8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.7 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
In a land of beauty and peril, the dramatic lives and fortunes of these animals are inexorably bound together. Intimate and emotional, epic and engaging, Yellowstone - Tales from the Wild reveals the grandeur of this unique place as its animals struggle to survive over the course of three vividly changing seasons.
Starring: Peter FirthDocumentary | 100% |
Nature | 87% |
History | 38% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
During a yearlong phase of my late twenties my wife affectionately refers to as my "caldera craze," I was utterly fascinated by the massive supervolcano slumbering beneath Yellowstone National Park. Consumed with visions of guiding my young son across an ashy, post-apocalyptic American wasteland -- visions no doubt fueled by Cormac McCarthy's haunting novel, "The Road" -- my geological obsession surged, leaving me to wonder why Hollywood had yet to capitalize on one of the more probable global killers threatening the planet. While my interest eventually waned, I still have a soft, semi-nostalgic spot in my heart for documentaries about the subject and the region. Yellowstone: Battle for Life doesn't focus on the Yellowstone Caldera, nor does it offer the sort of warnings that have dominated documentaries of late. But, like the best BBC Natural History Unit productions, it sets its sights on Yellowstone's harsh wilderness, its seasonal cycle of life, and the many species that struggle to survive its most perilous dangers.
Breathtaking vistas and gorgeous photography await...
Yellowstone: Battle for Life features an excellent 1080i/AVC-encoded transfer that looks better than BBC's most recent documentary releases. Nature's Most Amazing Events and Wild Pacific suffered from several debilitating technical issues, many of which undermined the impact of their series' startling photography. Though some of the same issues rear their ugly heads in Battle for Life -- faint artifacting, errant banding, and slight ringing pop up from time to time -- instances are less intrusive, more subdued, and less distracting. Colors are bold and beautiful, capturing the majesty and awe of Yellowstone's landscapes. Black levels are deep and absorbing, granting the image welcome depth and dimensionality. Detail is sharp and refined, revealing small flakes of ice and tufts of fur at every turn. Softness occasionally invades the proceedings, but almost every dip in clarity should be attributed to the original source, not the disc's high definition presentation. Is it the best documentary transfer I've had the pleasure of reviewing? Not quite, but it comes closer than I thought it would. Nature nuts will not be disappointed.
While previously released BBC documentary releases have limped out of the gate with Dolby Digital stereo mixes, Yellowstone: Battle for Life separates from the Blu-ray pack, offering fans a rather satisfying DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. While it still provides a largely front-heavy experience -- it is, after all, attached to a traditional episodic documentary -- erupting geysers leave quite an impression, distant animal cries are clean and stable, and environmental ambience is both convincing and involving. Firth's voice dominates the soundscape with deep, dulcet tones; his narration lingers just beneath the image, nestled neatly between the bulk of Yellowstone's wildlife and natural wonders. LFE output is reserved but weighty, rear speaker activity is restrained but supportive, and dynamics are solid. Unfortunately, many of the documentary's showcase sonics don't emerge until the second and third episodes (when the snow melts and spring returns), meaning audiophiles will need to be patient to get the most out of the track. Ultimately, anyone approaching Battle for Life with proper expectations will be happy with everything they hear. I know I was.
The Blu-ray edition of Yellowstone: Battle for Life includes a trio of decent featurettes, all of which are presented in standard definition. Jeff Henry: The Snowman (10 minutes) focuses on a local photographer who assisted the BBC team; Mike Kasic: The Fishman (10 minutes) follows suit with a sound recorder; and Geyser Gazers (11 minutes) introduces a group of experts that helped the BBC crew capture some of their most striking Geyser footage. It only amounts to a half-hour of content, but it's certainly better than nothing.
What more can I say? A riveting documentary series from the BBC Natural History Unit, a strong video transfer, a welcome DTS-HD Master Audio track, and a low price point makes purchasing Yellowstone: Battle for Life a no-brainer. Documentary enthusiasts will be most pleased with the results.
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BBC
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BBC / Narrated by David Attenborough
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The Original UK Series
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BBC
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The Complete Series
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BBC
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