Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: HD DVD
EAN: 0794051413826
Format: Closed-captioned
Label: BBC Warner
Languages: Array
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
MPN: 4138
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: BBC Warner
Region Code: 0
Release Date: 2007-10-02
Running Time: 150
Studio: BBC Warner

The inspiration for Darwin's theory of evolution, the Galapagos Islands are a living laboratory, a geological conveyor belt that has given birth to and seen the death of many species of plants and animals. As the western islands rise up from the sea offering a chance of life, the eastern islands sink back beneath the waves guaranteeing only death. Between the two are the middle islands; fertile, lush land in its prime that contains an incredible diversity of life. Nowhere else on the Earth are the twin processes of creation and extinction of species so starkly apparent... see it all unfold before your eyes in this stunning series filmed entirely in high definition from the BBC and the National Geographic Channel.
While its title may be superfluous, Galapagos: The Islands That Changed the World is a beautifully filmed journey into "the islands of the tortoise." Located due west of Ecuador, the Galapagos islands are full of gorgeous scenery and exotic wildlife. And this 150-minute documentary shows it all, thanks to stunning cinematography shot from all viewpoints--the air, sea and, of course, land. The collection is both soothing and exhilarating as it allows viewers to peek in on mating albatrosses (which are monogamous), penguins fishing, and surprisingly graceful giant tortoises swimming in the ocean. The filmmakers also manage to capture a ferocious volcanic eruption that is amazing in its clarity. The problem with many documentaries lies in the narration. A documentary filmmaker hits the jackpot when he is able to get someone like Sigourney Weaver, whose crisp narration fits in beautifully with the sweeping footage in Planet Earth. While Tilda Swanton lends a relaxing quality to Galapagos, her voice at times is a bit too lulling to hold the viewer's interest. The writing also borders on melodramatic, with talk of the simmering sea and such. With visuals as stunning as this, hyperbole is unnecessary. Charles Darwin has described the Galapagos as a world within itself, and it is said that the islands were one of his inspirations for his book The Origin of Species. While the film doesn't clearly explain why the Galapagos are unlike any other place on earth, it does showcase a destination that is unlike what most of us know. --Jae-Ha Kim

Customer Rating:
Summary: Galapagos
Comment: This DVD is stunning. If you're interested in our planet you will love this. Well done like Planet Earth.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: incomplete specs
Comment: This may very well be a great cd but it would of been a nice guesture to add the fact that it requires a hd player in order for it to work at all,for an electronically challenged senior citizen like myself.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Caution: Amazon is shipping wrong region on this DVD
Comment: I've purchased this DVD twice in the last 8 months and both times received a DVD encoded for region 2 that would not load on my HD DVD players here in Oregon. Amazon custoemr service notes say "plays in all regions" -but I'm 0 for 2 tries on 2 differnt HD dvd players.
The material is fabulous - but they gave me a refund in lieu of the desired region DVD.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Must get it.
Comment: Magnificent picture quality, you must buy it if you wonder natural life's about far seas. I received it from Turkey only 10 day after I purchased it. Thanks for superfast delivery.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Can Not Believe the Views
Comment: The video is without a doubt the best I have seen yet so far in this type of media.

Ms. Weaver only adds to the seriousness of the awesome video. She too must have been ah wow struck while narrating.

My kids love it. Highly recommend.

Just a peeve but am I the only one who thinks history repeats itself with Blue-Ray being the winning versus HD-DVD.

The whole Beta-max versus VHS battle of the early days. I will say that HD-DVD is the format I would choose for best picture and sound but I am too small to count. Blue-Ray does beat old school DVD but doesn't hold a torch to HD-DVD (IMHO)

Lucky for me and others who have both readers in format. We get to enjoy HD-DVD the finest and the Blue-Ray second rated buyout deal someone decided on.

If you can view HD-DVD I would highly recommend this video as it draws you into the islands, like you are the dude who was watching the dude who was filming it, e.g. the introvert!

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