Customer Reviews

Attenborough in Paradise and Other Personal Voyages

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's impossible to surpass the exceptionally well done full description of this release on the Amazon site here. The best thing is, it's not only comprehensive, discussing each of the films, but well-written. I'll stick to a simple review of the product as found.

If you do not have this material, or most of it, from previously issued DVDs this is a great offer. The two DVDs contain about as much bang for your buck as possible for lovers of Nature programing. The only quibble I have is that the quality of film varies a bit more than suggested in the product summary above. Too, with more exposure to the brilliance of today's HD, earlier films, even those only a few years old, look less and less wonderful, and more and more dated. The double sword of technology - our world now can be seen in even greater spell-binding cinematography, but our previous efforts lose their original luster. However, with these films the charming and intelligent storylines add an additional dimension often lacking in such documentaries. Indeed, these are about as varied and splendid a group as anyone could wish. Certain sequences remain priceless.
And if you're a bird watcher and don't have these films on the Birds of Paradise or the Bowerbirds this is your DVD!

This may not be as top-notch as "Life of Birds," but it's a worthy addition to the David Attenborough section of your video library. Exciting footage of exotic birds with eccentric behavior. Trips to Easter Island and unexplored sections of Papua New Guinea. Best of all, a smart narrator who knows when to shut up and when to speak. What more could you want? Recommended without reservation of any kind.

Practically everyone who loves Planet Earth doesn't know who David Attenborough is! What a tragedy. The fact that Sigorney Weaver narrated the Discovery Channel broadcast is obscene. Sir Attenborough is a genius of his time and we are lucky to have his talent available to us. This dvd is a tribute to him and a treat for us. Lots of previously hard to get documentaries and a biography are worth it and then some! If you love nature documentaries this is the ticket!

I love David Attenborough's work and this DVD contains some of his early documentaries. It's a great one to add to your collection as they are well made even in the days before $10 million budgets were a matter of course.
The segments on the Birds of Paradise and meeting the Tribesmen in New Guinea alone are worth the price of this collection.

This DVD is for ALL fans of Sir David Attenborough and his great nature specials. We're all familiar with The Blue Planet series, Planet Earth & Life of Mammals to name a few, but this one takes us back to Attenborough's beginnngs. It contains 4 specials on: Birds of Paradise, a musing on the theories of music and its origins, treasures found in amber and best of all a history of Sir David's beginnings in nature specials and the BBC. What makes this man so special is not only his great knowledge but his ebullient enthusiasm and crisp narration. Personally, I can't wait til his next project.

If you have seen Attenborough's classic, "The Private Life of Plants," (not yet available on DVD for our region!) you will surely enjoy this--another example of cinematic mastery in filming wildlife. Very appropriate and much enjoyed by elementary school students with delays in reading and language. The visual simply captivates them!

Thosebirds are so miraculous and behave so profound!
They wait for audience, warm up their target by moving branches, collect fruit which are not their food, and even clean and prepare their playground!
Birds are so different to each other but human beings are much simliar to each other.
They must have a powerful mind to think!

Fans of David Attenborough will delight in this collection of his television specials. The world famous naturalist provides viewers with remarkable insights into the natural world and its wonders.
Disc One
Attenborough in Paradise
A Blank on the Map
The Lost Gods of Easter Island

Disc Two
Bowerbirds : The Art of Seduction
The Song of the Earth
Life on Air - a tribute to Attenborough, with loads of archival film clips
The Amber Time Machine

The aspect ratio is 1.33:1, in English, contains interactive menus. Be it tracking a piece of amber through time, the story behind the majestic figures on Easter Island, or the mating rituals of the birds in New Guinea (who attract mates' attention by creating works of art no less!), Attenborough's distinctive wit and flair for delivery and the amazing cinematography will delight viewers.

I loved that it had 3 different subjects on one movie. I loved the detailed info on the bird of paradise, the wonderful old footage of Attenborough in the jungle meeting natives, and i loved the story of amber and what it is and what you can find inside it. love love love the movie.

This is an excellent video that contains rare footage of the birds of paradise. It is extremely difficult and expensive finding materials on these birds, and Sir David Attenborough shows just how difficult it is to secure footage on these marvelous creatures. This is a video released by BBC, who by now rank no. 1 when it comes to releasing quality material on the world around us. I would recommend this to any nature lover who wants to see something of this beautiful planet before it is all gone.