Seven Worlds, One Planet 4K Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		4.5

Seven Worlds, One Planet 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Stay inside, travel the globe.

Reviewed by Randy Miller III March 25, 2020

In the tradition of landmark productions like Planet Earth and its sequel, Life, Blue Planet II, Frozen Planet, and dozens of other critically acclaimed documentaries, BBC's Seven Worlds, One Planet (2019) offers another multi-faceted look at the world around us, continent by continent. Divided neatly into seven 50-minute parts, each episode examines one continent's geology, animal life, and the impact of climate change and other factors on its history and potential future. Hosted by BBC fixture David Attenborough, Seven Worlds, One Planet features the studio's trademark top-tier visuals, a sweeping original score, and was painstakingly shot over a six-year period in more than 40 countries.

Sitting through these visually stunning documentaries is anything but a chore for someone who was raised on National Geographic and Marty Stouffer's Wild America. Simply put, I could watch these things all day. Content-wise, Seven Worlds, One Planet is similar in scope and tone to BBC's other high-def nature programs, but this seven-part production is far from "the same old stuff" with a fresh coat of paint. The sturdy structure gives each part its own identity, yet it still feels like a cohesive whole that aims to enrich, entertain, and educate curious viewers of all ages.

Antarctica - A variety of diverse animal life and climates are covered here, including Weddell seals caring for their newborn pups, the grey-headed albatrosses of South Georgia Island, Gentoo penguins swimming for their lives from hungry leopard seals, and the historically vicious slaughter of southern right whales by merciless hunters.

Asia - Things warm up during our trip to the world's largest continent...but not everywhere, as evidenced by the presence of rock-climbing walruses being hunted by polar bears within the Arctic Circle's chilly boundaries. Further south, we catch a quick glimpse of volcanoes in Russia and the lush tropical rainforests of Indonesia, while critically endangered Sumatran rhinos fight for survival against advances made by hunting and logging industries.

South America - Although much smaller in size than Asia comparatively, South America boasts perhaps the world's most diverse group of species. From the formation of the Andes mountains to the lush and expansive -- but again, dwindling -- Amazon rainforest, we meet no shortage of interesting specimens including Andean bears, poisonous dart frogs, Capuchin monkeys. and the Great dusky swift birds of Iguazu Falls of Argentina and Brazil.

Australia - Much like Asia and North America, this continent boasts one of the most varied climates by region -- perhaps the most varied per square mile. After a fascinating glimpse at its geological break and long period of isolation from even the closest continents nearby, Australia is portrayed as a "land of survivors" including the dinosaur-like Cassowary, as well as more traditional Australian fare like kangaroos, wombats, and Tasmanian devils.

Europe - One of the most crowded and developed of the seven continents, yet home to a surprising amount of wildlife that has learned to live outside the narrow boundaries of bustling cities. Plenty of beautiful scenery is on display here, from Italy's Apennine Mountains to Vienna churchyards, the beautiful River Danube, dense forests in Spain, and deep Slovenian caves. Like many other chapters in this series, "Europe" manages to strike a balance between conservation and climate concerns while also showing signs of hope for the future of certain species and habitats.

North America - Home sweet home to many of our readers, yet plenty of interesting new sights to see for those who have not traveled to every corner. North America is portrayed as perhaps the most unpredictable continent for weather, from intense tropical storms that run up the East Coast to the Midwest's Tornado Alley, humid southern swamps and sweeping cold fronts of Canada. Of course this also translates to a diverse range of wildlife including American alligators, snowshoe hares, blacktip sharks, polar bears, fireflies (a particularly memorable sequence, somewhat expanded upon in the bonus features), beluga whales, prairie dogs, roadrunners, and many more.

Africa - We wrap up in the Motherland, in perhaps one of Seven Worlds, One Planet's most memorable episodes. Many unforgettable sights and sounds are here, from a group of five cheetah brothers to the amazing tool-using skills of chimpanzees, the plight of the perpetually hunted cichlid fish, a very hungry but determined hyena mother living in the brutal Namib desert, and the struggle to preserve an ever-growing number of critically endangered species.

Unlike many BBC Earth releases, Seven Worlds, One Planet is only available in two separate options on home video: this six-disc 4K/Blu- ray combo pack and a stand-alone DVD edition. This former option seems redundant for those who have moved to UHD, as both three-disc groups feature identical content -- the only exceptions are seven separate "On Location" featurettes, which play at the tail end of each episode on the Blu-rays but are presented separately on the 4K discs. But from an A/V perspective, this outstanding collection is as strong as the best BBC Earth releases to date with a top-tier 2160p transfer and a stunning Dolby Atmos mix that brings each episode to vivid, memorable life.

Seven Worlds, One Planet 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original 1.78:1 aspect ratio, the 4K-sourced Seven Worlds, One Planet is, unsurprisingly, one of the best-looking format releases to date. This beautiful 2160p transfer displays a staggering amount of detail and texture regardless of the environment, from remote forests to bustling cityscapes, sun-baked savannas to lush rainforests, dark undergrounds caverns to snow-capped mountaintops. The image rarely falters, with only harsh environmental factors to blame when occasional noise or softness creeps in; nature documentary filmmaking has likely gotten a little easier with the advent of more portable and lightweight digital equipment, but one can only imagine the difficulty involved in capturing the bulk of this footage. By and large, what's on display here is just as good -- if not better -- than some of the very best BBC Earth 4K releases to date, including Planet Earth II, Blue Planet II, and Dynasties.

What truly separates the 4K presentation from its Blu-ray counterpart, aside from little to no instances of compression artifacts or banding, is its expert use of HDR color enhancement that takes this 2160p transfer to another level entirely. Vivid primaries offer some of the most immediate visual rewards, yet other scenes -- coral reefs, rare species of birds, and stunning sunsets -- serve up a dozen ore more distinct colors at once, with each working together to push and pull our eyes from corner to corner of these beautifully framed compositions. From the lush greens of dense jungles to the fluorescent hues of tiny poisonous insects, from the deepest blues of icy Antarctic waters to the warm earth tones of the Australian outback, almost no colorful stone is left unturned here. Also impressive are dense but rarely oppressive black levels which, during Seven Worlds, One Planet's darkest moments, stand in bold contrast with its most vivid tones but look no less powerful. Contrast and strong gradients also fare well with a smooth and sleek appearance, while the lack of blooming and other telltale signs of contrast boosting round out the visual presentation nicely.

In contrast, the Blu-ray discs provide a very capable and satisfying alternative for those who have not moved onto the UHD format yet -- but since no separate Blu-ray edition is available (only a stand-alone DVD set), this might be one more reason to think about it. Regardless, the scaled down 1080p transfer boasts respectable fine detail and textures with very robust color saturation. Compression artifacts and banding are more noticeable along the way, mainly during extremely "busy" sequences such as dense bird flocks, thick jungle foliage, and fast-moving chases, as well as the harsh gradients of sunlight and sudden fog. Yet it's still a great-looking Blu-ray release for the most part, with those drawbacks being more a consequence of native format limitations rather than sloppy disc authoring.

Seven Worlds, One Planet 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Not far behind -- and perhaps further ahead, in some respects -- is the impressive Dolby Atmos mix...which annoyingly is not the default track, so be sure and visit the setup menu first. Once that minor quibble is taken care of, you'll be treated to a most immersive and far-reaching track that does an admirable job of putting you right in the middle of the atmosphere. Truth be told, much of the sonic activity comes in the form of an outstanding original score by Jacob Shea (with a main theme by Hans Zimmer), but that's hardly a complaint: strong melodies and forceful percussive effects dominate the wide front soundstage, frequently fill the rears, and often fill the height channels as well, forming an effective "sonic bubble" that creates an almost seamless audio experience from start to finish. Of course, the more traditional sounds -- whether recorded on-location or slightly sweetened with foley effects -- also get plenty of time to shine, from blustering wind and snow squalls to sudden downpours, thunderous hoof beats, and of course the endless chorus of birds, insects, and other creatures that fioat around via discrete placement. BBC fixture David Attenborough's calm but authoritative narration fills the front stage nicely and is crisply recorded, which ties the overall sonic experience together neatly. All told, an exceptional effort that's just as demo-worthy as the visuals.

Optional English (SDH) subtitles have been included all seven episodes and applicable bonus features. These are formatted perfectly and sit low in the 1.78:1 frame with no sync issues or other obvious defects.

Seven Worlds, One Planet 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Seven Worlds, One Planet arrives on home video as a 4K/Blu-ray combo pack -- no separate versions available, aside from a stand-alone DVD release. As such, this six-disc set is housed in a slightly thicker-than-normal keepcase with two hinges and hubs for each disc. No inserts are included, and a slipcover replicates the handsome cover artwork. Identical extras are found on the third disc of each format, with one exception (see below), and are all presented in 1080p.

• On Location (7 segments, 53:16 total) - These short pieces serve as miniature behind-the-scenes specials for each of the main episodes. Featuring key members of the creative team with plenty of great little moments from several difficult shoots, they should be very familiar to long-time fans of these BBC Earth documentaries. Please note that these segments are presented as a single group on the 4K disc -- and in seemingly random order -- but are placed at the end of each respective episode on the Blu-rays. I much prefer the latter.

• McMurdo - Would You Dive Below the Antarctic? (2:55) - A quick look at the perilous diving sequences captured for the "Antarctica" episode, as well as the visual wonders below its icy surface.

• Fireflies - Behind the Scenes In An Enchanted Forest (1:50) - Another memorable moment expanded upon slightly; this time, it's the firefly-filled forest seen during the "North America" episode.

• Highs and Lows of Wildlife Filmmaking (5:46) - Several camera operators and other crew members discuss some of the challenges and rewards of wildlife cinematography. Much like police stakeouts and building security, it turns out there's an awful lot of waiting in-between all the dangerous action and excitement.

• Photo Gallery (2:13) - A slideshow of images from all seven continents -- about two dozen in all.

Seven Worlds, One Planet 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

BBC Earth continues their long and illustrious run of top-tier nature documentaries with Seven Worlds, One Planet, an ambitious and globetrotting production that serves up roughly six hours of jaw-dropping sights and sounds. Although the broad subject matter can't help but feel similar to past releases like Planet Earth and the like, the specifics are what set this one apart: while animals are still front and center, each continent is also explored from geological and historical perspectives as well. But that's almost beside the point: most fans are simply here for the exotic locations and dramatic wildlife stories, which Seven Worlds, One Planet offers in spades thanks to host David Attenborough's reliably great narration and the creative team's careful attention to visual and sonic details (not to mention an outstanding original score by Jacob Shea). All told, Seven Worlds, One Planet is a no-brainer for genre fans of all ages and BBC's 4K/Blu-ray combo pack offers plenty of support, led by another breathtaking 2160p presentation and a stunning Dolby Atmos mix. Bonus features are somewhat limited, but this reasonably-priced set still carries my highest recommendation.