The Best of NATURE: Silver 25th Anniversary Collection

Lynn Sherr (20/20) hosts this compilation celebrating the 25th anniversary of the PBS-aired NATURE series, which captures the infinite wonder and variety of the animal kingdom. Not surprisingly, one of the common themes here is predator versus prey, including a not-for-the-faint-of-heart sequence in which massed alligators attack a pack of gazelles attempting a river crossing. A few scenes would have benefited from more context (such as a brief, disturbing one in which a stallion brutally kills a struggling foal—was the stallion trying to ensure survival of the fittest?), while others, including the hunt for the elusive snow leopard of the Himalayas, or dazzling shots of birds trying to attract mates by "moonwalking" à la Michael Jackson, offer fine tributes to the persistence of these dedicated filmmakers. The most affecting pieces here are extended scenes depicting the interaction between humans and animals, including a Hurricane Katrina victim who endures hardship and long odds returning to a devastated New Orleans to rescue his beloved pet cat, and a researcher who visits a chimpanzee sanctuary after a long absence in order to say a last goodbye to her old primate friends. The best is saved for last, when an Asian elephant—scarred survivor of the zoo and circus—is unchained and sent to a Tennessee sanctuary, where she may finally live out her days in dignity with other elephants. Truly spotlighting the NATURE series at its best, this is highly recommended. [Note: also newly available on DVD in the NATURE series priced at $19.95 each are Dogs That Changed the World and Penguins.] Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)