The BBC High Definition Natural History Collection 2 (Life (Attenborough)/Nature’s Most Amazing Events/South Pacific/Yellowstone: Battle For Life/BBC Earth Blu-ray Set)

 

Picture: B- (Events: B)     Sound: B-/C+/B/B-     Extras: C+/D/C+/C     Episodes: B- (Events: B)

 

 

The BBC continues to roll out their extensive special interest Blu-ray TV nature series under their BBC Earth label.  Four series are included, most of which we have covered before and they are:

 

Life, which we originally covered with narration by Oprah Winfrey, but this edition features narration by David Attenborough.  You can read our original coverage at this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/10084/Life+(Narrated+by+Oprah+Winfrey/B

I have seen both and I think the Blu-ray transfers are about the same (B-) and like both voice-overs, but Winfrey’s is more lively, leaving Attenborough’s more laid back and “scientific” as if he has been thinking and talking like this all his life, which he has.  The sound is only DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 sound, but is just fine for a program like this, though Attenborough’s voice may be too much in the center channel for my liking.

 

Nature’s Most Amazing Events is the same Blu-ray we previously reviewed at this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8643/Nature%E2%80%99s+Most+Amazing

 

South Pacific (not to be confused with the two versions of the classic Musical we have already covered on Blu-ray) is a two-disc mini-series set about the Pacific Ocean with great footage throughout, co=produced with The Discovery Channel.  Though these shows can seem like one ongoing TV series, the visual quality here is a little better than usual for these shows.  The six episodes have ten bonus minutes at the end of each showing the making of each.  Though the case says this is only in stereo, it is actually a DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mix that is nicer than the BBC’s usual DTS-HR mix too many of their Blu-ray releases as is the case with…

 

Yellowstone: Battle For Life is the same Blu-ray we previously reviewed at this link:

 

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/9083/Yellowstone:+Battle+For+Life+(2009/B

 

Overall, this is a solid set for those interested on the subject and if you really like this series, getting these boxed is much better and more convenient than having them loose.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo