Customer Reviews

How the Earth Was Made: Complete Season One

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I can confirm that the aspect ratio on this set is 4:3 and the picture is letterboxed (and there are 4 disks, not 7). What a shame that this superb series would be released with such rotten visual quality when the original was broadcast in full high definition. Why on Earth would they do this? If you have an old 4:3 TV you will be happy with these, but the visual presentation on a high def TV will be a severe disappointment. The quality of information in this series is absolutely superb (unequivocal five stars) but the quality of the DVD presentation is terrible (one star) so an average of 3 stars from me. To repeat, the series itself is superb, the very best set of programs about geology I have ever seen. The information presentation is excellent and the visual presentation of the original broadcast was equally excellent and would be here also if they had just used a 16:9 aspect ratio. It is beyond understanding why they would treat this fine series in such a fashion when there was just no reason to do so.

Has anyone seen it on these DVDs who can say whether it's widescreen or surrounded with black bars?
I have the original single episode from 2007 on one DVD in 1:33:1 from "Best of the History Channel, Vol. III 2007 Premier Collection (10 DVD Set)".
I watched the "How the Earth Was Made" series this year (2009) on the History Channel in HD widescreen. This listing now says it is 1:33:1 (I preordered it and it was sent before I knew what its aspect ratio was -amazon is often wrong in that respect, for instance: this listing says 7 discs but there are 4. No biggee.).
It's a good series, but loses its appeal in such a small picture on a large screen and zooming it causes pixelation and stretched picture (the earth, sun, etc. are oblong, people's faces are distended). The box does not say its aspect ratio at all. I returned it based on the listing here. I didn't want to open the box because of Amazon's return policy -my period of return was due and there were no reviews here.

Update April, 2011
I bought the Blu-ray -SPECTACULAR! Vivid color, audio, aspect 16:9. Worth the wait.
Will

With a number of dangers threatening our planet, more people are keen to know about it and its origins. Understanding its origins may help us to protect it for future generations. The Earth is a constantly changing, evolving planetary body.
How the Earth Was Made steps in to fill this knowledge vacuum and does its job admirably. The visuals - both actual and graphics - look nothing short of stunning and several scientists do provide valuable insights on each site featured in the programs. My only complaint is that there is some repetition involved, but this must have been dictated by the commercial breaks on television. Still, it can be annoying when you view it through a commercially purchased DVD. I am sure that this series will be even more stunning on blu-ray.
The History Channel must be congratulated on a marathon effort that takes viewers right around the world, although there is some bias towards North America. Nevertheless, those sites (such as Great Lakes, New York) are very interesting in their own right. The programs manage to hold your attention for the full 50 minutes or so and the narration is never boring. I have not seen this series on History in this part of the world and I eagerly look forward to the second series as well. This is recommended for all those who like nature/science documentaries and for those who would like to educate their children on geology. The pricing is also just right, for nearly 12 hours of material. Granted, it is no Planet Earth, but the emphasis here is on the Earth itself, not necessarily life on it. The series wins hands down on this score. It is a documentary that demands your full attention and rightly so. Give it a spin and you would not be disappointed on any count.

How pitiful this magnificent series some of which I have seen on TV at the original 16:9 ratio was put on Blu-Ray letterboxed. Otherwise I would have purchased season 1 and season 2 in a New York minute

Excellent two part series opener! First year's series also very good, if a little less well narrated. These DVD's have held the attention of my 4th/5th graders, and taught them a lot.

The visuals on this DVD are just what my students need to grasp the geological concept of earth's beginnings. Several teachers have already borrowed this DVD from me.

Purchased as a gift for someone else. Saw the entire series and was mesmerized by every program. Most impressed by the Yellowstone Park episode and the description of a supervolcano the crater of which was 50 x 70 miles wide and was submerged rather an cone-shaped. Talk about learning something new every day -- have always been a geology
hound but this blew my mind.

You should refrain from posting reviews about things based on inaccurate descriptions. The History website (and indeed other retailers such as Amazon) have the aspect ratio listed incorrectly. This is actually 16:9 widescreen and a native high definition release.

It's stupid that the technical specs are still listed wrong on this website after all this time and it's even stupider that Amazon and History allow reviews to be posted from people who haven't even bought the item.

No wonder History's Blu-rays don't seem to be selling that great with this kind of pervasive incompetence.

Just keep in mind that this and the rest of the History Blu-rays incorrectly listed as being 1.33:1 are actually proper 16:9 and any reviewers complaining about the aspect ratio have not bought the item and are raging because they read the incorrect technical specs on the retailer's website stating that the Blu-ray is 1.33:1.

The DVDs might be cropped to 4:3, however. But if you're that concerned about aspect ratios in this day and age you should not be buying DVDs. Watching a DVD on a 16:9 HDTV is absolutely ridiculous.

So much of what we see is taken for granted. How did what we see get to be the way it is? This series is ideal for awakening the latent inquisitive in us all. While enjoying the series on The History Channel, I decided to give this to my adult children. Call it a gift of understanding.

Won't be touching this one. I now buy nothing in 1.33-1 that was shot Letterbox (any format) Your mileage may vary, but I wasa about to order when I saw this info. Not a prayer - even if I can never get the shows.