| | |  | DVDs | Home » » Nature's Most Amazing Events | | | | | | | Description: | | Witness the planet's most breathtaking natural events, and follow the dramatic wildlife stories behind them. Combining the epic cinematography of Planet Earth, with all the emotion, intimacy and storytelling of a wildlife diary, this series charts the effects of global climatic phenomena which transform entire landscapes, drawing in thousands of animals and determining their fate. Each episode is set in a different part of the world - from the great flood of the Okavango delta to the plankton blooms of the Pacific Ocean, and from the Indian monsoon to the race for survival triggered by the annual Arctic melt - and shows how immense natural forces, often starting thousands of miles away, drive a chain reaction that culminates in a spectacular wildlife event. For some animals, it's a window of opportunity, but for others, it's the most dangerous time of their lives. Follow their emotional, involving stories to a dramatic climax where their fate will be revealed. Episodes: The Great Melt, The Great Salmon Run, The Great Migration, The Great Tide, The Great Flood, The Great Feast. | | | Features: | |
• Condition: New
• Format: DVD
• DVD; Widescreen; Color; Subtitled; NTSC
| | | Product Details: | | | Actors:
| David Attenborough | | Format:
| DVD, Widescreen, Color, Subtitled, NTSC | | Language:
| English | | Subtitle:
| English | | Number of Discs:
| 2 | | Studio:
| BBC Worldwide | | Run Time:
| 300 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| June 02, 2009 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 80 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 80 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
251 of 254 found the following review helpful:
 Not "Planet Earth" - but still amazing!Jun 01, 2009
By Enjolras
There will inevitably be comparisons between "Nature's Most Amazing Events" and Planet Earth. While I can't say that this new series is quite as groundbreaking, it is still pretty great and has some amazing footage.
As its title suggests, "Nature's Most Amazing Events" focuses on some of the most amazing events in the animal kingdom. I actually like the fact that each episode stays in one location (as opposed to the way Planet Earth jumped around the world). However, I thought it could have gone beyond Africa and North America. I also thought this series had some amazing footage of birds and whales, particularly of birds underwater. Those scenes alone make the series worth buying.
One note: I originally watched this series on the Discovery Channel. For some reason, Discovery used another narrator (Hasani Issa), not David Attenborough. As viewers of nature documentaries know, Attenborough's infectious enthusiasm makes his programs truly a joy to watch. As such, this DVD will be much better than the televised version for simply having Attenborough as the narrator.
Now, onto the episodes:
1) Arctic Summer:
This episode focuses on Arctic environments and includes many of the usual suspects, such as Polar Bears. There was a great scene with baby Gillymots learning to fly. The birds essentially jump off a huge cliff and try to land in the ocean. Many miss and bounce along the ground - but survive! This scene evoked the infamous scene in Planet Earth with the ducklings jumping out of the tree - but many times higher, with Arctic foxes waiting at the bottom to eat any unlucky baby Gillymots.
2) Grizzly Wilderness:
This episode follows the Salmon migration in the pacifc northwest - and all of the animals trying to eat them. There's some great shots of the Salmon swimming through the water. In one shot, a Salmon is swimming through a waterfall, jumps out of the water, and - in slow motion - flies toward the camera. There's also a cool scene of a dead Salmon decomposing in fast motion.
3) Surviving the Serengeti:
Unfortunately, there wasn't much new in this episode. It covers the wildebeest migration in East Africa. The wildebeest migration is certainly one of nature's most amazing events, but the Serengeti is also one of nature's most documented events.
4) Army of Predators:
This episode covers the army of predators that chase Sardines. I loved the footage of Gannets plunge-diving into the water to eat fish. The birds look like they're swimming underwater. I've seen some other documentaries trying to capture birds underwater (including Blue Planet: Seas of Life), but this scene was by far the best. The episode climaxes with a battle royale between Gannets, Dolphins, Fur Seals, Sharks, and Bryde's Whale all chasing the Sardines.
5) Kalahari Flood:
This episode focuses on southern Africa, with the drying up of the Okavango River in Botswana. The footage of the Termites up close looks great in HD. These scenes were even better quality than the Termite footage in Life in the Undergrowth. Also lots of elephants wallowing around.
6) Pacific Feast:
This is another underwater battle royale, with Stellar Sea Lions, Orcas, and Humpback Whales all going in for some Herring. This episode includes some of the best blu-ray footage of whales I've seen, with extensive footage of Humpbacks hunting using "bubble nets." The "whale song" that the Humpbacks use while "bubble netting" is haunting. After watching this, it is absolutely clear that these animals are intelligent - coordinating group action, using tools (bubbles), and taking advantage of the Herrings' weaknesses. There's also a great shot of a Humpback exhaling through its blowhole and catching a rainbow on its breath. The mist from the blowhole changes colors from blue to green to yellow to red. I can't describe what it looked like other than to say it was pretty amazing. This is easily some of the best Humpback footage ever.
In short, if you enjoy nature documentaries, don't miss out on "Nature's Most Amazing"! It has wonderful footage of birds underwater and whales. While there are some low points (notably the Serengeti), the best moments far exceed the ocean scenes in Planet Earth.
76 of 81 found the following review helpful:
Simply Amazing!Jun 10, 2009
By Lydia Atsma
"Raptorgrrl"
I am a huge fan of Blue Planet and Planet Earth. So when I saw this on the shelf, I snapped it up without any real thought.
I went home and put it on right away. I was blown away by the shear genius of the photography. It seriously rivals Planet Earth's photography.
It not only has amazing shots, but the stories that are told in each episode, are ones that you don't really see. It shows the life of a polar bear during an Artic Summer, the struggles a salmon endures during its upstream journey, the challenges a pride of lions face when their food migrates away from their territory, and more.
This is an amazing product that I reccomend for anyone who loves the Animal Kingdom.
34 of 41 found the following review helpful:
Not "Planet Earth" - but still amazing!Oct 21, 2009
By Enjolras
There will inevitably be comparisons between "Nature's Most Amazing Events" and Planet Earth. While I can't say that this new series is quite as groundbreaking, it is still pretty great and has some amazing footage.
As its title suggests, "Nature's Most Amazing Events" focuses on some of the most amazing events in the animal kingdom. I actually like the fact that each episode stays in one location (as opposed to the way Planet Earth jumped around the world). However, I thought it could have gone beyond Africa and North America. I also thought this series had some amazing footage of birds and whales, particularly of birds underwater. Those scenes alone make the series worth buying.
One note: I originally watched this series on the Discovery Channel. For some reason, Discovery used another narrator (Hasani Issa), not David Attenborough. As viewers of nature documentaries know, Attenborough's infectious enthusiasm makes his programs truly a joy to watch. As such, this DVD will be much better than the televised version for simply having Attenborough as the narrator.
Now, onto the episodes:
1) Arctic Summer:
This episode focuses on Arctic environments and includes many of the usual suspects, such as Polar Bears. There was a great scene with baby Gillymots learning to fly. The birds essentially jump off a huge cliff and try to land in the ocean. Many miss and bounce along the ground - but survive! This scene evoked the infamous scene in Planet Earth with the ducklings jumping out of the tree - but many times higher, with Arctic foxes waiting at the bottom to eat any unlucky baby Gillymots.
2) Grizzly Wilderness:
This episode follows the Salmon migration in the pacifc northwest - and all of the animals trying to eat them. There's some great shots of the Salmon swimming through the water. In one shot, a Salmon is swimming through a waterfall, jumps out of the water, and - in slow motion - flies toward the camera. There's also a cool scene of a dead Salmon decomposing in fast motion.
3) Surviving the Serengeti:
Unfortunately, there wasn't much new in this episode. It covers the wildebeest migration in East Africa. The wildebeest migration is certainly one of nature's most amazing events, but the Serengeti is also one of nature's most documented events.
4) Army of Predators:
This episode covers the army of predators that chase Sardines. I loved the footage of Gannets plunge-diving into the water to eat fish. The birds look like they're swimming underwater. I've seen some other documentaries trying to capture birds underwater (including Blue Planet: Seas of Life), but this scene was by far the best. The episode climaxes with a battle royale between Gannets, Dolphins, Fur Seals, Sharks, and Bryde's Whale all chasing the Sardines.
5) Kalahari Flood:
This episode focuses on southern Africa, with the drying up of the Okavango River in Botswana. The footage of the Termites up close looks great in HD. These scenes were even better quality than the Termite footage in Life in the Undergrowth. Also lots of elephants wallowing around.
6) Pacific Feast:
This is another underwater battle royale, with Stellar Sea Lions, Orcas, and Humpback Whales all going in for some Herring. This episode includes some of the best blu-ray footage of whales I've seen, with extensive footage of Humpbacks hunting using "bubble nets." The "whale song" that the Humpbacks use while "bubble netting" is haunting. After watching this, it is absolutely clear that these animals are intelligent - coordinating group action, using tools (bubbles), and taking advantage of the Herrings' weaknesses. There's also a great shot of a Humpback exhaling through its blowhole and catching a rainbow on its breath. The mist from the blowhole changes colors from blue to green to yellow to red. I can't describe what it looked like other than to say it was pretty amazing. This is easily some of the best Humpback footage ever.
In short, if you enjoy nature documentaries, don't miss out on "Nature's Most Amazing"! It has wonderful footage of birds underwater and whales. While there are some low points (notably the Serengeti), the best moments far exceed the ocean scenes in Planet Earth.
33 of 40 found the following review helpful:
 Great Blu Ray / Lousy PackagingJun 12, 2009
By B. Wong
Like Planet Earth, this Nature's blu ray dvd set had fantastic shots and the narration is good. The aerial and panoramic views are spectacular. Like Planet Earth, some of the video is like sd. Overall I am giving the dvd set a 4 star rating.
Now to the lousy packaging. Well somebody had to do it again. The outside sleeve is standard cardboard with the standard information printed which is ok, but the inside container for the dvds is also cardboard, not the standard blu ray plastic container. The dvds slide in and out the slits on the cardboard container with difficulty. If you are not careful, you can scratch the dvds. Zero star rating here people; lets get with it.
9 of 9 found the following review helpful:
Absolutely Stunning Series - Planet Earth Fans Will Enjoy!Aug 30, 2009
By Book Reviews Weekly
Nature's Most Amazing Events takes you on a fantastic journey from the Artic to Africa.
The Great Melt: The collection starts off in Arctic with a primary focus on Polar Bears and Guillemots. If you've seen Planet Earth, you will be familiar with the Polar Bear activities, but the Guillemots were fantastic as we see the young taking their first flight and learning how to feed.
The Great Salmon Run: This takes place in the Pacific Northwest and follows the Salmon Run and the grizzly bears that depend on it. This was my favorite episode because I really enjoyed seeing how the Salmon travel so far and often up waterfalls to get to their birthplace. I also enjoyed the bears and their fantastic fishing techniques.
The Great Migration : This takes place on the Serengeti and features the migration of the Wildebeest and their predators. A special focus is on a lion pride and their struggle to survive while waiting for the migratory animals to return.
The Great Tide: The scene follows the sardines and their predators. The scale of sardines is amazing, as is the footage of the predators devouring them.
The Great Flood: The next to last scene takes us to the Kalahari during the flood. Planet Earth viewers will be familiar with the elements in this scene, but it's nice to see different scenes as well.
The Great Feast: The scene follows the may animals that are supported by herring feasting on the plankton.
The footage of birds,sea lions, and whales is amazing. In particular, we get a close up view of the whales eating a bait ball, and the scene is stunning. It was also interesting to see the whales together doing what is called "bubble fishing".
Nature's Most Amazing Events is a great series, and the camera work is stunning as I have come to expect since watching Planet Earth. Some of the footage may seem familiar if you've seen Planet Earth or other nature shows, but it doesn't detract from how well these scenes were shot.
David Attenborough does a great job of narrating the series, and each scene also has a "diary" that takes you behind the scenes and shows you how some of the camera work is done. I thought this was a great addition and enjoyed seeing these folks in action.
Each scene is about 45 minutes long and then has a 10-15 minute diary.
This DVD will go on the shelf right next to Planet Earth, Home, Ganges and Earth: Biography as part of my nature collection.
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