Killer Instincts: Snakes (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)My overall thoughts about this documentary is that it is worth watching and will be enjoyable to any snake enthusiast. It is not, however, better than other snake documentaries such as "Snakes and Crocodiles" or "Reptiles" from the Nature series. Rob obviously has a passion for snakes and is excellent with them. The snakes covered in this video are mostly Australian and are covered in pretty good detail. Rob is not the best in front of the camera but does deliver all in all. What makes up for this is that Dr. Bryan Fry is also in the documentary. Dr. Fry may as well come out with his own documentary series about the evolution and natural history of snakes and snake venom, and the hell with anything else. I contemplated giving it 5 stars just for his appearance, but to be honest it really gets just the 4 because it is a little cheesy at times and does not quite live up to other documentaries of its kind. It's only 45 min. and doesn't really give you too much "new" information if you are pretty familiar with the basic info. on australian species such as taipans, eastern browns, and tiger snakes (etc). All said and done, I would recomend this documentary for anyone who enjoys this subject matter, or if not for anything else, because any message discussing snakes from a positive perspective makes it worth all the while.

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Studio: Mpi Home VideoRelease Date: 09/30/2003Run time: 45 minutesRating: Nr

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NOVA - In the Path of a Killer Volcano (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a teacher of Earth and Environmental Science and have the VHS version of this fabulous documentary. It excels at highlighting the science of volcanology as well as the real world decisions that the seismologists/volcanologists from the U.S. Geologists had to deal with. It profiles a few scientists who quickly became my heroes after watching this including John Ewert, Rick Hoblitt, and Dave Harlow (among others). I will be purchasing the DVD version of this when it is released. It is a must have if you want to impress upon your students 1) how truly awesome volcanoes are and 2) how important scientific research is in helping to save lives. The DVD version of this should be fantastic. I think that you'll find that it is a real nail biter!

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The Philippines' Mount Pinatubo is about to blow big. Is there enough time to evacuate the hundreds of thousands in its raging path? Stay with the scientists who remain behind- and see some astonishing footage of the world's largest volcanic eruption in 80 years. Local tribespeople were the first to see the signs."There was a flash of light from the sky," said one."I thought it was my time to die." The Philippines' Mount Pinatubo was acting restless- and the volcanologists at Clark Air Force Base were starting to sweat.An angry mountain is highly unpredictable.If they misread its fits and starts, a violent explosion could send pyroclastic flow- hot, dense avalanches- roaring down its sides at 100 miles per hour, burning everyone and everything in its path.But if they ordered an evacuation and nothing happened, these experts could lose their credibility for good. With a typhoon headed in their direction, the stakes are even higher.Torrential rains turn ash and rock into hot mud flows that can bury a town in minutes.Is it time to issue a Level 4 alert- ordering hundreds of thousands to flee their homes?Stay with the courageous scientists who remain behind- and see some astonishing footage as the world's biggest eruption in 80 years really starts to blow.

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National Geographic - Relentless Enemies (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of the best lion documentaries I have ever seen, the Jouberts have done it again. Several giant-sized powerfully built lionesses have specialized in hunting buffalo, massive bulls and newborn calves alike. The buffalo are equally dangerous defending their own. If you enjoy real world wildlife battles as opposed to fake, computer generated conflict this film is for you. The notorious hyenas make a cameo appearance but the lions aren't all that concerned about them. The angry faces of the lionesses are hilarious at times. And a dark side of lion life is exposed.
The commentary can be turgid and overwrought, but the cinematography is superb and the music complements the action well.

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It is a spectacle few have seen firsthand. Two foes trapped on an island in a remote part of Africa - and a battle to survive captured in high-definition over two years by award-winning filmmakers. Now, National Geographic takes viewers onto a unique battlefield in the Okavango Delta to witness the grueling fight for survival of highly specialized lions that prey almost exclusively on buffalo in Relentless Enemies.

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Alone in the Wilderness (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)I left Colorado's light several days ago to work in hazy Los Angeles. The drive out is always a reminder of what I am leaving, as the intimidatingly enormous 14ers (like Gray's Peak) loom over I-70 -- almost daring me to leave -- slowly disintegrate into staggered planes and red rock plateaus, in turn losing their scorched colors and fading into a clay-type desert. It is here I feel really alone.
In the motel during my night-over in Utah, I watched Alone in the Wilderness. I had missed the first few minutes, but wasn't paying attention much. What caught my eye right off the bat was the color. Films don't look like this today, they are all cartoony, over-saturated digital oilslicks. Wilderness was grainy, faded, low-contrast, and quite remarkable to watch, until I realized what was going on, really noticed what the film was about.
Here was a man, who left his job to live secluded from the (technological) world. He built a cabin without disturbing the trees directly around his plot. He eventually added a beautiful chimney, made of stones collected throughout various hikes at varying altitudes. He built snowshoes and a dog-sled (despite the lack of dogs), and a backpack that could carry anything (slab of wood for a table top, or nearly an entire caribou). At one point, he needs a wooden spoon, so -- where today we would hop in the car, drive through traffic to a store and purchase one -- he carves a wonderful spoon out of wood, polished and perfected and filmed in less than an hour.
I couldn't help but wonder if this film was a godsend; am I doing the right thing moving away from the mountains, where I am constantly outdoors in the sunshine? In California, I spend my days indoors, looking out into traffic, and usually I'm too busy to care. In the evenings, I have headaches, and easily become grumpy.
What is it we want in life? Alone in the Wilderness does not preach "leave the complex, live for simplicity." The film doesn't preach at all, in fact. The viewer simply watches this man's life, which is a far cry from "simple," by the way; it is constant work to stay warm and well-fed. The dangers of the surrounding wildlife isn't far from Mr. Proenneke's walls of comfort. In one hilarious moment, though, Mr. Proenneke turns the camera onto a wolverine that had been avoiding him, only to capture it rolling (literally sprawled out, rolling!) down a huge snowy hillside, enjoying the powdery snow and the bright sunshine.
At my young age, I must do what I feel is right for me. But that doesn't mean I can't put this disc in the player and vicariously live through a man far more brave and happy than I could ever be.

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"Alone in the Wilderness" is the story of Dick Proenneke. To live in a pristine land unchanged by man... to roam a wilderness through which few other humans have passed... to choose an idyllic site, cut trees and build a log cabin... to be a self-sufficient craftsman, making what is needed from materials available... to be not at odds with the world, but content with one's own thoughts and company...Thousands have had such dreams, but Dick Proenneke lived them. He found a place, built a cabin, and stayed to become part of the country. This video "Alone in the Wilderness" is a simple account of the day-to-day explorations and activities he carried out alone, and the constant chain of nature's events that kept him company.

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National Geographic - Eye of the Leopard (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Jouberts make the absolute BEST documentaries on African wild life. This one is no exception. Absolutely stunning visually, superbly written, and the narration by Jeremy Irons is also perfect. Highly recommended for anyone who has a serious interest in conservation, wildlife, etc

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Eye of the Leopard takes viewers on an enthralling journey deep into the rarely seen lives of leopards. It is a journey of birth, life and death as a mother leopard and her first surviving cub of six, fight off marauding baboons and elude scavenging hyenas in a constant struggle for survival. This 90 minute cinematographic experience is brought to life by Dereck and Beverly Joubert, the award-winning husband-and-wife filmmakers of Eternal Enemies and is narrated by Oscar winner Jeremy Irons.

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Jane Goodall's When Animals Talk (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a wonderful documentary about animal communication. It tells the anecdotes of pet owners and others who have managed to communicate with animals, as well as the amazing abilities of those animals. Even for those of us who already understand that animals can communicate, this film is a powerful reminder of how much we do not know about animals and how much we have yet to learn from them.
One of the most amazing studies was with dogs who had the ability to sense tumors. The dogs accurately identified which tissue sample out of seven had cancer over 95% of the time. The dogs even correctly indicated that a tissue sample from a supposedly healthy patient did have cancer. Since the doctors had cleared that particular patient, the dogs probably saved his life.
Another great scene involved a Grey Parrot who not only talked, but conversed. He seemed to understand what to say to people at certain times and had garnered a vocabulary of over 1,000 words. Upon meeting Jane Goodall, he even asked her if she brought any chimps (and subsequently made chimpanzee grunts).
As with many documentaries of this nature, I found this to be a bit too short and sometimes too much filler (too many dog owners saying how much they love their pets). However, don't let that discourage you - there's still a lot to learn from this documentary.
If you liked the DVD, you might also be interested in: Dogs That Know When Their Owners Are Coming Home: And Other Unexplained Powers of Animals

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Just like any pet owner, Jane Goodall believes that all animals can talk -- it's just that we don't always understand what they're saying. When Animals Talk recounts the amazing stories of animals that have changed the lives of the people they've touched. We witness how animals can learn our language and find unique human-animal partnerships that make the world a better place. We also will discover how we humans can learn the languages of animals through science. We will listen in on the "conversations" that can take place between animals and humans, and the amazing results that these mutual comprehensions can yield. Dr Goodall's message is that communicating with animals brings humankind closer to another world, and that such liaisons can bring about unexpected benefits to both.

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Wild Pacific (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)For the hi-def nature lover, this is another gem from the BBC, but not an unblemished gem. It has its fair share of problems both structurally and technically. Here you'll get 6 episodes divided onto two 50 GB discs, with a total runtime of 353 minutes. That's nearly 6 hours of footage, so you'll definitely get your fill of naturey goodness. It's 1080i here, not 1080p. From 6 feet away, it's not a problem, but randomly sampling a scene from 3 feet away, I did notice noise in darker areas and judder in fast-moving scenes like pans of palm leaves and waves.
To sum up the series, it shows some of the very amazing and unusual birds, insects, fish, and mammals of some of the 20,000 islands dotting the Pacific. But it also shows a heck of a lot of people. Despite the title being "Wild Pacific", humans are in every episode. I found out when I popped in the disc that the original (and more accurate) UK title is "South Pacific", and I was definitely misled by the name change for the US market. With every episode, the story keeps going back to one of the traditional societies of the islands, lost colonists/sailors, or modern people.
There's still a lot of informative and entertaining footage, including rare glimpses of animals, impossibly close shots, and more of that signature stunning photography that we've come to expect from the BBC. I particularly liked the cloud fly-throughs and beautiful aerial shots of atolls, pristine aquamarine lagoons, and islands that are scattered throughout the segments (on "Ocean of Volcanoes"). There's also some lush underwater photography (corals, lava, and fish). These I enjoyed the most. But it's not all animal eye candy and idyllic seas, tranquil islands, and forests. A strong, somber, and perhaps heavy-handed theme of seriousness runs through half of the episodes. "Strange Islands", "Fragile Paradise" for example (both on Disc 2), deal with the effects of humans on the seas and land, including environmental destruction, wild-life decimation by human-introduced species like goats and cats, extinction, shark-finning, and over-fishing.
What I found to be most problematic however, is the narrative flow of the individual episodes. It jumps around all over the place, from land to sea to bug to bird to fish to another island to people, sometimes even within the space of 10 minutes. This kind of editing is disorienting, aimless, and meandering, like a ship adrift at sea, an image that the series keeps returning to. Instead of one full episode on focused on say, "Birds", one on "Fish", one on "Lizards and Insects", and one on "People", its divided into a confusing set of titles and aimless segments called simply "Oceans of Islands", "Castaways", and "Endless Blue" (Disc 1) and the episodes listed above. "Wild Pacific" sacrifice quality and depth for quantity. It doesn't stay focused on many of the more exotic animals for very long and some of the shots are only cursory and superficial, lasting a mere second or two. For example, I wanted to know more about the caterpillar with the scorpion tail, the smiley face spider, or the bizarre translucent creatures of the deep ocean (entire segment is only 1.5 minutes). The animals that you've seen plenty of times in other nature shows, you'll see them a lot here too (albatrosses, sharks, dolphins, whales, sea turtles). Meanwhile, the yellow sea slug and pygmy seahorse aren't even named as the shots cut away.
Another complaint is the narration itself. Being used to hearing Sir David Attenborough's warm and affable voice on so many BBC documentaries (like the superb Planet Earth Series [Blu-ray], The BBC Natural History Collection featuring Planet Earth (Planet Earth/ The Blue Planet: Seas of Life Special Edition/ Life of Mammals/ Life of Birds), and Nature's Most Amazing Events, I found Benedict Cumberbatch dry, disengaging, and mostly monotonous. He has a baritone timbre similar to George Page of Nature fame but none of the charm as a storyteller. Whereas you can hear the genuine love, liveliness, and enthusiasm in Attenborough's voice, Cumberbatch sounds like he is reading directly from the script. His cadence and pitch rarely changes.
Lastly is the BAD menu design. The white text turns to yellow when selected, making it very hard to see. None of the chapters are labeled with any description. The only subtitle is English, and finally, the six 10-minute making-of segments sandwiched between the episodes are only mildly interesting. I recognized one segment taken in whole from Galapagos [Blu-ray], only with new narration added.
I give this a reluctant 4 for its problems. Still worth watching and owning if you like documentaries, but be aware of the issues I've outline.

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This landmark series explores the sheer scale and majesty of the largest ocean on Earth, the isolation of its islands, the extraordinary journeys wildlife and humans have gone through to reach these specks of land, and what happened to both after their arrival. Unimaginably vast, the Pacific is 99% water and only 1% land - you could fit the whole of the world's landmasses into it and still have enough room for another Africa! The distance between these islands can be huge - literally hundreds or thousands of miles - but somehow, life made it there. Isolation does curious things - animals evolve and adapt in strange ways. Witness flesh-eating caterpillars, giant crabs capable of opening coconuts, geckos that can breed without any need of a male, frogs that have never been tadpoles... Beyond cliched images of swaying palms and idyllic beaches, this is the real, immense and surprising South Pacific.

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Nature's Most Amazing Events (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)There will inevitably be comparisons between "Nature's Most Amazing Events" and Planet Earth. While I can't say that this new series is quite as groundbreaking, it is still pretty great and has some amazing footage.
As its title suggests, "Nature's Most Amazing Events" focuses on some of the most amazing events in the animal kingdom. I actually like the fact that each episode stays in one location (as opposed to the way Planet Earth jumped around the world). However, I thought it could have gone beyond Africa and North America. I also thought this series had some amazing footage of birds and whales, particularly of birds underwater. Those scenes alone make the series worth buying.
One note: I originally watched this series on the Discovery Channel. For some reason, Discovery used another narrator (Hasani Issa), not David Attenborough. As viewers of nature documentaries know, Attenborough's infectious enthusiasm makes his programs truly a joy to watch. As such, this DVD will be much better than the televised version for simply having Attenborough as the narrator.
Now, onto the episodes:
1) Arctic Summer:
This episode focuses on Arctic environments and includes many of the usual suspects, such as Polar Bears. There was a great scene with baby Gillymots learning to fly. The birds essentially jump off a huge cliff and try to land in the ocean. Many miss and bounce along the ground - but survive! This scene evoked the infamous scene in Planet Earth with the ducklings jumping out of the tree - but many times higher, with Arctic foxes waiting at the bottom to eat any unlucky baby Gillymots.
2) Grizzly Wilderness:
This episode follows the Salmon migration in the pacifc northwest - and all of the animals trying to eat them. There's some great shots of the Salmon swimming through the water. In one shot, a Salmon is swimming through a waterfall, jumps out of the water, and - in slow motion - flies toward the camera. There's also a cool scene of a dead Salmon decomposing in fast motion.
3) Surviving the Serengeti:
Unfortunately, there wasn't much new in this episode. It covers the wildebeest migration in East Africa. The wildebeest migration is certainly one of nature's most amazing events, but the Serengeti is also one of nature's most documented events.
4) Army of Predators:
This episode covers the army of predators that chase Sardines. I loved the footage of Gannets plunge-diving into the water to eat fish. The birds look like they're swimming underwater. I've seen some other documentaries trying to capture birds underwater (including Blue Planet: Seas of Life), but this scene was by far the best. The episode climaxes with a battle royale between Gannets, Dolphins, Fur Seals, Sharks, and Bryde's Whale all chasing the Sardines.
5) Kalahari Flood:
This episode focuses on southern Africa, with the drying up of the Okavango River in Botswana. The footage of the Termites up close looks great in HD. These scenes were even better quality than the Termite footage in Life in the Undergrowth. Also lots of elephants wallowing around.
6) Pacific Feast:
This is another underwater battle royale, with Stellar Sea Lions, Orcas, and Humpback Whales all going in for some Herring. This episode includes some of the best blu-ray footage of whales I've seen, with extensive footage of Humpbacks hunting using "bubble nets." The "whale song" that the Humpbacks use while "bubble netting" is haunting. After watching this, it is absolutely clear that these animals are intelligent - coordinating group action, using tools (bubbles), and taking advantage of the Herrings' weaknesses. There's also a great shot of a Humpback exhaling through its blowhole and catching a rainbow on its breath. The mist from the blowhole changes colors from blue to green to yellow to red. I can't describe what it looked like other than to say it was pretty amazing. This is easily some of the best Humpback footage ever.
In short, if you enjoy nature documentaries, don't miss out on "Nature's Most Amazing"! It has wonderful footage of birds underwater and whales. While there are some low points (notably the Serengeti), the best moments far exceed the ocean scenes in Planet Earth.

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Witness the planet's most breathtaking natural events, and follow the dramatic wildlife stories behind them. Combining the epic cinematography of Planet Earth, with all the emotion, intimacy and storytelling of a wildlife diary, this series charts the effects of global climatic phenomena which transform entire landscapes, drawing in thousands of animals and determining their fate. Each episode is set in a different part of the world - from the great flood of the Okavango delta to the plankton blooms of the Pacific Ocean, and from the Indian monsoon to the race for survival triggered by the annual Arctic melt - and shows how immense natural forces, often starting thousands of miles away, drive a chain reaction that culminates in a spectacular wildlife event. For some animals, it's a window of opportunity, but for others, it's the most dangerous time of their lives. Follow their emotional, involving stories to a dramatic climax where their fate will be revealed. Episodes: The Great Melt, The Great Salmon Run, The Great Migration, The Great Tide, The Great Flood, The Great Feast.

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Inside Planet Earth (2008) Review

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(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 :)

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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.

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Meerkat Manor, Season 2 (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)Do not get me wrong...I absolutely love this show. The picture quality of these DVDs are great. The problem is the shows are completely OUT OF ORDER! There is no menu...the shows play in a loop. I checked on Animal Planet website and the box for the second season is BROWN...while the "box" for this set is blue. The set from Animal Planet has three disks...while this one has four. Between each episode the Animal Planet On Demand shows up which tells me that someone copied these to their DVR and burned them to DVD and sold them...of course I could be wrong, but the discs are purple like the Memorex DVD/RWs that anyone can buy at Wal-Mart. I've ordered this season from Animal Planet...we shall see...........
Besides the first season has menu options, and they don't look like they are DVD/RW's.

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Triumph and mishap, comedy and tragedy - everything a good story needs, but this one is different, it stars a group of wild meerkats in South Africa. This ground-breaking thirteen part series records the daily lives of a group of meerkats known as & The Whiskers. Using state of the art camera technology above and below ground, and by tracking the group's movements 24 hours a day, the series paints a dramatic picture of a year in their highly complex and social lives. The show is narrated by Sean Astin of Lord of the Rings.

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Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life is an outstanding celebration of the life and ideas of one of the greatest scientists yet to live. This nearly one-hour film includes a close look at the importance of both descent with modification and the common ancestry of all life. Wonderful glimpses at Darwin's original specimens and notes, important fossils, and DNA evidence are also high-lighted. These are all connected nicely into an easy to follow description of the primary mechanism of evolution, natural selection.
Weaved seamlessly throughout is natural history film footage shown of David Attenborough's many earlier television series. By using this footage, the film apply demonstrates the diversity of life and celebrates the work of perhaps the greatest natural history television series writer, director, and producer (Planet Earth, Life on Earth, and many other series).
I have used this film successfully with my high school biology classes. It provides a clear, direct, and articulate look at a 21st century, evidence based understanding of evolution and the foundational role that Darwin's work has played. This film is indeed a fitting tribute to Darwin on the 200th anniversary of his birth.


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A personal insight, from the world's favourite naturalist, into Darwin's theory of evolution, exploring why it is more important now than ever before. Beautifully shot, this is the start of a series of celebrations of the man behind the theory that changed the world's thinking. But more than that, this is a labor of love for a man who has been at the forefront of natural history programming or decades.

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Prehistoric Park (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is a fabulous, entertaining little series. My sons LOVE them- its kind of Walking With Dinosaurs meets the Crocodile Hunter. Nigel is wonderful, the dinosaurs are well-done, and the pace keeps right on movin'. Put this with Chased By Dinosaurs, and you have a ton of fun. I hope he does more seasons of this! We want to know what happens next, and what animals Nigel will bring back next, at Prehistoric Park!

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Join zoologist and wildlife expert Nigel Marven as he travels back in time to capture the most amazing creatures ever to exist. Step into the hostile climates of the Cretaceous, Pleistocene and Paleozoic time periods, learn what killed these incredible creatures as Marven brings them back to the most incredible zoo never to exist, Prehistoric Park.

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