An 11-part documentary produced for the BBC, narrated by Sir David Attenborough. (Yes, the actor’s brother.)

CRITIQUE

It’s hard to imagine anyone—from professional conservationists to the most casual browser of National Geographic—to walk away from this series unmoved. In broad but highly effective strokes, it touches on virtually all the intertwined forces of nature and wildlife that not only inhabit the Earth but also provide every living thing the sustenance it needs to survive.

Each stunning 50-minute episode covers a different geographical area (oceans, deserts, mountains, caves, jungles/forests) and the life it supports. On the flip side, Planet Earth never sugarcoats death. Wild animal hunts and feeds are shown for what they are: all part of the process. The cumulative effect reaffirms that our world is indeed a magical place—mysterious; terrifying; gorgeous beyond description. And quite possibly on it’s way out.*

The conceptual scope of the project is matched by what can only be considered the high-water mark of nature photography, to which all subsequent efforts will be measured. Exploiting state of the art resources offered by high-definition, Planet Earth was shot on both land and air. The ground-based work is impressive—often capturing animals or natural events that have never been documented, let alone witnessed before. (For example, The Siberian red leopard… or a cave that’s deep enough to house the Empire State Building!)

And whoa, this ain’t your father’s time-lapse photography! Unlike traditional stationary shots showing a flower in bloom, the cinematographer's camera pans and tilts as the upper atmosphere changes and the seasons literally wash across the environment. Slow-motion is also used for maximum impact. One unforgettable image occurs as a Killer Whale breaks the water to eat a seal. This is hardly a Jaws moment. Slowed down ten times, every water droplet looks like crystal dancing in the air. The height of the leap itself is amazing—the shark looks like it’s about to take flight.

Impressive as that may be, once the camera ascends Planet Earth takes on a whole new dimension. Aided by a new stabilizer, breathtaking helicopter photography gives viewers the impression of gliding over subjects in a hot-air balloon. From polar cap to cap it records the movements of great elephant herds… the tallest mountains in existence… three million bats feeding together at twilight… the hunting patterns of wild African dogs… all in a way that’s being seen for the first time.

One would think that a documentary encompassing the nature of the planet itself would be bursting at the seams with pompous narration. Well, there’s a reason David Attenborough acquired a “Sir” before his name; aside from being a world-class conservationist he’s a clever filmmaker who realizes that wall-to-wall factoids would only serve to burden a viewer who’s hungrily processing images. He walks this verbal tightrope like a true Wallenda. George Fenton’s score fills the intellectual gaps with a powerful emotional undercurrent.

There are a slew of excellent natural life documentaries already available. Planet Earth is in a class by itself. It makes An Inconvenient Truth look like an overheated PowerPoint lecture.

THE VIDEO

Planet Earth is presented in a gorgeous-looking 1.78 anamorphic widescreen transfer. For some, it is also available in full screen, but no one should bother with that. Simply put, Planet Earth is what IMAX projectors dream about at night.

THE AUDIO

Each episode features an English 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround track that's music to the ears. The narration, music and recorded audio are presented with clarity. For the domestic version of Planet Earth, actress Sigourney Weaver performed the narration, but this DVD release does not include that soundtrack. Additional tracks include French and Spanish Dolby as well as an English DTS 5.1 ES track! Available subtitles are presented in English, Spanish and French.

THE EXTRAS

Additional footage: 90 minutes not shown on the Discovery Channel

The Planet Earth Diaries: offers a 110 minute BTS look at how the eye-opening series was captured—and all without a frame of CGI!

Planet Earth: The Future: If ever the filmmaker had an opportunity to make soapbox speeches it’s on disc five, a 150-minute companion series (included on standard-definition DVD release only).

Again, Attenborough wisely avoids the trap of previous nature docs. No Greenpeace histrionics will be found here! No whiney Liberal opportunists! Attenborough simply assembles a variety of accredited professional scientists and conservationists. Most work in a specialty field, so they’re able to tell the viewer—in calm and reasoned manner—how manmade abuse of the planet will personally affect the specific subject of their studies… and then put it into global context. There will be skeptics, of course. Even disallowing nine tenths of their observations, the conclusions will send a chill through their cynical bones.

FINAL THOUGHT