82 of 88 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An extraordinary voyage, September 8, 2001
This review is from: National Geographic - Africa (DVD)
This series is absolutely stunning in many ways. First and foremost, the cinematography is breathtaking, from the verist handheld shots to the almost abstract compositions of aerial 90 degree and macro shots. Ron Fricke's Baraka has had a lot of influence on the documentary genre, and there are plenty of Baraka-type moments in here, with assorted new age-ish world music pastiches to support them.
But show is not all there is. The script is beautifully written, with just the right balance between narration and interviews, and editing that lets the product breathe, and the viewer reflect. The agility with which the episodes branch out from the story of individuals to natural, historical, social and cultural references is impressive. And amazingly, you never loose touch with reality, since the documentary's transcendence lies upon the day-to-day lives and thoughts of its subjects.
You also feel the respect the crews had for their subjects, and the «making of» bonus shows it well. Ethnological research ethics are respected, in a world where ethical rules towards the «Other» are too often pushed aside by the greed of producers and researchers.
All in all an amazing document to be viewed over and over again. This is one boxset I highly recommend.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
National Geographic "Africa" Series, October 29, 2005
This review is from: National Geographic - Africa (DVD)
Beautifully photographed. However, if you're interested in Africa from a political and historical standpoint, as I am, this is not really the video series for you.
Excellent wildlife and nature footage (just as you'd expect from National Geographic) and even an attempt to convey some sociological lessons about "urban" vs. "tribal" differences.
Overall, well worth watching, but don't look to it for very deep historical or political enlightenment about the continent.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An accurate portrait of Africa today, April 14, 2002
This review is from: National Geographic - Africa (DVD)
When this series first aired on PBS in America, I was on the slopes of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania climbing to the summit. After spending three weeks in East Africa I was very anxious to watch this series and purchased it upon returning home. I wanted to see how close did it come to representing the Africa that I had just experienced. Did it ignore social issues one experiences when visiting Africa? Would it just serve as PR for people to go on safaris and visit tourist sites in Africa? I was not disappointed. This series is a fantastic portrait of Africa today. It does a great job telling the story of how people live their daily lives and the challenges they face today and likely will in the future. The natural beauty and wildlife of Africa are stunning, and this series brings it all into your living room. When I was there I witnessed deforestation first-hand and saw how the natural world is in direct competition with the human world for resources. This series doesn't gloss over these kinds of issues. The music and production of the series are first rate, I also bought the soundtrack CD. If you want to see what Africa today is really like, watch this series.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
