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DVD The Life of Mammals
David Attenborough and the BBC have a well-earned reputation for producing some of the greatest nature programs, but The Life of Mammals could well be Attenborough's magnum opus. Much of the footage shot for this series had never been seen before, and is presented with the respect and reverence for the natural world that Attenborough has made his trademark. It never ceases to surprise: the sight of a lion taking down a wildebeest on the African savannah has almost become a cliché of nature programs, yet in The Life of Mammals the cameras keep rolling and the viewer witnesses the fallen animal's herd coming to its rescue and driving off the lion. It's a moving sight and just one of many remarkable scenes.
A thorough and entertaining overview of one of evolution's greatest success stories, the series is loosely structured to follow the development of mammals, beginning with the basics in "A Winning Design," which clarifies what makes a mammal different from reptiles and birds--no, it isn't egg-laying: both the platypus and the echidna are egg-laying mammals; it's their ability to adapt. And it's this adaptability that becomes the crux of the remainder of the series. "Insect Hunters" focuses on mammals who have specifically adapted to eating insects, from the giant anteater and the armored armadillo to bats, which have evolved into complex and effective hunters. "Plant Predators" demonstrates the particular (and often peculiar) adaptations of herbivores, while "Chisellers" is about those mammals who feed primarily on roots and seeds, ranging from tree-dwelling squirrels to opportunistic mice and rats. "Meat Eaters" talks about the evolutionary arms race that exists between predators and prey, and the unique adaptations of both individual and pack hunters. Omnivores are explored in "Opportunists"--mammals like bears and raccoons, whose varied diet allows them to occupy nearly any environment. "Return to the Water" discusses those mammals such as whales, seals, and dolphins that have left behind life on dry land and adapted completely to life in the sea, existing at the top of the food chain. The last three episodes--"Life in the Trees," "Social Climbers," and "Food for Thought"--take the viewer through the development of primates, eventually culminating in that most successful mammal: man. --Robert Burrow
Fabulous "find" just sitting there under our noses to discover
This BBC series has been around for little while and has a great reputation. Yet, I still found my jaw dropping at some of the shots. It is very satisfying and doesn't feel like it could be done any better.
As for watching with kids, I agree with the other reviewers. I was glad not to have the usual, "this beautiful X loves its young, but predator Y is always just around the corner..." just before something terrible happens. There is no need to subject young children to shocks like that, so I applaud the series for this tasteful choice as well.
Compelling...
I bought this on a whim--I didn't get to it for months, now I can't stop watching it. This is a stimulating documentary as a whole or in little pieces after a long day at work. David Attenborough leapfrogs from one continent to the other, presenting animals with similar environmental adaptations--at times, despite dissimilar species or origins. David Attenborough's enthusiasm for the material is inspiring and refreshing & will rekindle your interest in the out-of-doors and animal world.
The best there is
I used to write Amazon reviews for every video I saw. I recently stopped doing that because they are unappreciated. My reviews are very sharp and informative, and then some lunkheads give them the "thumbs down" and I realize I'm writing to unappreciative morons. So I stopped. I just wanted to go on record saying that. And by the way, the David Attenborough series of nature films is amazing, and anyone who gives this series less than five stars is an ingrate with no taste. This right here is the best of the best.
By getting up close and personal with Life in the Undergrowth, this extraordinary BBC series sets a new standard of excellence in wildlife cinematography. Hosted by veteran nature expert David Attenborough and utilizing the latest advances in macrophotography, the five-part series is dedicated to bugs of all shapes and sizes, from microscopic gnats to cave-dwelling millipedes so large they can capture bats in mid-flight and feast for hours thereafter! The patience involved in filming such previously unseen marvels must have been grueling (as confirmed by producer Mike Salisbury in a splendid bonus interview), but the results are nothing less than astonishing, with a parade of sequences so impressive that even insect-haters will pause in amazement. With an emphasis on reproduction... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 02 May 2006 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Extraordinary footage and eloquent narration by David Attenborough highlight the BBC's remarkable wildlife series The Blue Planet: Seas of Life. "Ocean World" begins with astonishing views of a gigantic blue whale--the elusive Holy Grail of undersea photography--and the marvels continue to demonstrate the power, diversity, and profound ecological influence of Earth's oceans. "Frozen Seas" examines whales, walruses, penguins, and other creatures under the extreme conditions of the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. The next two episodes are even better. "Open Ocean" travels thousands of miles into the vast "liquid desert," where currents determine how the ocean's diverse life forms will assume their places in the food chain. More amazing, "The Deep" descends with a state-of-the-art... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Alastair Fothergill DVD Release Date: Released the 27 August 2002 Usually ships in 4 to 11 days
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Originally broadcast in 1984, The Living Planet followed five years after David Attenborough's first wildlife blockbuster series, Life on Earth. This was an equally ambitious 12-part documentary that spanned the globe with portraits of each of the major geographical regions that offer a home to life. Attenborough demonstrates how even in the most hostile of environments, from the volcanic "Furnaces of the Earth" to "The Frozen World" of mountains and tundra, the Arctic and Antarctic, live maintains a foothold. He takes us to "The Northern Forests," the "Jungle," "Seas of Grass," and "The Baking Deserts" and, ever the genial host, details how, in all its endless diversity, life is ingeniously suited to its surroundings.
Through breathtaking imagery we meet our fellow... More Info about this DVD Actor(s): David Attenborough DVD Release Date: Released the 25 November 2003 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Like the albatross glimpsed in the beginning of this 10-part, 5-volume series, The Life of Birds quickly takes flight. Sir David Attenborough hosts this unprecedented and extraordinary global look at the magnificent and often curious winged species with which we share our planet. Like the best wildlife shows, The Life of Birds offers a fresh and accessible view of creatures we may take for granted (didn't Alfred Hitchcock warn us about that?). The focus of this series is not on the different bird species, but on bird behavior. Remarkable and awe-inspiring footage preserves the wide range of tools and techniques with which birds fly, hunt for food, attract a mate, hatch their chicks, and defend themselves against predators.
Each volume contains two episodes. Series titles... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Joanna Sarsby DVD Release Date: Released the 27 August 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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For a series produced after Jurassic Park I was more than a little disappointed in the CGI. It's good, not great and don't believe the reviewers who say otherwise.
Even better than the CGI are the puppets used in some of the shots. Like all puppets they are somewhat stiff in action shots but they are impressive looking and make me wish the series relied more on them than the computer graphics.
Walking with Dinosaurs is great though I wonder how sound the science is during parts of the show. It certainly isn't very broad and only covers a few of the less notorious dinosaurs. If your expecting T-Rex or Triceratops...you won't find them here.
Walking with Allosaurus is interesting but disappointing, nonetheless. For some reason, the people at the... More Info about this DVD DVD Release Date: Released the 23 July 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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