“Nature’s Most Amazing Events” Two-Disc Blu-ray Review
Ever since I caught Planet Earth a year or two ago, I’ve been fascinated with documentaries that center around our planet. Documentaries that uncover and expose new parts of the world, parts that we’ll probably never see outside of these documentaries. They’re a great testament to just how amazing this planet is and the vast secrets it still holds. And now BBC Earth has unleashed its latest documentary series Nature’s Most Amazing Events, a series following the effects of global climactic phenomena, with each episode looking at how a different part of the world is effected. While Nature’s Most Amazing Events may not be as utterly spellbinding as Planet Earth, this release still contains plenty of eye-popping moments. And we’ll talk more about that after the synopsis.
Synopsis:
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.
A worthy successor to Planet Earth, The BBC/Discovery Channel co-production Nature’s Most Amazing Events is, to put it simply, incredibly fascinating. The theme of the series follows how the changes of the seasons, on a world-wide scale, creates some of the most amazing events in nature. And naturally, given the current change the world is undergoing, things don’t always go according to plan. And, to be honest, it can get pretty graphic at times, much to my surprise.
With episode introductions by Sir David Attenborough, each installment uses astonishing cinematography and narration to tell the story of these events and, wow, some of these are just amazing to behold. Now, I’m sure if you’re a regular viewer of nature documentaries, you may think you’ve seen it all and, to be honest, some some ground we’ve seen covered in over documentaries are seen here once again, but they’re not as repetitive or tiresome as one may think. The previously mentioned cinematography and narration make even the driest or regurgitated facts possible to sit through.
The includes episodes on this snazzy two-disc Blu-ray set include “The Great Melt,” “The Great Salmon Run,” “The Great Migration,” “The Great Tide,” “The Great Flood,” and “The Great Feast.”
If you’re looking to get a solid bang for your buck, I sincerely doubt you’ll be disappointed in these episodes. These episodes are dripping with gorgeous cinematography and packed to the gils with different animal species. Polar bears, walruses, lions, cheetahs, sharks, seals, elephants, buffalo, dolphins, and about zillion other animals are on display here, I’m pretty confident any viewer will get their fill. Now, it doesn’t have the amazing scope of Planet Earth, which really paved the way for other documentaries such as this, but by no means should this program be discounted. It’s still a marvel to see this survival in Arctic, or the struggle for food in the likes of Africa. And, most amazingly, there’s actually the odd twist thrown in here and there, as I found myself caught off-guard more than a couple times.
If you’re a fan of nature-themed documentaries, then you should do yourself a favor and pick it up. While not as astonishing as the epic Planet Earth, Nature’s Most Amazing Events is still an informative and enjoyable watch, full of stunning cinematography. And, if you have the choice, I highly recommend going with the Blu-ray edition of this release. While some of the situations may be reminiscent of other docs, that still shouldn’t stop anyone from picking up this title. Some of the footage here is remarkable, especially when the crew manages to get dangerously close to some really fierce animals, making for some stunning moments. Personally, as a fan of nature-themed documentaties, I have to give Nature’s Most Amazing Events a stamp of Highly Recommended Some of the situations here may not seem so unique, but it’ll still keep you glued to your television set.
The Blu-ray:
Starting off with the presentation, Warner Home Video has given Nature’s Most Amazing Events a fitting look, both inside and out. Presented in a stylish digi-pack housing both discs, the quality of this set is not amazing, but still pretty solid.
In terms of audio and video quality, the high-definition 1080i picture is pretty good for the most part. It’s clean and captures some great detail, but there are instances where lower quality video seems to seep in and it’s quite noticeable. It’s not jaw-dropping quality, but it’s still something that looks great on nice high definition television. Some noise and image distortion is also apparent from time to time, likely do again to some of the lower video quality (possible from lower-quality cameras used?). As for the audio, it’s a standard 2.0 Dolby Digital audio. I’m surprised there’s no other audio option available, but this one does the necessary job, though I can’t help but feel a little disappointed in the stingy audio.
In terms of bonus feature, 10-minute “Diary” segments seem to be the only bonus content available. Each segment looks at the behind-the-scenes process of how each episode comes together. We get a great look at the incredible work put forth to make these episodes possible. Very interesting stuff and, personally, I would easily watch more than the 10-minute segments provided.
Overall, if you’re looking for some good high definition nature documentaries, you can’t go wrong with the Nature’s Most Amazing Events two-disc Blu-ray release. It’s packed with great cinematography and information, remaining entertaining even when it hits a slow spot or two. It’s a well-rounded series that provides an expansive look at our world. True, it’s not as expansive as Planet Earth, but it doesn’t try to be. It stays true to its name and delivers on just that. Nature’s Most Amazing Events definitely comes Recommended to check out, and would make a welcome addition to any Blu-ray library. Each episode contains a wealth of information, matched with stunning visuals, resulting in a Blu-ray release that’s…well….pretty amazing.
Nature’s Most Amazing Events is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.