The Blue Planet: Seas of Life

Over five years in the making at a cost of more than $10 million, the BBC's The Blue Planet: Seas of Life, narrated by David Attenborough, unlocks the secrets of the oceans and aspires to provide a complete natural history of Earth's waters. Each of the four volumes contains two programs, with the DVD versions sporting “extras” that include a “behind the scenes” featurette, photo gallery, fact files, and interviews with cameramen and researchers. The first volume opens with the program “Ocean World,” introducing the waters that comprise 70% of the Earth's topography, as well as examining the impact the sun and moon have on weather, tides, waves, even animal behavior. The second program, “Frozen Seas,” explores the Arctic and Antarctic habitats, as well as the hardy creatures that survive the world's harshest climate, including penguins, walrus, polar bears, migrating fish, krill, seals, and whales. Volume two begins with “Open Ocean,” which explores a sampling of marine life and looks at the biological food chain, from phytoplankton (the foundation of all life in the ocean) to the largest predators, such as sharks and whales. The other program, “The Deep,” takes viewers to the very depths of the ocean floor where marine life exists in total darkness and extreme cold. Absolutely stunning underwater photography reveals these weird monsters of the deep, which sport luminescent colors, giant teeth, and prickly spines (now we know where the Star Trek make-up designers get their ideas!). Volume 3 contains the episodes "Tidal Seas" and "Coasts," and Volume 4 includes "Seasonal Seas" and "Coral Seas." A masterful series that would make an excellent addition to any natural science collection, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: J, H, C, P. (L. Stevens)