Earth: The Biography (2008) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Is it as good as Planet Earth? No. This documentary series doesn't a never-ending overabundance of brilliant imagery. But don't let that dissuade you. If it wasn't for "Planet Earth" everyone would be raving about this set. Because though its visuals aren't always as stunning as that excellent series -- sometimes the screen shows just a guy or two talking in front of a washed out sky -- overall "Earth: The Biography" is just as interesting and at times even more informative. The special effects are good, too.
Generally, I'd say this set is great for anyone with even a passing interest in geology, at least if they're over, say, 8.
These are the same shows that recently aired on the National Geographic Channel. There are no bonus features.
Disc 1 has three shows, "Volcanoes," "Atmosphere" and "Ice." Disc 2 adds "Oceans" and "Rare Earth." Each of the first four explains how that particular system works, as well as what happens when it's messed with.
The last show examines a theory that says simple life may actually be common on other planets, but complex life -- i.e., animal life -- requires such a complex sequence of events that we'll never find another human-like population. It goes on to examine how humans are damaging the planet. Did you know each year people cut down enough forest to cover the state of South Carolina?
Everything is presented with plenty of objective, scientific information.
My favorite show is the first one, since it includes the formation of Earth. Did you know scientists think our planet once had a twin? Or that the moon is drifting away from us?
Though the narrator, Dr. Iain Stewart, speaks in a Scottish brogue, I didn't have any trouble understanding him. He's calm and articulate.
By the way, you can't help but be reminded of "Planet Earth" as you watch this. A commercial for it is actually the first thing that comes up when you pop in Disc 1.
Besides "Planet Earth," I'd recommend pairing this up with An Inconvenient Truth. Or a trip to go see Wall-E.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Earth: The Biography (2008)

This landmark series uses specialist imaging and compelling narrative to tell the life story of our planet, how it works, and what makes it so special. Examining the great forces that shape the Earth - volcanoes, the ocean, the atmosphere and ice - the programme explores their central roles in our planet's story. How do these forces affect the Earth's landscape, its climate, and its history? CGI gives the audience a ringside seat at these great events, while the final episode brings together all the themes of the series and argues that Earth is an exceptionally rare kind of planet - giving us a special responsibility to look after our unique world. This is a series that shows the Earth in new and surprising ways. Extensive use of satellite imagery reveals new views of our planet, while timelapse filmed over many months brings the planet to life. Offering a balance between dramatic visuals and illuminating facts, this ground-breaking series makes global science truly compelling.

Get 40% OFF

Click here for more information about Earth: The Biography (2008)

Inside Planet Earth (2008) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have to say; when it came to understanding and researching the center of the Earth and the planet's contstruction for my novel, this show covered it well. The extra feature, Inside The Volcano, was a perfect bonus, (although the bonus is rather long and not as well paced owing to the time it was made).
I should point out that Patrick Steward IS on this DVD--he is in the bonus feature documentary, Inside The Volcano, produced about 1996. He is there, but not in the main feature. That's where the confusion comes from. I own it, and I recognized his voice.
Good stuff overall :)

Click Here to see more reviews about: Inside Planet Earth (2008)

It's the ultimate voyage our world has to offer: a journey from the temperate surface of our world to the fiery core of the Earth. With the aid of stunning visual effects, the unexplored interior of the Earth is split wide open, giving us an unbelievable view. From glowing seams of pure iron ore to sparkling diamond caverns to the magnetic field that keeps us safe from the lethal radiation of space... for now, this is the fantastical world we live in -- and never see.
Bonus Feature: Amazing Earth

From the heights of Mount Everest to the molten lava fields of Hawaii to the very core of our planet, the geologic forces that have changed the planet's face over the past 4.6 billion years are revealed. With state-of-the-art effects and the latest scientific information, this is the story of striking meteorites, gigantic eruptions, the movement of continents and other geologic events that have shaped our AMAZING EARTH.

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about Inside Planet Earth (2008)

Body in Numbers (2008) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)"Body in Numbers" is a really interesting, informative, and innovative dvd. It strives to inform its viewers about the workings of the human body, by utilizing number amounts of everyday objects as comparisons. It relates specific information on many various parts and stages of our bodies...but at the same time, it manages to capture/maintain your interest while doing so. Because of this, it appeals to both young adults and older adults...it is actually enjoyable! In many ways, it seems somewhat similar to the "Eyewitness" science videos...except that this dvd is obviously targeted at more mature audiences. In fact, I plan on showing portions of it to my Living Environment high school classes...it's great to find a dvd that will enable students to enjoy, while also learning. I highly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in learning about how and why our bodies function the way they do. You'll be astonished, and amazed by what you learn!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Body in Numbers (2008)

More advanced than a computer yet more versatile and resilient than any machine is the amazing miracle known as the human body. From the thousands of breaths we take each day to the millions of receptors our eyes use to see, our bodies are an intricate and astonishing collection of working parts. In these four fascinating programs, we analyze the human body, from conception through old age, and decode the body's vital statistics in a surprising way that will completely change the way you think about yourself. The Miracle of Life We bring the miracle of conception to life in a brand-new way, illuminating the process with sheer numbers. For example, did you know that sperm must swim the equivalent of the width of Lake Superior to reach the female egg? Childhood This episode follows the evolving journey of our lives - from one-year-old to the age of 10. We look at how our muscles and bones develop, examine how we are able to learn so much so quickly, and analyze the incredible power of our senses. Becoming Men and Women This episode explores the numbers in the lives of our bodies from the age of 10 to middle-age. We see how a boy's testosterone levels soar 50 times over to transform him into a man and follow a girl's remarkable journey through puberty. Our Life in Numbers In this final episode, we look at the whole sweep of our body's journey through life, how it keeps going and what it's capable of producing during the course of a lifetime. For one person alone, the numbers climb into the trillions.

Click here for more information about Body in Numbers (2008)