7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 3.9 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
The story of three animal families and their amazing journeys across the planet we all call home. The film combines rare action, unimaginable scale and impossible locations by capturing the most intimate moments of our planets wildest and most elusive creatures.
Narrator: James Earl Jones, Patrick Stewart, Ulrich Tukur, Ken WatanabeFamily | 100% |
Documentary | 31% |
Nature | 28% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Italian: DTS 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Extra Spanish tracks for Mexico and Argentina
English SDH, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Bonus View (PiP)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Earth has left a lot of filmfans scratching their heads. Culled entirely from both used and unused footage shot for the acclaimed BBC documentary series Planet Earth, Disney's first "Disneynature" production has been met with a bit of confusion, criticism, and skepticism. However, anyone who took their children to see Earth in theaters earlier this year know exactly what the family-friendly studio had in mind. While my son was bored out of his mind with Planet Earth, he was locked to the front of his seat while watching Earth. While he yawned and groaned through the BBC series' slower moments, he was absolutely taken with each of the film's personable animals and their individual quests. While he wandered off to play long before any episode of the series grabbed hold of him, he barely budged during the film, moving only when laughter and uncontainable excitement would send him careening into my arm. It may strike some as redundant, it may seem like little more than an extended trailer to others, but for parents like myself, Earth is a godsend; a film that educates as readily as it entertains; an entry-level documentary perfect for nature nuts of all ages; a Friday-night gem that families will embrace and children will adore.
A new day comes to a planet teeming with life...
Disney's Earth boasts a strong 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that matches the BBC's impressive Blu-ray presentation. Colors are stunning, blacks are absorbing, contrast is vibrant, and detail is, quite often, staggering. Witness the hair bristling on the back of a fleeing gazelle, the tiny flakes of dust swirling around a panicked elephant, the textured hide of a lazy walrus, and the frazzled feathers of a brazen duckling. Pay careful attention to the footage captured from the film crew's helicopters. Note the beauty of on-screen herds, the definition of individual animals, and the clarity of swaying grass and falling leaves. As overwhelming as it can be at times, the best bits of the presentation will leave your jaw on the floor. Granted, several sequences are hindered by errant noise and spiking grain (particularly nighttime shots and dust storm scenes), but every instance should be attributed to the film's source, not the quality of Disney's technical transfer. Unfortunately, it isn't all as beautiful as its most unforgettable moments. Artifacting pops up from time to time, slow-motion shots are occasionally undermined by vertical bands, minor shimmering appears throughout the presentation, and underwater scenes suffer from faint macroblocking. Each problem is relatively easy to overlook in the grand scheme of things, but some viewers will be distracted by such inconsistencies.
Still, it's difficult to complain about a transfer that, for the most part, looks fantastic. Planet Earth fans will feel right at home, newcomers will quickly adjust to the presentation's inherent shortcomings, and videophiles will be fairly pleased with the results.
Earth features a a primed, polished, and proficient DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that enhances every aspect of the documentary it accompanies. Proving a lossless experience can make all the difference -- even when a narrator's voice is the primary element of a mix -- Disney's efforts are on full display, granting James Earl Jones' commanding voice legitimate weight and presence, enhancing the film's harsh environments with a convincing ambient atmosphere, and lending an immersiveness to the soundfield that most documentaries lack. Yes, the narration takes center stage, pushing chirping birds and rustling leaves into the background, and yes, LFE output and rear speaker activity only step up their game when the principal animal families stumble into immediate danger, but anything more aggressive would have undermined the filmmakers' intentions. Whether listening to tiny creatures hopping through the underbrush, following a frightened elephant calf into a raging dust storm, or diving beneath the icy waves with a pair of humpback whales, Earth sounds far richer and more satisfying than I expected. The mix isn't blessed with clashing robots or fiery explosions, but it does handle everything it's given with ease, creating a sonic experience documentary enthusiasts won't soon forget.
Despite the meager list of special features listed on the back of the case, the Blu-ray edition of Earth boasts far more supplemental content than similar releases on the market. In addition to the behind-the-scenes documentary available on the standard DVD, the Blu-ray edition includes two BonusView exclusives: a Picture-in-Picture filmmakers' video commentary and an interactive main menu (dubbed a "Living Menu") that offers additional pop-up videos and trivia. In all, it's a satisfying, unexpectedly extensive package that makes Disney's disc worth exploring.
Family-friendly documentaries may be a relative rarity in this age of Spongebob and Hannah Montana, but films like Earth give me hope for a genre resurgence. Educational, entertaining, and engrossing, kids and adults (especially those who don't have the patience to sit through nine hours of Planet Earth) will enjoy every minute. Better still, the Blu-ray edition is as enticing as the film itself. With an excellent video transfer, a surprisingly involving DTS-HD Master Audio track, and an impressive collection of supplemental materials, this G-rated documentary is worth some legitimate consideration.
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