How the Earth Changed History Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		2.5

How the Earth Changed History Blu-ray Movie Review

A mediocre trip through time...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown November 29, 2010

Vying for "Worst Titled Documentary Series" of 2010? This year's nominees include How Water Changed the Ocean, How the Sun Changed the Desert, How Trees Changed the Forest and, currently favored to win, How the Earth Changed History, a mind-numbing, paradoxical title if there ever was one. Now I don't claim to be a geologist, historian or geoscientist, but I can safely say, without any professional training or formal field experience whatsoever, that the Earth changed history... by existing. The End. Mystery Solved. Question Answered. Roll Credits. Sorry to nitpick, but before I even sat down to watch this five-episode BBC documentary, a number of more sensible -- and, as it turns out, more relevant -- titles instantly sprang to mind. How the Earth Made Us (as it was called during its original UK broadcast), How the Earth Influenced History and, my personal favorite, How the Earth Shaped History. Alas, the series itself is only marginally better than its uninspired US title suggests, dealing in redundancy and familiarity despite weaving five fairly decent narratives.

Hosted with earnest enthusiasm by Scottish geologist and University of Plymouth professor Iain Stewart (The Climate Wars, Earth: The Biography), How the Earth Changed History investigates the immeasurably powerful forces of nature that shaped both the planet and human history, and closes with a sobering examination of a newly emerging geological heavyweight: modern man. But it all begins with "Deep Earth," an admittedly fascinating introduction that follows Stewart as he journeys to Mexico's jaw-dropping Naica crystal caves, descends into the cavernous depths of Iran, and makes his way through 7,000-year old tunnels to the site of ancient Israeli copper mines in the Negev Desert. Over the course of the episode, Stewart tracks the development of several key civilizations, noting their attraction to resource-rich fault lines and the risks that came with settling in such volatile areas. (Although the disc's main menu lists "Water" as the series' first episode, both the UK and US broadcast versions open with "Deep Earth." I would strongly recommend tackling the episodes in the order they were intended to be viewed.)

For whatever reason, "Water" reigns in the series opener's awe and spectacle, focusing on Stewart more than the information he has to share. He hops aboard a rickety paraglider (to his great amusement), visits with Himalayan villagers, treks across the harsh African desert, and waxes poetic about ancient Egyptians. His style effectively personalizes the series, but also wastes valuable screentime, elevating his charm while inadvertently diminishing the weight of what he has to say. I'll take an off-camera academic like David Attenborough any day of the week. Still, Stewart is an engaging host; one that manages to transform "Wind" and "Fire" into fun little docu-diversions. In "Wind," our chummy host boards a racing boat that takes him from the Sahara Desert to the barren outskirts of Australia, from the live-giving South Pacific to the terrifying peaks of Asia, and to other civilization-fueling hot-spots around the world. In "Fire," he dons a heavy safety suit and waddles through a blazing fire, takes a dip in an oil bath, and scales a salt glacier. (Entertainment trumps enlightenment yet again.) But it isn't all stunts and shenanigans. Stewart takes time to discuss everything from prehistoric humans to advances in engineering, pursuing a slew of tangents along the way including England's industrial revolution, China's struggles, global industry and space travel, and several hidden locales in North America.

The series comes to a close with "The Human Planet," a brisk overview of man's rise to power in the natural world that devolves into an impassioned call to arms. Part historical-global warming investigation, part plea for 21st century responsibility, part optimistic pep rally, Stewart's final episode doesn't pound the doom-n-gloom war drums global warming deniers loathe, but avoids preaching the sort of worst-case-scenario sermons environmentalists want to hear. "Human Planet" exists in a strange sort of documentary limbo, carefully avoiding the global warming debate yet fueling each side. The result is a muddled mess of message points, few of which resonate. In fact, little about How the Earth Changed History resonates. Instead, the series seems to aim (or strike) lower, hopscotching its way across the planet in an effort to cover as much ground as possible, without truly connecting viewers to the mountain-moving fury and continent-cracking forces that have given rise to culture, society, and civilization over the millennia.

How the Earth Changed History Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Inconsistent" is the best word I can use to describe BBC Video's 1080i/AVC-encoded transfer. Compiled from numerous video sources, How the Earth Changed History sadly succumbs to a variety of issues. Unsightly noise swarms jungle canopies and icy tundras, artifacting and banding hinders the series' undersea photography and sweeping landscapes, and clarity dips and dives wildly from scene to scene (some shots are crystal clear, others are woefully soft). Worse, black levels are competent at times, weak and poorly resolved at others. Fine textures begin to lend depth to the image, then retreat altogether. Dimensionality is convincing one moment, but flat and unattractive the next. And so it goes for five episodes. I'm sure much of the presentation's unevenness and many of its shortcomings trace back to Stewart and his team's original footage. But with so many glaring anomalies and distractions coming to bear on the experience, it's next to impossible to determine where the series' production limitations end and transfer's flaws begin. Like the Blu-ray release of Earth: The Biography before it, the BD edition of How the Earth Changed History offers a problematic but passable high definition presentation, albeit one that can't possibly compete with the likes of Planet Earth and Life.

How the Earth Changed History Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The unmistakable high point of the release is BBC Video's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. While the prevalence of Stewart's narration (not to mention the chatty nature of his documentary series) generally reduces How the Earth Changed History to a front-heavy affair, some welcome LFE oomph and rear speaker razzmatazz make this lossless outing a relatively impressive one. The chaotic chorus of riverside insects and the hollow howl of Arctic winds are just two of the ambient pleasures that creep across the soundfield. And even though these elements aren't given many opportunities to fully envelop the listener, they do prove effective whenever Stewart takes a breather. Thankfully, his narration remains clean and clear throughout, and only takes a hit when Stewart is speaking from the belly of a cave, in the midst of a storm, or standing at a distance. It doesn't hurt that the series' CG maps and geological recreations sound as good as the voice accompanying them, shifting rock beds and surging water rarely overwhelm his insights, and the most volatile events the Earth has to offer are nicely prioritized within the mix. That being said, the whole of the series isn't as immersive as its standout sonic sequences. I have no doubt documentary devotees will appreciate the inclusion of a lossless audio track, but I have a feeling they'll find it isn't the game-changing addition they might have expected.

How the Earth Changed History Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

A trio of featurettes (SD, 19 minutes) can be found on disc two: "The Crystal Caves," "Walking Through Fire," and "Paragliding." Each one gives host Iain Stewart the opportunity to share production memories, discuss challenges he and the BBC team faced while filming, and watch some fairly candid behind-the-scenes footage on a studio monitor. Unfortunately, it amounts to little more twenty minutes of chummy anecdotes.

How the Earth Changed History Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Mildly interesting and entertaining as it may be, How the Earth Changed History isn't able to maintain much momentum, distinguish itself from other documentary series, or draw viewers into the fascinating mysteries the planet and human history have to offer. BBC Video's release doesn't help matters either. While it boasts a solid DTS-HD Master Audio mix, its inconsistent transfer and slim supplemental package prevent it from making any sizable impact. Unless you gobble up every BBC series that finds its way onto the market, rent this mediocre 2-disc set before spending too much of your hard-earned cash.