Green Beauty Alive Through a Microscope

Both Warren Hatch's laboratory--numerous plastic bins in his backyard filled with water--and his filmmaking expertise have grown, with this latest edition in the ongoing Video Microscope series making the jump to the DVD format (the difference is readily apparent as the images seen here under the microscope are sharp and vibrant, and the fiber-optic lighting is superior). The theme of this collection is, as the title suggests, green creatures: mostly algae and those organisms with which it shares symbiotic relationships. Despite the fact that these organisms are at the bottom of the food chain, and live in “gross” habitats, there is true beauty in seeing them up-close-and-personal (Volvox look like twirling city lights, while a Hydra or bunch of Stentors resemble blooming flowers). Featuring Hatch's comprehensive narration and magnifications ranging from 7x to 100x, the program's only drawback is that the DVD format is not fully exploited (it would have been wonderful to have each of the nine organisms marked as a separate chapter). However, the DVD does include a fine bonus: a 17-minute close-up view of a very active yellow jacket wasps' nest. Wonderfully bringing a secret world into view, this is recommended, especially at such an accessible price. Aud: I, J, H, P. (E. Gieschen)