Nature: Snow Monkeys Blu-ray Movie

Home

Nature: Snow Monkeys Blu-ray Movie United States

PBS | 2014 | 53 min | Not rated | Jun 03, 2014

Nature: Snow Monkeys (Blu-ray Movie)

Price

List price: $14.80
Amazon: $18.66
Third party: $9.99 (Save 32%)
In Stock
Buy Nature: Snow Monkeys on Blu-ray Movie

Movie rating

7
 / 10

Blu-ray rating

Users0.0 of 50.0
Reviewer4.5 of 54.5
Overall4.5 of 54.5

Overview

Nature: Snow Monkeys (2014)

In the frigid valleys of Japan’s Shiga Highlands, a troop of snow monkeys make their way and raise their families in a complex society of rank and privilege where each knows their place.

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
    English: Dolby Digital 2.0

  • Subtitles

    English SDH

  • Discs

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

  • Playback

    Region A (B, C untested)

Review

Rating summary

Movie4.5 of 54.5
Video4.5 of 54.5
Audio4.0 of 54.0
Extras0.0 of 50.0
Overall4.5 of 54.5

Nature: Snow Monkeys Blu-ray Movie Review

Who doesn't love a bath?

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 9, 2014

The “Nature” episode “Snow Monkeys” has an ace up its sleeve with the titular macaques. These creatures are adorable (at least when they’re young) and immensely amusing to watch in action, immediately elevating the documentary’s appeal. Thankfully, “Snow Monkeys” has a lot to offer the viewer, tracking the seasonal cycle for the primates as they battle life and death in the far reaches of Japan, with their adventures narrated by Liam Neeson -- a rare flash of marquee value for a series that prides itself on scientific study.


“Snow Monkeys” travels to the village of Jigokudani in the Japanese Alps, a locale surrounded by communities of macaques, who make their way down from their forest homes on occasion to sample hot springs and cool waters, depending on the season. The creatures value family and the production chooses the saga of Hiro, a eight-month-old baby, to enter into the social dynamic, watching the little one navigate the wild and constant parental demands, while softening the steely exterior of elder Kuro-san.

Keeping with “Nature” standards, “Snow Monkeys” takes a look at tests of dominance, the cycle of fighting and reconciliation between troops, and the process of raising the young, injecting some serious adorableness into the program with scenes devoted to flopping, grasping, teat-yanking babies. Mating rituals are also detailed, but perhaps the most unsettling topic of the show is death, exploring how even the best intentions of a mother can’t stop the reality of mortality.


Nature: Snow Monkeys Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality  4.5 of 5

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation looks very clean and sharp for a "Nature" episode, offering viewers a substantial close-up look at the stars of the show. Fine detail is quite good, exposing layers of fur and naturalistic particulars, capturing the textures of tree bark and supporting creatures. Colors are accurate, bringing out the grayish appearance of the macaques while surroundings favor greenery, while snow-based whites are satisfactorily maintained. There's no presence of crush, with blacks consistent and communicative.


Nature: Snow Monkeys Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality  4.0 of 5

The 5.1 Dolby Digital sound mix sets a refreshing goal to provide a vaguely immersive listening experience that reflects the natural environment of the Snow Monkeys. Surrounds aren't explosive but they are alive with distant communication howls and atmospherics, including snowfall and flowing water. Neeson's narration is deep and true, with the actor's growly line readings dominating the mix, never overwhelmed by competing elements. Scoring isn't hearty, remaining in support mode with the exception of a few dramatic surges. Low-end isn't used to its potential, but violent encounters offer some mild rumble.


Nature: Snow Monkeys Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras  n/a of 5

There is no supplementary material on this disc.


Nature: Snow Monkeys Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation  4.5 of 5

There is gorgeous cinematography to study, and Neeson's narration is reliably confident, contributing to a genuinely appealing documentary that works through information basics smoothly. There's a lot to learn in "Snow Monkeys," but the show is at its best just observing the creatures in their natural and man-made habitats, enduring seasonal changes, outside aggression, and leisure time in the water.


Other editions

Nature: Other Seasons