kal
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Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18114
Location: Ottawa, Canada
TV/Projector: JVC DLA-NZ7
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| Posted: Sat May 05, 2012 2:46 pm Post subject: Frozen Planet: The Complete BBS Series [Blu-ray] |
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Another reference disc!
Frozen Planet: The Complete Series (David Attenborough-Narrated Version) [Blu-ray] (2012)
(Hover over link for price, click to purchase and support our forum at no extra cost to you)
| Quote: | I hate the cold and loathe snow, so I didn't think that 'Frozen Planet' would end up being all that interesting to me. While watching it made me feel like I should've been drinking an oversized cup of hot chocolate with every episode, I ended up loving every minute of the series. BBC and David Attenborough have a way of drawing you into subjects that you never thought you'd be interested in. I can already see myself going around exclaiming to my friends, "Did you know an albatross can have the same partner for 50 years or more!" like I'm suddenly a wildlife expert. That's what these BBC documentaries do though. They take complex life cycles and animals and explain their lives in ways we unscientific people can understand. Plus, the photography is always beautiful and the shots that they manage to get always astound. 'Frozen Planet' is highly recommended.
The Video: Sizing Up the Picture
It's almost to the point where there's no need to explain the video presentations on these documentaries because you and I both expect and usually get (with the exception of 'Madagascar') a demo-worthy presentation. This 1080i AVC-encoded transfer is no different. The BBC have outdone themselves again with a beautiful transfer that captures the frozen areas of the earth in a majestic glory.
I know what you're thinking, focusing on all things frozen is going to lead to a lot of white. While you may be somewhat correct, there is much more color in this series than you'd expect. The first color that jumps out is the piercing blue of glacial rivers as they cut waterslide-like rivers into the tops of glaciers. As the cameras pan over the rushing blue water it ends up being some of the most spectacular visuals in all of the series. Above I discussed the colors in the "Autumn" episode. Reds, oranges, and yellows are all presented in striking fashion as the tundra goes through its seasonal change. Wolves' muzzles go from stark white to bloody pink as they tear into the downed carcass of a recently killed bison. Even though we're dealing with a lot of snow, there's still a ton of color to go around and it's all rendered perfectly.
Detail is superb too. Ultra-closeups reveal the fine feathers of a penguin's head and the fluffy newborn fur of a baby polar bear. Individual hairs and feathers are completely visible. Each barnacle can be seen. Scars and battle wounds are evident on large elephant seals. The downy fluff of baby penguins is almost too cute to handle. Slow motion shots of penguins flying out of the water offer unparalleled detail. Water droplets flying off their bodies are individually distinct as they slowly fly through the air.
Even though it's presented in 1080i, I dare you to find a difference between any other 1080p presentations out there. The beauty and majesty of earth's frozen regions are caught with immaculate clarity here. There may be a few soft shots here and there (usually due to having to use a different camera at that time), but nothing to really complain about. Blacks are healthy and resolved. There aren't any technical faux pas to announce here. Most all of the series is demo-worthy material.
The Audio: Rating the Sound
Gone are the annoying sound effects that plagued 'Life.' Although, 'Frozen Planet' does contain some painfully obvious musical choices which are used to enhance the mood whether it be intense, playful, or endearing. Still the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is spectacular in its own right.
The entire soundfield fills with ambient sound. As the camera pans over enormous glaciers ice crack and creak before huge chunks break off with thundering splashes into the ocean below. Killer whale clicks and calls echo through the rear speakers giving you that underwater feel. The icy Antarctic winds envelope you making you feel like you need a coat even though you're sitting in your comfortable climate-controlled house.
The narration is always clear and never lost in the wildlife mayhem happening on screen. Helicopters zoom from one side of the frame to the other as panning effects work smoothly. This is an impressive audio track and does just as much (or more) as the video presentation in making you feel what it would be like to spend some time in these harsh environments. That howling wind really is quite intimidating. |
Kal
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