Frozen Planet

This visually stunning BBC series on the Arctic and Antarctic regions is narrated by the redoubtable David Attenborough, who braved the frigid climes of the North and South Poles to host the seven-part program. The first episodes present an overview of each location and history of early exploration, followed by four programs illustrating the seasonal changes. The sixth segment deals with the incredibly hardy human residents of the polar regions, while the seventh presents Attenborough's analysis of the impact of climate change on these areas and the potentially devastating effect on both the indigenous animal life and Earth as a whole. Each chapter is supplemented by a featurette recording obstacles faced by the crew while filming—ranging from life-threatening storms to bureaucratic red tape. The cinematography throughout is breathtaking, with footage above ground, beneath the snow, and in the waters under the ice capturing a wide array of land-based and aquatic life—including penguins, polar bears, wolves, and whales, but also many rarer specimens—in their struggle for survival against predators (the “circle of life” isn't Disney-fied here, although the kills are handled with some discretion). Bowing on DVD and Blu-ray, extras include a featurette on current scientific work at the South Pole, video diaries, and a highlights reel. A triumph of natural history documentary filmmaking, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)