray] Overall Grade
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), and each episode ends with 10-minute "Planet Earth Diaries" (exclusive to this DVD set) that cover a specific aspect of production, like "Diving with Pirahnas" or "Into the Abyss" (the latter showing the rigors of filming the planet's most spectacular caves, including the last filming ever officially permitted in the "Chandelier Ballroom," a crystal-encrusted cavern found over a mile deep in New Mexico's treacherous Lechuguilla, the deepest cave in the continental United States.)
With so many of Earth's natural wonders on display, it's only fitting that the final DVD in this five-disc set is devoted to Planet Earth: The Future, a separate three-part series in which a global array of experts is assembled to discuss issues of conservation, protection of delicate ecosystems, and the socio-economic benefits of understanding nature as a commodity that returns trillions of dollars in value at no cost to Earth's human population. 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
The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff
Only adding to the differences between the Discovery Channel and BBC/Warner versions of 'Planet Earth,' Discovery offers a suite of four bonus featurettes (on both the Blu-ray and the HD DVD). Not that they're easy to find -- Discovery hasn't labeled them on the packaging, and they're practically hidden in a far away corner of the first disc. The only way to find them is to start an episode, then bring up the pop-up menu, and then click the "Extras" tab.
Anyway, as for the content itself, there are four vignettes totaling about 35 minutes: "Technology" (6 minutes), "Extremes" (9 minutes), "Danger" (9 minutes) and "Capturing the Moment" (10 minutes). Together, these pieces form a nice, compact little mini-doc, featuring talking head interviews with the main 'Planet Earth' producers, and with each featurette having a concise theme (self-explanatory by their titles). Also included in each featurette are some cool split screen outtakes and "night cam" footage, showing some of the complications the filmmakers faced -- not only due to the terrain and creatures they were trying to photograph, but the HD technology itself.
Though a combined 35 minutes wasn't nearly long enough for me, these four featurettes offer a nice glimpse at the passion and perseverance it took to complete 'Planet Earth.'
(Note that like the previous BBC high-def editions, neither of the Discovery Channel high-def editions include 'Planet Earth – The Future,' a 110-minute bonus feature that was included as a bonus fifth disc on both standard-def DVD Box Sets.
Galapagos [Blu-ray] Overall Grade
While its title may be superfluous, Galapagos: The Islands That Changed the World is a beautifully filmed journey into "the islands of the tortoise." Located due west of Ecuador, the Galapagos islands are full of gorgeous scenery and exotic wildlife. And this 150-minute documentary shows it all, thanks to stunning cinematography shot from all viewpoints--the air, sea and, of course, land. The collection is both soothing and exhilarating as it allows viewers to peek in on mating albatrosses (which are monogamous), penguins fishing, and surprisingly graceful giant tortoises swimming in the ocean. The filmmakers also manage to capture a ferocious volcanic eruption that is amazing in its clarity. The problem with many documentaries lies in the narration. A documentary filmmaker hits the jackpot when he is able to get someone like Sigourney Weaver, whose crisp narration fits in beautifully with the sweeping footage in Planet Earth. While Tilda Swanton lends a relaxing quality to Galapagos, her voice at times is a bit too lulling to hold the viewer's interest. The writing also borders on melodramatic, with talk of the simmering sea and such. With visuals as stunning as this, hyperbole is unnecessary. Charles Darwin has described the Galapagos as a world within itself, and it is said that the islands were one of his inspirations for his book The Origin of Species. While the film doesn't clearly explain why the Galapagos are unlike any other place on earth, it does showcase a destination that is unlike what most of us know. --Jae-Ha Kim
Product Description
The inspiration for Darwin's theory of evolution, the Galapagos Islands are a living laboratory, a geological conveyor belt that has given birth to and seen the death of many species of plants and animals. As the western islands rise up from the sea offering a chance of life, the eastern islands sink back beneath the waves guaranteeing only death. Between the two are the middle islands; fertile, lush land in its prime that contains an incredible diversity of life. Nowhere else on the Earth are the twin processes of creation and extinction of species so starkly apparent... see it all unfold before your eyes in this stunning series filmed entirely in high definition from the BBC and the National Geographic Channel.
March of the Penguins [Blu-ray] Overall Grade
March of the Penguins instantly qualifies as a wildlife classic, taking its place among other extraordinary films like Microcosmos and Winged Migration. French filmmaker Luc Jacquet and his devoted crew endured a full year of extreme conditions in Antarctica to capture the life cycle of Emperor penguins on film, and their diligence is evident in every striking frame of this 80-minute documentary. Narrated in soothing tones by Morgan Freeman, the film focuses on a colony of hundreds of Emperors as they return, in a single-file march of 70 miles or more, to their frozen breeding ground, far inland from the oceans where they thrive. At times dramatic, suspenseful, mischievous and just plain funny, the film conveys the intensity of the penguins' breeding cycle, and their treacherous task of protecting eggs and hatchlings in temperatures as low as 128 degrees below zero. There is some brief mating-ritual violence and sad moments of loss, but March of the Penguins remains family-friendly throughout, and kids especially will enjoy the Antarctic blue-ice vistas and the playful, waddling appeal of the penguins, who can be slapstick clumsy or magnificently graceful, depending on the circumstances. A marvel of wildlife cinematography, this unique film offers a front-row seat to these amazing creatures, balancing just enough scientific information with the entertaining visuals. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
Warner Brothers March of the Penguins (Blu-ray)
In the Antarctic, every March since the beginning of time, the quest begins to find the perfect mate and start a family. This courtship will begin with a long journey - a journey that will take them hundreds of miles across the continent by foot, in freezing cold temperatures, in brittle, icy winds and through deep, treacherous waters. They will risk starvation and attack by dangerous predators, under the harshest conditions on earth, all to find true love.
The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff
'March of the Penguins' was released on standard-def DVD in late 2005 with only a small number of extras, and this HD DVD release echoes that rather limited package.
Having said that, the centerpiece extra, the 53-minute "Of Penguins and Men" is one heck of a documentary in its own right. It is truly a companion piece to 'March of the Penguins,' only instead of focusing on the birds, it focuses on the men beyond the doc. Director Luc Jacquet and co-writer Jerome Maison set up a research base near the South Pole for a team of thirty scientists to study and film the birds. And while this is no reality TV-like, thrill-a-minute spectacle, the men are so dedicated that their passion is as compelling as it is inexplicable. I personally have no idea how anyone could be so motivated as to spend years freezing their asses off in the arctic to document penguins, but I'm sure glad they did -- and that we have this documentary to honor them.
National Geographic's "Crittercam: Emperor Penguins" runs 23 minutes, and is typical of most nature documentaries. It certainly gives you a renewed appreciation for 'March of the Penguins,' in that it is far more dry and flat -- it takes a lot to make this kind of material exciting, and not merely "educational." Watch this one only if you are truly penguin-obsessed, or can't make it to your local Sea World to see them up-close and personal.
Rounding out the set is a classic Looney Tunes cartoon short from 1949, "8-Ball Bunny," plus the film's Theatrical Trailer. Though the latter fills up the entire 16:9 screen, my read-out only gave me a reading of 480, so it looks like this one is not in true high-def.
Africa: The Serengeti (IMAX) [Blu-ray]
This spectacular IMAX documentary has been meticulously transferred to provide one of the most stunning DVDs available, with image quality so vivid that it seems almost three-dimensional. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the images themselves are amazing, consisting of some of the finest nature cinematography you're ever likely to see, following a year of seasonal change in the "circle of life" of East Africa's Serengeti plain. Photographed entirely on location in Kenya and Tanzania, the 40-minute film chronicles a natural phenomenon that few humans are privileged to witness in their lifetime: the annual great migration, during which over two million wildebeests, zebras, and antelope travel 500 miles across the plain to ensure their survival. It's an awesome display of natural wonders, and of course there's danger as well as beauty, with lions, crocodiles, and cheetahs among the predators of migrating wildlife. The images range from wondrous to horrifying to hilarious, forming a portrait of life and death that remains powerful even after repeated viewings. The DVD is truly intended for a global audience, with eight optional audio tracks in English (narrated by James Earl Jones), Bavarian, French, Castilian, Catalan, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin. --Jeff Shannon
Blue Planet (IMAX) [Blu-ray] Overall Grade
The IMAX film Blue Planet offers an eloquent reminder--and a cautionary warning--that the planet Earth is a delicate living organism, constantly reshaped and rejuvenated by the awesome forces of nature. The film targets a grade-school audience but will prove informative to anyone fascinated by our home planet's evolution. Hurricanes, glaciers, volcanoes, thunderstorms, asteroid impacts, undersea furnace vents, and earthquakes are all explored as a system of interconnected forces that ensure the planet's survival. The difference between this and other nature films is that the Earth's delicacy is emphasized by stunning views from space, filmed in the IMAX format by NASA astronauts in orbit 200 miles above the Earth's surface. With astonishing clarity, this orbital perspective supports the film's ultimate purpose: to reveal the awesome beauty of the Earth, and to emphasize that we, the custodians of this miraculous gift, are also the greatest threat to the planet's delicate health. Proof of man's destructive influence offers a sobering reminder that our responsibility toward nature is perpetual, essential, and routinely abused.
Blue Planet combines state-of-the-art sound and image, principally directed by Ben Burtt, the Oscar-winning sound designer whose credits include the original Star Wars trilogy. No home-theater system could do full justice to the film's technical achievement, but the sights and sounds of Blue Planet are awesome nonetheless, and it's impossible to overstate the importance of the film's message and its hopeful emphasis on the potentially wondrous future of our one and only home. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
From the unique vantage point of 200 miles above Earth's surface, we see how natural forces - volcanoes, earthquakes and hurricanes - affect our world, and how a powerful new force - humankind - has begun to alter the face of the planet. From Amazon rain forests to Serengeti grasslands, Blue Planet inspires a new appreciation of life on Earth, our only home.
The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff
Aside from the bonus inclusion of 'The Dream is Alive,' there are no additional supplements. (See the "movie itself" section above for my complete thoughts on this very nice bonus IMAX film -- as I mentioned earlier, this one is good enough that I really think Warner missed an opportunity in not marketing this disc as an IMAX double feature.)
20 Million Miles To Earth (50th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray]
Special-effects legend Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion talents and "Dynamation" (rear-projection) process are the highlights of the '50s-era creature feature 20 Million Miles to Earth. An American spaceship returns to Earth after a mission to Venus and crashes into the sea near Sicily. A sole survivor (William Hopper) is rescued, along with a specimen that quickly grows into a reptilian biped called the Ymir. The being eventually grows to 20 feet high and escapes its confines, whereupon it rampages through Rome before a showdown with the military. Despite lacking much of a personality, the Ymir is a marvelous showcase for Harryhausen's skills. Unfortunately, the rest of the film does not match his level of excellence; direction by Nathan Juran is perfunctory (his later collaborations with Harryhausen, including The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, are more lively), and performances and scripting are flat. Still, Harryhausen fans should enjoy this opportunity to see this phase of his career before he created his most enduring works. --Paul Gaita
Product Description
Special effects genius Ray Harryhausen ( Jason and the Argonauts, Clash of the Titans) brings you one of his earliest groundbreaking films, now available for the first time in vibrant color! When an American spaceship crash-lands off the coast of Sicily, a rescue team discovers that the crew has brought back a gelatinous mass that soon hatches and evolves into a strange bi-ped creature which increases in size rapidly. Soon 20-feet tall, the creature rampages through Rome before being destroyed as it seeks refuge in the Colosseum.
Disc Features:
- Group audio commentary with Ray Harryhausen and fellow effects legends Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett and Arnold Kunert
- Three retrospective featurettes ("Remembering 20 Million Miles to Earth," "The Colorization Process" and "David Schechter on Film Music's Unsung Hero")
- Two interview segments featuring director Tim Burton with Harryhausen, and actress Joan Taylor
-Still galleries
- "Digital Sneak Peek" at the upcoming '20 Million Miles to Earth' comic book.
Visions of the Sea: Explorations [Blu-ray]
Product Description
Visions of the Sea: Explorations was captured in High Definition by Emmy Award-winner Anthony S. Lenzo, one of the world's most renowned underwater videographers and systems integrators, utilizing the latest in High Definition camera gear and his trusted Amphibicam HD underwater housing.
Explore some of the world's most pristine and unspoiled coral reefs with an underwater tour of Fiji, Bonaire, Honduras and The Bahamas. Experience ocean life as never before in spectacular High Definition video that brings your home entertainment system to life. Additional behind the scenes video.
Alaska: Spirit of the Wild (IMAX)
The majestic beauty of Alaska is displayed masterfully in this film, which was originally presented in IMAX theaters and received an Academy Award(r) nomination for Best Documentary in 1998. The landscape of Alaska is shown in magnificent aerial shots, and "white thunder," the spectacular sight when enormous icebergs break off from glaciers, is shown in exquisitely sharp footage. As might be expected, much of the film is devoted to Alaska's abundant wildlife, including moose, bears, seals, wolves, caribou, musk oxen, and whales. The narration, delivered by actor Charlton Heston, provides informative background on the animals, but the star of the film is always the stunning camera work. An underwater shot taken in the midst of dozens of diving seals is particularly memorable, and scenes of humpback whales breaching on the surface are simply spectacular. Bears fight each other over the best fishing spots, and even their prey, the salmon swimming upstream, are featured in an underwater montage showing their life cycle. Animals that actually welcome the Alaskan winter, polar bears, are shown as they search the snowy landscape for prey. And a traditional whale hunt by an Inuit tribe is shown. This film is intelligently produced, and the astounding quality of the photography makes it a true treat for the eyes. --Robert J. McNamara
Product Description
Go far beyond even the highest definition with this Academy Award nominee for Best Short Documentary. Originally presented in IMAX Theaters, Alaska Spirit of the Wild is a visual masterpiece.
That's Entertainment - The Complete Collection [Blu-ray] Overall Grade
In an era when we have an unprecedented number of movies and other diversions at our fingertips, is there still a need for a clip show like That's Entertainment? Certainly, because the film series, beginning in 1974, was an unabashed peddler of glorious nostalgia, not only collecting many of the most memorable moments in the magical history of the MGM musical--and therefore in the history of film--but bringing in many of the original stars to introduce them decades later. And another few decades after the series was released, the nostalgia is that much greater since many of those stars are now gone. In addition, the sheer number and variety of clips (though they're often too short) would be hard to match in any collection or in the span of an evening's viewing. Where else could you enjoy Gene Kelly singin' in the rain and also James Stewart crooning "Easy to Love"? Or follow fun trends like the Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland "let's put on a show" pictures, of which Rooney says "only our names seemed to change"? Following the surprising box-office success of the initial film, Part 2 was released in 1976 and it still had plenty of famous and obscure clips (remember Bobby Van?), and even a nod to the nonmusical films of the era such as the Hepburn-Tracy pictures. It topped everything off with the irresistible pairing of hosts Kelly and Fred Astaire, who share a dance--for only the second time in their careers--at the ages of 64 and 77, respectively (and a more graceful 77-year-old you never will see!). The third film wasn't made until in 1994 (host Kelly is strikingly older), but it offered more of the usual fare plus a variety of cut numbers by such stars as Judy Garland, Lena Horne, and Debbie Reynolds. A half-century later, Hollywood's valentine to the movie musical was still shining strong.
The DVD trilogy set offers all three films with the choice of widescreen anamorphic or full-screen formats (don't worry, the clips are in their original aspect ratio). There's also a two-sided fourth disc with supplemental material, most interestingly the "musical outtakes jukebox," a 16-song, 49-minute collection of numbers that were cut from musicals of the era. None of the selections are Great Songs, but it's hard to discount any musical number from the MGM vaults, for example, three selections by Garland and two by Horne (only one of which, Garland's "Mr. Monotony," appears in TE3, and there in a slightly shorter form). The rest of the content is behind-the-scenes documentaries, the most significant being "That's Entertainment: The Masters Behind the Musical" (37 minutes, profiling the talent behind the films such as Arthur Freed and Michael Kidd), "That's Entertainment III: Behind the Screen" (1994, 53 minutes), and vintage black-and-white footage of MGM's 25th anniversary celebration (10 minutes). Not included in the set: the 1985 compilation That's Dancing, which was released separately in 2007. --David Horiuchi
Product Description
Includes That's Entertainment, That's Entertainment Part 2, and That's Entertainment III, with special footage offered exclusively in the giftset for a total of more than five hours of exciting extra footage including three great documentaries, premiere night coverage and salutes to the great behind-the-camera talents, TV specials, making-of featurettes, plus an extensive video jukebox of rare, star-packed musical outtakes from classic films, and more!
The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff
The 'That's Entertainment!' series has already been released on standard-def DVD, and happily all of the materials from those earlier releases have found their way to this Blu-ray. Surprising in its heft, there are hours of bonus features to enjoy, including some rare additional musical performances that rival anything seen in the films themselves. To be sure, these goodies are no mere afterthought (although sadly, Warner has not upgraded any of the material above 480p/i/MPEG-2 video).
Disc 1
- TV Special: "That's Entertainment! 50 Years of MGM" (SD, 66 minutes) - Originally produced to promote the film at the time of its original theatrical release in 1974 and hosted by George Hamilton and his then-wife Alana, this is primarily an extended interview show, featuring chats with stars Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Donald O’Connor, Debbie Reynolds and Liza Minnelli. The special is capped by an 8-minute montage of additional clips from the movie.
- Featurette: "Just One More Time" (SD, 8 minutes) - The 1974 equivalent of an EPK, this short piece has cheesy narration, and more (very poor quality) clips from the flick.
- Newsreel: "MGM's 25th Anniversary Luncheon Newsreel" (SD, 11 minutes) - A longer look at the famed MGM luncheon glimpsed in the film. Makes a great trivia game of "spot the star."
- Theatrical Trailer (SD) - The original 1974 trailer for 'That's Entertainment!,' looking a bit ragged.
- Documentary: "The Masters Behind the Musicals" (SD, 38 minutes) - An excellent piece dedicated to the many talented (and often unsung) filmmakers who made the musicals highlighted in 'That's Entertainment!' possible. Actually produced in 2004, many directors, producers, musical conductors, arrangers and choreographers are interviewed. This could have easily been two hours, and it still wouldn't have been long enough.
- TV Special: "A Mike Douglas Show Excerpt" (SD, 21 minutes) - Originally filmed in 1976, Douglas hosts a roundtable of big musical names to talk about the 'That's Entertainment!' films, including Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Ann Miller and Janis Paige.
- Featurette: "The Lion Roars Again" (SD, 4 minutes) - More of a promo reel, this highlights MGM's entire 1976 line-up of film releases, of which 'That's Entertainment! II' was one of only six.
- Theatrical Trailer (HD) - Another dated looking trailer.
- Vintage Documentary: "Behind the Screen" (SD, 53 minutes) - I love that Warner calls this 1994 documentary "vintage." It's actually the best of the making-of docs here, as it balances out the fluff and film clips with some insightful interviews with the filmmakers, who scoured through over one hundred unused musical numbers in the MGM vaults to choose the best selections for the film. There’s also some behind-the-scenes footage of the stars recording their "interstitial" interviews used throughout the movie, which is another treat.
- Musical Outtake Jukebox (SD, 50 minutes) - A fabulous extra, this contains 16 unexpurgated "lost" musical numbers only excerpted in the film. Among the finds is Judy Garland singing "Mr. Monotony," Fred Astaire and Frank Sinatra doing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," and other great clips including "Pagan Love Song," "I Love Melvin" and "The Harvey Girls."
Note that each of the three discs also include an introduction from American Movie Classics spokesman and film historian Robert Osbourne, running 4 minutes a piece.
Roving Mars [Blu-ray] Overall Grade
When you consider the odds against success, the achievements on glorious display in Roving Mars are almost miraculous. This excellent IMAX production follows the familiar IMAX format; at 40 minutes in length, it's not as wide-ranging as other documentaries might be, but in chronicling the design, launch, and successful landings of NASA's robotic Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, it offers an unprecedented level of visual splendor, highlighted by amazingly accurate computer-animated depictions of what really happened when the rovers arrived at their destination. Financed by Disney, and combining the talents of veteran IMAX director George Butler and top-ranking Hollywood producer Frank Marshall (best known for his frequent collaborations with Steven Spielberg), this celebration of science and technology begins with a raspy introduction narrated by Paul Newman (who had recently voiced the character of "Doc" in Disney/Pixar's Cars), then dives right into the formidable challenge of launching and landing the rovers on time and budget, with a looming deadline of optimal Mars/Earth orbital alignment occurring only once every 26 months.
At NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, we see highly skilled engineers addressing every challenge and every possible contingency, and project leader Steve Squyers serves as our informative host and enthusiastic populist for space exploration. After launching in June and July of 2003, the rovers traveled for seven months and 300 million miles to Mars, landing on the red planet in January 2004. Every aspect of the mission is covered in concise detail, and tension escalates as touch-down (achieved with the now-familiar "bouncing balloon" landing system) draws near. What's most remarkable, even to the crew at JPL, is that Spirit and Opportunity succeeded far beyond their mission expectations, becoming one of NASA's most triumphant achievements in interplanetary exploration. The photos, chemical analyses, and other data gathered on Mars were intended to prove the past existence of water on Mars (and hence the possibility of life), and in this and many other respects, Roving Mars--Jeff Shannon stands as a breathtaking tribute to the men, women, and robots who've given us a greater understanding of the planetary system we call home.
On the Disc
Roving Mars is accompanied by two excellent bonus features. First up is "Mars: Past, Present, and Future," a 25-minute "making of" featurette that provides additional educational detail about our closest planetary neighbor, along with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with key personnel at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Then comes the 50-minute featurette "Mars and Beyond," originally broadcast in 1957 as an episode of Walt Disney's popular Disneyland TV show. Typical of that series, it's a wildly imaginative, cleverly animated look at Mars and its significance in the history of mankind. Even after more than half a century, it's filled with scientific and speculative details that are sure to engage anyone's sense of wonder. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
Action. Drama. Anticipation. Exultation. Experience it all as you join the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity for an awe-inspiring journey to the surface of the mysterious red planet. Through the eyes of these two intrepid, death-defying rovers, and with NASA scientists and engineers at your side, you’ll see Mars in a way no one ever has before. You’ll feel what it is like to stand on the startling surface of the planet that’s intrigued mankind for eons. And you’ll uncover its ultimate mystery: Is there life on Mars? Roving Mars – it’s the ride of a lifetime.
The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff
This Blu-ray edition of 'Roving Mars' includes both of the main supplements from the concurrently released standard-def release.
First up is a classic Disney television special that first aired in 1957, called "Mars and Beyond" (52 minutes). It was fun to ber reminded of how foreign space travel once was, although ultimately the notalgia only goes so far. At nearly an hour long, this supplement is longer than the feature itself, and it feels it.
"Mars: Past, Present, and Future" (26 minutes), on the other hand, is a fascinating look at the engineers who designed the Rover, the filmmakers, and the students from a related study program. A lot of the content included here could have easily been edited into the feature itself, and the film would've been stronger for it. Fans of 'Roving Mars' will really enjoy this supplement.
(Note that "Mars and Beyond" is presented in 480i/p only, but "Mars: Past, Present and Future" is happily presented in full high definition.)
Chronos [Blu-ray] Overall Grade
Taking the familiar conventions of time-lapse cinematography to a transcendent level of artistic achievement, filmmaker Ron Fricke circled the globe to make Chronos, a stunning 70-millimeter time-lapse tour of natural and man-made wonders. The entire film has the enhanced, hyper-realistic quality of a laser-etched photograph, and by using special cameras and motion-control photographic techniques, Fricke and his technically expert crew were able to create mesmerizing images guaranteed to spark any viewer's sense of awe and wonder. Accompanied by the hypnotic music of Michael Stearns, this visual journey takes the viewer on a tour of over 50 locations on nearly every continent of the world, including explorations of Paris, the Vatican, the Egyptian pyramids, the African veldt, and many more stunning vistas. The cumulative effect is the feeling that the world--from the busiest metropolis to the most serenely remote wilderness landscape--is dictated by "chronos," the rhythm of time to which all living things must submit. Like Koyaanisquatsi and Baraka, this is one of those eye-candy films that was conceived according to its specific theme, so it's not only a soothing visual experience but a thought-provoking study of our fascinating planet. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
CHRONOS, the quintessential large format film, is now available in High Definition… presented in an incredible restored and remastered Blu-ray Disc Digital Reference Series Special Edition. High Definition Blu-Ray Disc, 1080P, 96/24 DTS Master Audio Lossless, Remastered and Remixed by the Original Filmakers for Home Theater Presentation
Australia: Land Beyond Time (IMAX)
Antarctica: An Adventure of a Different Nature (IMAX) [Blu-ray]
True to the IMAX tradition, Antarctica is replete with breathtaking aerial and underwater footage of the earth's highest, coldest, and driest continent. Most folks' TVs are 4,500 times smaller than an IMAX screen--too small to duplicate the acrophobic-stomach sensation that is the hallmark of the IMAX in-theater experience. All the same, like most IMAX movies, Antarctica has some of the best production values on film today. The story begins with a flock of penguins above--and below--water, and moves to gargantuan underwater ice sheets and then to a look at Antarctic climatic changes. Watch scientists locate and extract ancient ice to analyze preserved bubbles of ancient air, as well. Explorer Robert Scott makes an important contribution with his appealing voice and serene, well-articulated narrative. The DVD's special features include Spanish and French language tracks, subtitling, and Internet links if you use the disc on your computer.
Serenity: Southern Seas [Blu-ray]
Product Description
Be transported into a dreamland of seascapes and ocean moods with Serenity: Southern Seas captured in High Definition by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker David Hannan and set to a beautiful soundtrack composed by Terry Oldfield, one of the world's masters of music for relaxation. It s as refreshing as a summer s breeze.
Decorate your home or office with Serenity s spellbinding seascapes. Fall asleep and wake up to mesmerizing music, breathtaking sunsets and sunrises, and golden beaches. Lose yourself on spectacular coasts, dappled by dawn light and washed by azure seas. Let the stress float away with the waves.
Nature's Journey [Blu-ray]
Product Description
Escape to a mysterious inner universe where nature and imagination meet to form a realm of extraordinary beauty. Let Nature's Journey unleash a brand new sensory experience in a genre-bending mix of location filming, subtle computer-generated imagery, exotic musical soundscapes and artistic graphic enhancements that draws you deep into the magical heart of our planet Earth. Produced in High Definition by Video Artist John Banks and featuring a 96/24 Soundtrack by Michael Stearns, Nature's Journey is a sensation of natural sights and sounds transformed by the unique artistry of these visionary filmmakers.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONSNo Region Coding / Play All
VC-1 Encode at 37 Mbps / 1080i @ 29.97
DTS-HD Master Audio (Lossless) 5.0 ~ 96/24 @ 5.3 Mbps Average and 6.8 Mbps Max
Dolby Digital 5.0 ~ 48/24 @ 448 kbps
Dolby Surround 2.0 (Pro Logic II) ~ 48/16 @ 192 kbps
16:9
1080i / 29.97 – (TBD)
VC-1 / 37Mbps
DTS HD Master Audio
DRS
DIGITAL REFERENCE SERIES Digital Reference Standard Ultra High Fidelity Picture & Sound
The Digital Reference Standard is your guarantee of R&B Films' commitment to the highest attainable quality in home entertainment. Each disc is mastered for the best possible reproduction of video and audio, routinely surpassing today's standards in our ongoing pursuit of the ultimate entertainment experience.
The process begins with the source material. Digital content arrives pristine, while analog material is processed through a series of procedures designed to maintain the integrity and purity of the signal. In addition, wherever possible, an extremely high sampling rate of 24bits/96kHz is utilized to preserve audio resolution for multi-channel sound.
DRS also takes the aesthetics into consideration: original film and recording elements are used whenever available -- with mastering often supervised by the original filmmakers -- to ensure the original artistic vision is honored and, if possible, enhanced throughout the entire process.
R&B Films works closely with industry-leading engineers and facilities to create a digital master with video and audio fidelity rendered at its absolute zenith. This devotion to detail continues through the authoring and replication processes to arrive at a finished disc capable of presenting the full aural and visual impact intended by its creators.
Look for the DRS logo to certify that you are experiencing reference quality and enjoy the home entertainment benchmark for the new millennium.
HD Window: The Great Southwest
Product Description
The most beautiful parts of the Southwestern United States are depicted in HD Window: The Great Southwest. Presented in full 1080p, you will experience the beautiful landscapes of Arizona, New Mexico, and California with never before seen clarity and beauty. Relax and listen to the calm and diverse landscapes of the Southwest alongside the smooth, rich and original soundtrack mixed in full Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround Sound. Also includes, natural sounds sound track
Product Description
Bring the exotic sights and sounds of Bali's island paradise into your home with the sounds of nature and beautiful Balinese Music.
Experience the magical water temples of Bali as sacred springs feed 10,000 gallons a minute through ancient pools adorned with intricate fountains, carvings, and statues.
See dragonflies, birds, butterflies and frogs amid beautiful tropical flowers. High Definition close-ups reveal Bali's wildlife and the intricate beauty of nature's most beautiful living jewels.
Visit the mother temple of Besakih. Absorb the serenity of the Tanah Lot' ocean temple. Share in the sacred rituals and Balinese dance that make Bali, Indonesia one of the most vibrant places on earth.
The Living Landscapes DVD Collection is a series of High Definition programs designed to create sensory-immersive experiences of the world's most beautiful natural environments. These mesmerizing programs use state of the art High Definition video to bring the world's most beautiful natural environments to your home theatre or computer. Whether you choose to transform your living room or home theatre environment into a tropical paradise, or simply want to replace the static pictures on your wall or desktop with more dynamic and lifelike imagery, the Living Landscapes Video Collection will forever change your experience of television.
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