Planet Earth: The Complete Series

Quite simply the most impressive nature/wildlife series ever produced, the astonishing 11-part BBC series Planet Earth, brilliantly narrated by Sir David Attenborough, is sensibly organized so that each 50-minute episode covers a specific geographical region and/or wildlife habitat (mountains, caves, deserts, shallow seas, seasonal forests, etc.), capturing representative sights and sounds from the entire planet. Five years in the making (and filmed in over 200 locations), the series—without being overtly political—maintains a consistent if subtle emphasis on the urgent need for ongoing conservation, best illustrated by the plight of polar bears whose very behavior is evolving (to accommodate life-threatening changes in their fast-melting habitat) in the wake of global warming (a phenomenon appropriately presented here as scientific fact). Although this harsh reality serves as subtext, the series itself accentuates the positive, delivering a seemingly endless variety of natural wonders, from the spectacular mating displays of New Guinea's various birds of paradise to a rare encounter with Siberia's nearly-extinct Amur leopards, of which approximately only 30 remain in the wild. Each episode plays like a highlights reel, masterfully filmed from every conceivable angle, with frequent use of super-slow-motion and time-lapse cinematography, backed by Attenborough's trademark informative and witty commentary. A hugely entertaining series that doesn't flinch from the predatory realities of nature (death is a constant presence, without being off-putting), Planet Earth bows on DVD with significant extras, including a 10-minute "Planet Earth Diaries" segment at the end of each episode, covering a specific aspect of production, and Planet Earth: The Future, a separate three-part bonus series featuring a global array of experts who discuss, among other issues, the socioeconomic benefits of nature. At a time when the multiple threats of global warming should be obvious to all, let's give Sir David the last word, from the final episode: "We can now destroy or we can cherish—the choice is ours." Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: J, H, C, P. (J. Shannon)