Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series

           As of its release in early 2007, Planet Earth is quite simply the greatest nature/wildlife series ever produced. Following the similarly monumental achievement of The Blue Planet: Seas of Life, this astonishing 11-part BBC series is brilliantly narrated by Sir David Attenborough and sensibly organized so that each 50-minute episode covers a specific geographical region and/or wildlife habitat (mountains, caves, deserts, shallow seas, seasonal forests, etc.) until the entire planet has been magnificently represented by the most astonishing sights and sounds you'll ever experience from the comforts of home. The premiere episode, "From Pole to Pole," serves as a primer for things to come, placing the entire series in proper context and giving a general overview of what to expect from each individual episode. Without being overtly political, the series maintains a consistent and subtle emphasis on the urgent need for ongoing conservation, best illustrated by the plight of polar bears whose very behavior is changing (to accommodate life-threatening changes in their fast-melting habitat) in the wake of global warming--a phenomenon that this series appropriately presents as scientific fact. With this harsh reality as subtext, the series proceeds to accentuate the positive, delivering a seemingly endless variety of natural wonders, from the spectacular mating displays of New Guinea's various birds of paradise to a rare encounter with Siberia's nearly-extinct Amur Leopards, of which only 30 remain in the wild. That's just a hint of the marvels on display. Accompanied by majestic orchestral scores by George Fenton, every episode is packed with images so beautiful or so forcefully impressive (and so perfectly photographed by the BBC's tenacious high-definition camera crews) that you'll be rendered speechless by the splendor of it all. You'll see a seal struggling to out-maneuver a Great White Shark; swimming macaques in the Ganges delta; massive flocks of snow geese numbering in the hundreds of thousands; an awesome night-vision sequence of lions attacking an elephant; the Colugo (or "flying lemur"--not really a lemur!) of the Philippines; a hunting alliance of fish and snakes on Indonesia's magnificent coral reef; the bioluminescent "vampire squid" of the deep oceans... these are just a few of countless highlights, masterfully filmed from every conceivable angle, with frequent use of super-slow-motion and amazing motion-controlled time-lapse cinematography, and narrated by Attenborough with his trademark combination of observational wit and informative authority. The result is a hugely entertaining series that doesn't flinch from the predatory realities of nature (death is a constant presence, without being off-putting). At a time when the multiple threats of global warming should be obvious to all, let's give Sir David the last word, from the closing of Planet Earth's final episode: "We can now destroy or we can cherish--the choice is ours."

Comment:

     It's not every day that a documentary series dubs itself "the definitive look at the diversity of our planet", but BBC's landmark Planet Earth (2006) does a fantastic job of backing up its claims. Assembled over a four-year period and spanning more than 60 countries, this globetrotting production stands tall as the first nature documentary filmed entirely in a high-definition format. This wouldn't just ensure stunning visuals, but it would also take the genre to new investigative heights: by filming from greater distances, the wildlife on display would remain generally undisturbed. Previously unseen behavior patterns and rituals could finally be observed and preserved...and not a moment too soon, because some of our featured stars may not be around for much longer.

Leisurely paced, densely informative and rich in color, Planet Earth packs each of its 11 episodes with equal parts education and entertainment. Narrated by BBC mainstay David Attenborough, we're treated to a vast array of species, exotic locations and stunning time-lapse photography. Each episode has been paired with a 10-minute segment of "Planet Earth Diaries", which documents unusually tough sequences from the perspective of the hard-working filmmakers. For the most part, though, Planet Earth is almost completely human-free, making the few exceptions almost jarring in comparison.

The focus of this ambitious 11-part series remains steady throughout, reminding us how much of our planet has yet to be discovered. From the great heights of the Himalayas to the depths of crystal-lined caverns and everything in-between, Planet Earth is an eye-opening experience for nature lovers of all ages.

Though the stunning visuals and steady narration are potent enough on their own terms, George Fenston's sweeping score also deserves special mention. Over two hours' worth of music highlights the production, pairing well with the chatters and chirps, sweeping winds, rustling leaves, fierce snowstorms and rumbling avalanches. If you're interested in hearing it on its own terms, a two-disc soundtrack compilation is available separately.

Originally broadcast in the UK over a year ago, this critically and commercially successful series made quite the domestic splash on the Discovery Channel when it first aired roughly a month ago. Attenborough's narration was completely dubbed over by actress/conservationist Sigourney Weaver---and though her rendition is capable enough, Planet Earth sounds the most natural in its original format.