Oceans: Our Blue Planet 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Oceans: Our Blue Planet 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

"Waterworld" was already taken.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III May 31, 2022

A 2018 collaboration between BBC Earth and OceanX Media with backing from Microsoft, Mark Brownlow and Rachel Butler's Oceans: Our Blue Planet offers another good-intentioned lesson (and clear warning) about Earth's ecosystems. Those familiar with the BBC's dazzling streak of award-winning, long-form nature documentary shows like Planet Earth, The Blue Planet: Seas of Life, and Seven Worlds One Planet have come to enjoy their signature blend of jaw-dropping high-definition footage, incredible music, and stately narration typically by long-time fixture David Attenborough, who's still chugging along at 96. But Oceans: Our Blue Planet is a bit different; like Earth: One Amazing Day, it's more of a stand-alone film that contains footage from one of those long-form series, this one being Blue Planet II.

At only 42 minutes long (including credits), Our Blue Planet is hardly the most in-depth production in the studio's back catalogue. Originally produced for IMAX theaters, it's a lightweight and accessible endeavor that, while obviously similar to Blue Planet II, at least manages to carve out something of a unique identity before the credits roll. Even so, it's fairly formulaic in its execution, touring several above-sea locales and explaining humankind's involvement, impact, and attempts to learn before diving in for a lesson that starts in shallow waters and bustling coral reefs before heading into much deeper waters. Valuable information is gleaning regarding animal behavior, from hunting and recreation to even communication between various fish species thanks to a cutting-edge microphone setup. Moments like these flirt with the greatness of the BBC's best and, better yet, this short film's condensed format will likely win over more casual viewers and younger fans (read: "the next generation) intimidated by broad, multi-episode ventures.

But aside from the strangely familiar footage glimpsed here and there (some of which looks to be B-roll or alternate angles from Blue Planet II), Our Blue Planet doesn't feel quite as strong as traditional BBC fare due to the narration by Kate Winslet. I understand what they were going for: a voice more familiar to wider domestic audiences but, you know, with a British accent... but her breathy, overly dramatic presentation style just doesn't feel right here. Even so, it's a relatively minor complaint: not only is my opinion purely subjective, but Our Blue Planet isn't quite as narratively driven as other BBC productions, often smartly letting its regularly stunning imagery tell the story instead.

So while Our Blue Planet doesn't hit its target as squarely as the studio's best efforts, it's still enjoyable entertainment worth seeking out. If you're like me, the BBC's 4K/Blu-ray combo pack went under your radar during its 2019 release but is still readily available... and at a current attractive sale price of just over $13. Featuring solid A/V merits and even a few thoughtful extras, it's decently well-rounded even without scoring perfect marks in any category.

Oceans: Our Blue Planet 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

NOTE: This review's screenshots are sourced from the included Blu-ray disc.

Oceans: Our Blue Planet often flirts with the dizzying visual heights of well-known BBC Earth productions like Planet Earth II, Seven Worlds One Planet, and countless others, employing state-of-the-art recording equipment -- at least at the time of its 2018 production -- to capture truly stunning imagery that makes this 44-minute film at least feel much bigger than expected. Not surprisingly, the majority of this footage is shot underwater where banding and compression artifacts usually hinder lesser formats (see below), but BBC's solid 2160p transfer almost perfectly encapsulates this native 4K footage which, at times, almost literally sparkles with detail. Waves, textured coral, and vividly-patterned fish and other undersea creatures greatly benefit from the increased resolution and HDR10 enhancement, creating stunning contrasts that will have more viewers reaching for the pause button. Its palette runs the gamut, obviously dominated by deep blues but often contrasted by bright colors that almost border on neon for sheer intensity... and while this is an initially appealing effect, it does feel a bit unnatural at times. Depth and density are likewise striking, with the deepest blacks taking over briefly during the film's final stretch for a quick trip to rather murky depths.

Despite these inarguable highlights, there are a few nagging drawbacks in addition to the oversaturation mentioned above. Banding and other compression artifacts can still be seen in a few areas, primarily the deepest blues and blacks, while a handful of stray shots were clearly captured on less sophisticated equipment. (One early view of a seaside cliff looks almost DVD quality.) Some of these may issues may be source related, but the oversaturation was clearly a post-production choice and the HDR enhancement only pushes it further into unnatural territory. Another bit of "sweetening" that turned me off was a CGI "sparkle" effect seen during a few wave-crashing wide shots -- you might not even notice it the first time through, but it's extremely obvious on closer examination. This is still a very good 4K presentation, but the footage captured for Oceans: Our Blue Planet is captivating enough to not need any added "help".

For those watching the included Blu-ray, most of the same comments apply with a few key differences. Obviously the main area where BBC's down-scaled 1080p transfer lags behind is in wide shots and crowded compositions, like dense schools of fish and busy coral reefs; there's still an appealing level of image detail here, but no Blu-ray can match its 4K counterpart when the source material is native UHD. Banding and other compression artifacts are also more apparent at times, but this often expected within format boundaries so it may not be as initially distracting. One area where the Blu-ray actually improves on the 4K is color balance, as I found the less dialed-up hues to feel slightly more natural in comparison, even if it means sacrificing clarity where deep shadows and blacks are concerned. Pound for pound they're about even proportionally (hence the "matching" ratings above), but don't get me wrong: the 4K disc is clearly the winner in direct comparison, even if it falls short of BBC's very best home video presentations.

Oceans: Our Blue Planet 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Likewise, the DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio mix often approaches the heights of its predecessors, but is actually a bit more dialed back during moments that register as opportunities for more sonic involvement. Of course, obvious highlights are there such as the original score by Hans Zimmer (main theme), David Fleming, and Jacob Shea, which has a nice hefty presence and strong dynamic range that often fills front and rear channels with ample power. Surprises also lurk in unlikely places, such as a state-of-the-art microphone setup that reveals fish "talking" to one one another that feels full and weighty. Channel separation is also present during "swim-bys" and larger groups of creature... but for the most part, it's an otherwise front-loaded production which pertains to the overcooked narration as well. Overall, this track's slight inconsistencies were more obvious than expected but, more often the not, they felt closer to little sonic speed bumps during what's otherwise a mostly pleasing and occasionally powerful presentation.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles are included during the main feature and most extras.

Oceans: Our Blue Planet 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This two-disc release ships in a dual-hubbed keepcase with poster-themed cover art; a slipcover was available in its first pressing, but obviously I missed that boat. Extras are identical on both the 4K and Blu-ray discs.

• How Do You Become a Marine Biologist? (4:44) - Marine biologist (and credited co-director) Rachel Butler answers that question and several others during this bite-sized, student-friendly featurette that aims to get the next generation involved. Or the current one -- it's probably not too late.

• Surfing for Science: Smartfin (6:36) - An extended commercial for an admittedly sweet gadget that collects data needed to protect coastal ecosystems while you surf. Learn more here.

• The Secret Sounds of Fish (6:52) - This short "extended scene" goes into more detail about communication between fish recently discovered -- or at least better understood -- because of recent technology.

• The Turtle Saved by 3D Printing (4:48) - No spoilers, but it's a nice little story.

Oceans: Our Blue Planet 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Similar to BBC Earth films like Earth: One Amazing Day, Mark Brownlow and Rachel Butler's Oceans: Our Blue Planet is essentially a spin-off of an existing nature series (this one being Blue Planet II, released two months earlier) that uses a portion of similar footage to fill some of its modest 42 minute running time. That alone won't make it an absolutely essential purchase for even the most die-hard wildlife documentary fan, but Our Blue Planet at least manages to carve out something of a unique identity despite the similarities to its big brother. (The Kate Winslet narration, on the other hand, might be a point of contention.) BBC's 4K/Blu-ray combo pack is nonetheless appreciated even though, like the main feature, it doesn't quite eclipse the heights of the studio's landmark long-form productions. Currently on sale for about half its retail price, Our Blue Planet is probably low enough for casual fans to finally bite.