Customer Reviews

BBC Atlas of the Natural World - Africa/Europe (Wild Africa / Congo / The First Eden / Europe - A Natural History)

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

 

 

I knew prior to ordering this set, sight unseen, that it would be very good but it surpassed my expectations. The BBC is probably the foremost producer of outstanding nature documentaries and in this series lies the proof. The BBC Atlas explores how geology, and human history among other factors formed the Continents as we know them today. It covers how humans altered and adapted to life in Africa and Europe with fabulous visuals and amazing photography. Ranging from pre-history right up to the 21st century we see how man and animals have co-existed through the ages and adapted to the environment as it has gone thru various changes. All the various narrators of segments are excellent, especially Sir David Attenborough. I highly recommend both sets.

It might seem somewhat petty to withhold a 5-star rating from this set for one complaint, but for people buying this chiefly for David Attenborough's "The First Eden," it's a pretty big complaint: It's not complete. The 4th episode, "Strangers in the Garden," is not included -- at least nowhere that I can find. Very strange, considering there are so many extra documentaries; you're not merely getting the four main programs, but also shows about the Nile, Madagascar (mainly lemurs), Scandinavia, and Iceland. Couldn't one of them have been left out to make room for the final episode of "The First Eden?" Or even better, would it have been that much more trouble to spread "The First Eden" over two discs and supplement it with another documentary like they did with the other programs?

Other than that one problem, this set is magnificent. If you liked "Planet Earth" and/or the various Attenborough "Life..." series, you can't miss with this set. At over 1000 minutes, this what you call bang for your buck. Don't hesitate, unless you're only interested in getting the complete "First Eden."

I'm not sure why this Africa feature is packaged with a DVD about European wildlife. Regardless, the Africa portion of this documentary is great. Each episode covers a different ecosystem on the African continent. The episodes discuss the environmental changes that have given rise to each species. I prefer looking at individual ecosystems on one continent rather than the "flying around the world" approach of Planet Earth. With that said, this documentary is much older than Planet Earth (first produced in the late 1980s), so it simply doesn't have the HD quality viewers are used to. Regardless, there are still some amazing scenes, such as sea lions sneaking up on gannets in the water and hippos fighting each other with bloody jaws. Also, the enhanced mode is actually informative and not too intrusive, mentioning interesting facts about the animals. Definitely worth checking out.

This bundle of a few Natural History documentaries (by the genius BBC) is a must for anyone who's intrigued by our world's nature and natural history. Although quite expensive by Amazon.com terms, you do get a bunch of documentaries that may otherwise turn out to be more expensive when bought individually. The 'Congo' series is a unique and rare documentary about one of the least visited areas in the world. It gives you a rare glimpse into the Congo Basin and helps you understand its natural history a little better. I wish this series comprised more than (only...) 3 episodes! Furthermore, the series about Africa in general, gives you an idea of the complexity and uniqueness of the African continent. I'd also recommend the series about Europe and the 'first Eden'. Although I've been living in Europe for over 15 years now, I never realized how special and interesting the ecology and natural history of this continent actually is. That is until I watched these two documentaries! Well, I think this review says it all... It's a true must-see for any nature lover.

I have been to all mentioned in the doc....and it is as good as being there..(almost). So...if your stuck here-and want to travel there...GO FOR IT!!!!!

Great documentary on Africa and Europe. If you like natural history, this would be a must get video