Nature: Ireland's Wild River Blu-ray Movie

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Nature: Ireland's Wild River Blu-ray Movie United States

PBS | 2014 | 53 min | Not rated | Apr 01, 2014

Nature: Ireland's Wild River (Blu-ray Movie)

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List price: $24.99
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Buy Nature: Ireland's Wild River on Blu-ray Movie

Movie rating

7
 / 10

Blu-ray rating

Users0.0 of 50.0
Reviewer3.5 of 53.5
Overall3.5 of 53.5

Overview

Nature: Ireland's Wild River (2014)

DocumentaryUncertain
NatureUncertain
FamilyUncertain
OtherUncertain
BiographyUncertain

Specifications

  • Video

    Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
    Video resolution: 1080i
    Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
    Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1

  • Audio

    English: Dolby Digital 5.1

  • Subtitles

    English SDH

  • Discs

    25GB Blu-ray Disc
    Single disc (1 BD)

  • Playback

    Region A (B, C untested)

Review

Rating summary

Movie3.5 of 53.5
Video3.5 of 53.5
Audio4.0 of 54.0
Extras0.0 of 50.0
Overall3.5 of 53.5

Nature: Ireland's Wild River Blu-ray Movie Review

Weep for the female frog.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 12, 2014

In the heart of Ireland lies the Shannon River. Over 200 miles long, the river represents the soul of the country, with its serene beauty, delicate ecosystems, and unflinching patience with the elements. Wildlife cameraman Colin Stafford-Johnson has spent many years studying the Shannon, recording its personality and noting its changes, with “Ireland’s Wild River” his valentine to the waterway. Taking a camera crew down the river, Stafford-Johnson curates a look at the seasonal residents and future of the Shannon as he floats downstream, appreciation the view.


“Ireland’s Wild River” doesn’t boast a particularly well-known location, but it has Stafford-Johnson, who’s an expert with all things Shannon, using this program to explore what appears to be his favorite place on Earth. He’s a dependable guide, and one who’s honest in his assessment of the Shannon’s future, with the program immediately bringing up the topic of climate change, where other “Nature” episodes tend to wait for the final act before springing doomsday on the viewer. The river is changing, with certain birds abandoning the area or simply dying off. The plight of the Corncrake essentially represents the tone of the documentary, as Stafford-Johnson is quick to point out the sudden solitude of the mating bird, who won’t be able to find a mate in the area anymore.

It’s not exactly a party atmosphere, but Stafford-Johnson does have positive elements of the Shannon to share, focusing on bats, birds, squirrels, and frogs, the latter enjoying a, ahem, group mating practice. There’s also time set aside to simply soak up the natural beauty of the area, with our host sharing memories of his time on the river.


Nature: Ireland's Wild River Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality  3.5 of 5

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation has much to explore in this colorful documentary, with hues vivid and secure as the camera spies various feather patterns and naturalistic highlights, following seasonal changes with accuracy. Skintones on the host are comfortable and true. Some crush is present as the trip stops for evening rest, while banding and pockets of noise are detected. Fine detail is generally quite good (it's not pin-sharp HD to begin with), permitting an appreciation for the nuances of the river-based population, with various slimy skins and plumage offering pleasing texture.


Nature: Ireland's Wild River Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality  4.0 of 5

The 5.1 Dolby Digital sound mix allows for a wide range of environmental changes, with plenty of sounds that bring a sense of atmosphere to the listening event, without any true deployment of directional movement. Interesting here is the narration from Stafford-Johnson, which was recorded during the journey, making for a slightly dulled vocal effort, without the crisp purity of a sound booth to aid in clarity issues. Nothing is lost, but it's a slight adjustment from the typical nature documentary norm. Scoring sounds full, supporting without distortion.


Nature: Ireland's Wild River Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras  n/a of 5

There is no supplementary material on this disc.


Nature: Ireland's Wild River Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation  3.5 of 5

While it has its downbeat moments, "Ireland's Wild River" contains a great deal of wonder and serenity, getting in close to spy all types of creatures as they make a home for themselves around the Shannon.


Other editions

Nature: Other Seasons