The Good
An extensive look at the world as if Director Terrence Malick had shot it.
The Bad
I don’t like the way you can leave finger prints on the packaging whenever you touch it.
Broken up into 11 sections, Planet Earth: The Complete Collection is an amazing, majestic look at our world. Recalling the Disney’s True Life Adventure Series, we get to see the Great Plains, caves, the North and South Poles, the Ocean Deep, and pretty much every where in between. Narrated with the soothing voice of David Attenborough, this set has some of the most amazing scenery every lensed on film. Apparently, this show was put together for $25 million, which when you you look at what has been created is really a steal. There isn’t a narrative thread to this movie, nor does it seem like it has a particular point to make. The goal seems to be that of making viewers examine the world (many parts of which most of us will never see) and put it all perspective.
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Everything about Planet Earth: The Complete Collection is done to evoke mood and substance. One cannot help but get emotionally involved whilst watching this. We see various habitats, endangered species, and if that doesn’t give you a reverence for this grand world of ours you may want to check your pulse.
Features
No real extras came with this version of Planet Earth: The Complete Collection
Video
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1. HD Video - 1080p. Whether your player is Blu-ray, HD or even Standard (I am lucky enough to have access to all three), I think you will be amazed at how great the images look here. What is being shown on screen, especially in the next generation format, really leaps out at you. I love the detail that every frame of film seemed to have. As I have mentioned before in my other reviews, it seemed like this footage was shot with the idea that it would eventually go to all three formats. Watching this release on Blu-ray disc made me realize how lucky I am to be able to compare and contrast the formats.
Audio
Dolby Digital Surround 5.1. I have heard of some people being disappointed that there wasn’t more done to the audio for this release. My feeling is that I don’t think there was any loss in regards to what the creators of this show were trying to achieve. Also, and this might be because I am very hard of hearing in one ear, I didn’t hear any major differences in the audio. Sure, the HD version of Planet Earth: The Complete Collection offers more audio options, but from just a pure stand a listen perspective, everything sounded pretty good to me.
Package
This brightly colored cover features a bunch of elephants moving across a field of grass as white birds hover above them. The back features mountainous snowcaps, a minimal description of what Planet Earth: The Complete Collection is about, a bonus features listing and technical specs. All of the discs are neatly housed inside this packaging, which also has more artwork that gives prospective viewers an idea of what they have to look forward to in this set.
Final Word
A friend of mine had told me about screening Planet Earth: The Complete Collection when it was on regular TV. I remember them being bowled over by how awesome it looked. They were beside themselves claiming that they had seen things they had never seen before. This set has an air of class and importance about it. While I don’t know that somebody could put on all 5 discs in a row, I certainly think that it is quite possible for them to go through this set quickly. Even in only presenting us the images with David Attenborough’s voice over, these films feel magnificently layered. Its as if all the places in this Planet Earth: The Complete Collection set needed was just to have the camera shone on them.
As I sat watching Planet Earth: The Complete Collection, I couldn’t help but wonder how much work was done to achieve the look that this set has. I am sure that some form of film stock, or some manipulation of the process had to occur, but by and large everything looks and feels amazingly natural. While not for everyone, this is the kind of set that will certainly have a rabid audience.
Planet Earth was released .
