7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
BBC documentary series exploring the life of some of the planet's smaller animals. Filmed in locations as diverse as the Arizona Desert, the woodlands of Borneo and urban terrain in Rio and Tokyo, the series aims to provide an insight into the challenges faced by animals that inhabit these areas. The creatures featured include chipmunks, beetles, marmosets and elephant shrews. As smaller animals they must rely on cunning and often surprising tactics to survive in the face of the threat posed by predators and fluctuating environmental conditions.
Narrator: Stephen FryDocumentary | 100% |
Nature | 82% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Fun, fascinating and light on its feet, executive producer Mike Gutton's Hidden Kingdoms is an all-ages documentary told from the wildly entertaining perspective of some of the planet's smallest masters of survival. Shot using a variety of techniques, the 3-part series isn't a pure natural history doc per se -- the BBC Natural History Unit filmmakers employ somewhat controversial but thankfully limited, altogether judicious uses of compositing, artificial environments and other clever sleight of hand -- but remains a dazzling, dizzying tour of desert trails, forest underbrush and urban jungles that features a truly memorable cast of mammals, reptiles and insects. More importantly, the careful implementation of high-speed photography and other tools of the trade, as well as an eye for authenticity above all else, provides incredible insight into a world that often goes unnoticed and unexplored, allowing the team to weave a tale as delightful as it is compelling, amusing as it is moving, and engaging as it is educational.
Hidden Kingdoms features a 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 presentation with no discernible issues of note. Obviously the various cameras employed throughout the series lead to some inherent video anomalies, as does the use of high speed photography, compositing and other techniques. But the BBC encode is rarely, if ever, the culprit and hardly ever disappoints. Colors are vivid and lifelike, primaries pop, contrast is strong and consistent, and delineation is excellent. Black levels are a touch muted by way of the digital source, but remain satisfying on the whole. Likewise, detail fluctuates a bit but always as the photography dictates. Edges are often crisp and clean, though, fine textures surprisingly exacting and close-ups extremely revealing (particularly as it pertains to fur, scales, dirt and debris). Better still, macroblocking, banding, aliasing, ringing and other eyesores are kept to a bare minimum, and, again, only appear when the source is at fault. All told, Hidden Kingdoms' breathtaking visuals are only strengthened by BBC Home Entertainment's proficient presentation.
There's little to complain about when it comes to Hidden Kingdoms' DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, other than the nature of its too-cute-for-its-own-good sound design. There also isn't a lot to get excited about. Stephen Fry's narration is prioritized above all, as is par for the course, and ambient effects, though able-bodied, are generally faint and fleeting. LFE output follows suit -- capable but restrained -- as does rear speaker activity, which is playful and directionally precise yet rather unremarkable. None of that is to suggest there's something wrong with the lossless track; just that it gets the job done, thankless as that job tends to be.
Sticklers for natural history methodology may not approve of the techniques used to create Hidden Kingdoms' photography, but the results are undeniably striking, informative and entertaining; a rare trifecta no matter the cost. The fact that the BBC NHU filmmakers are as transparent about their approach as they are, and the fact that it would be near impossible to achieve such stunning sequences any other way makes it all the more forgivable. Those who aren't concerned with such things, though, will be free to enjoy the series at face value, and enjoy it they will. Children will be particularly hypnotized by the animals and their journeys, making this a family-friendly documentary worth owning. Fortunately, the Blu-ray release is as good as the series, with excellent video, solid audio and a decent selection of revealing special features.
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2011
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The Original UK Series
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The Complete Series
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+ Photo Booklet
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2011-2012
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2018
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2014-2015
2001