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 special features came with this version of Planet Earth: The Complete Collection.
Video
HD Video - 1080p Resolution. Okay, having seen this series in all the next generation formats, I can truly say that HD-DVD or Blu-ray is the way to go. If you have no other options than surely Standard will do. That said, the HD-DVD look that these films have is nothing short of astounding. Most incredible is the amount of detail that the cameras have been able to pick up. The footage seems like its been shot so as to benefit by being shown in the next generation technology. Also, the way the camera moves constantly keeps the subjects and images coming toward us. In this regard, I even think the new version of 3D would be appropriate for these things.
Audio
Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. Okay, how could the sound here not be good? Lets discuss what we’re working with. The clearness of the audio was incredible. I think that there are very few releases out that could give your HD or Blu-ray players the kind of test spin that this set offers. There are times when things are quiet and we are watching one of natures moments unfold on screen. There are times when those moments are really loud, but nothing ever feels overbearing. This coupled with the David Attenborough’s narration makes watching Planet Earth: The Complete Collection a very rewarding experience.
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 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 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 .
