BBC Natural History Collection Box Set [Blu-ray] [Region Free]

Description

A collection of BBC nature documentaries.Wild China (2008), narrated by Bernard Hill, focuses on one of the world's most enigmatic and magnificent countries. The programme delves into the country's vibrant habitats to reveal a land of unbelievable natural complexity. Journey across China, from the glittering peaks of the Himalayas to the barren steppe, the sub-Arctic to the tropical islands, through deserts both searingly hot and mind-numbingly cold and see, in pioneering images, a dazzling array of mysterious, beautiful, wild and rare creatures. Tilda Swinton narrates Galapagos (2005), which explores the distinctive flora and fauna of the Galapagos archipelago. Charles Darwin's world within itself is the subject of this in-depth programme. The Galapagos Islands are every botanist's Shangri-La: the 13 main islands are actually underwater volcanoes and are situated at the confluence of four oceanic currents. This singular habitat, combined with its isolated location, has given rise to hundreds of varieties of flora and fauna found nowhere else but here.South Pacific (2009) explores the vast South Pacific ocean and its many islands, giving viewers the opportunity to see beyond the white sandy beaches and palm trees. Both the wildlife and the islander's way of life and rituals are examined, showing how both cope with their remote environment. Highlights include spectacular sights of giant crabs that can open coconuts, undersea volcanos, and the use of super slow motion footage to capture the scale of some of the of the world's biggest waves. Nature's Great Events (2009) chronicles some of the planet's most spectacular natural events, and shows how these phenomena can transform entire landscapes, drawing in millions of animals and determining their fate. The series also explains how powerful natural forces can trigger chain reactions involving everything from microscopic organisms to entire tracts of rainforest. Events featured in the series include the Pacific salmon run, the greening of the Serengeti, the plankton bloom in the Pacific Northwest, the spring thaw in the Arctic, the flooding of the Okavango Delta and the South Atlantic sardine run. Language and Subtitles : English Review: Wonderous - An awe inspiring collection containing incredible landscape imagery and capturing astonishing behaviours on an epic scale all in amazing HD. Nature's Great Events illustrates how seasonal changes transform the planet and cause some of the greatest mass natural history spectacles. South Pacific examines the unique wildlife, history and culture of the thousands of islands and ocean which comprise this region; featuring underwater volcanos and reefs, giant coconut eating crabs and flesh eating caterpillars! Galapagos likewise examines the uniques wildlife, flora, fauna of these amazing islands. Finally Wild China, a detailed look at the amazing diversity of landscape and life in China, rainforests, deserts and Himalayas. Containing four series as detailed below although just a quick synopsis does not really describe how amazing the interactions and visual imagery is. NATURE'S GREAT EVENTS - 1. The Great Melt - Deals with the annual Arctic land and sea melt, highlights the life and death struggle of the polar bear, arctic foxes, beluga whales and narwhals who are also featured in the 10 minute diaries which follow the episode. 2. The Great Summer Run - Showing the Pacific salmons journey to their spawning site; also featuring grizzly bears and wolves in the beautiful setting of the Alaskan mountains. Diaries feature the grizzly bears. 3. The Great Migration - Follows a pride of lions surviving on the Serengeti and the mass annual migration of wildebeest and zebra 4. The Great Tide - Sardine migration along the East coast of Africa, along with gannets, dolphins, sharks and whales 5. The Great Flood - The flooding of the Kalahari plains from the Okavango Delta transforming it into lush wetlands; buffalo, elephants, hippos, dragonflies, lions and wading birds 6. - The Great Feast - The British Columbia and Alaskan plankton explosion; featuring killer whales, humpback whales, sea-lions and dolphins SOUTH PACIFIC 1. Ocean of Islands - Featuring the entire world population of Royal penguins, sea-lions, fabulous robber crabs, flesh eating caterpillars. Also shows indigenous cultures of some of the islands and provides a salutory lesson in the way of the history of Easter Island. 2. Castaways - Fruit bats, saltwater crocodiles, groupers, grey reef sharks and how they have managed to colonise many of these islands. 3. Endless Blue - Manta rays, tiger sharks, squid, dolphins and sea birds as well as highlighting the perils of human survival and dependence on the sea. 4. Ocean of Volcanoes - Underwater volcanoes, lagoons and reef; giant clams, crabs, fish, jellyfish, sharks. 5. Strange Islands - How species have evolved on these islands, exploiting enviromental and ecological gaps. Birds, bats, kangaroos, monkey tailed skinks and the story of the collapse of human civilisation here. 6. Fragile Paradise - The effects of climate change, overfishing and over exploitating resources. GALAPAGOS 1. Born of Fire - Volcanoes, lava fields and the wildlife that exists around it 2. Islands that changed the world - How Darwins theory of evolution was formed from his observations of life on the Galapagos; finches, hawks, cactus. 3. Forces of Change - How life has evolved on the Galapagos; giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas WILD CHINA 1. Heart of the Dragon - Southern China's paddy fields and lakes, home to a variety of birds, freshwater turtles, alligators and bats 2. Shangri-La - The Hengduan Mountains, the amazing plant life, monkeys, gibbons, elephants and bats. 3. Tibet - Snow leopards, Tibetan bear, Tibetan fox, snakes, insects as well as an overview of the relationship between Tibetan Buddhists and their natural enviroment. 4. Beyond the Great Wall - Nomadic tribes, Siberian tigers, the Gobi desert 5. Land of the Panda - An interesting look at the relationship between people and wildlife both positive and negative impacts are evident; Giant Pandas, Golden Snub Nosed Monkeys, Chinese alligators. 6. Tides of Change - The Chinese coastline, whale sharks, birdlife, dolphins and how animals and humans co-exist. I'd say Nature's Great Events is one of the best series I've seen concerned with natural history for the sheer scale and spectacle. Maybe Galapagos doesn't quite reach the heights of the others occasionally being a bit repetitive visually and in commentary but that only relegates it to a 9 out of 10 as opposed to 10 out of 10. An incredible package overall. The descriptions above are far from comprehensive, each episode containing far more then I could recall as well as context, visual splendour etc. The filmography is amazing; I can't directly compare this with the dvd equivalent but can only say the picture is mostly crystal clear, very sharp and totally immersive. Review: Its good, but too much repetition sometimes... - The Galapagos and South Pacific documentaries shouldve been done together, they do share a fair bit of footage and Benedict Cumberbatch is a much better voice over than Tilda Swinton, who sounds a bit bored sometimes. But considering the Galapagos are in the South Pacific, and constantly referred to during the South Pacific series, they shouldve just stuck 3 episodes on the end... Wild China and Natures Great Events are interesting, well filmed and, well... exactly what you'd expect of BBC documentaries. For close to 20 quid, you get hours of HD quality, educational and well presented information. Well worth it in my opinion and its been a great companion during my sick week of work