Product Details

• Actors: Aaron Douglas, Link Baker, Anthony Ulc, Nathaniel Arcand, Caroline Chan
• Directors: Pierre de Lespinois
• Writers: Bill Latka, Brian Fagan, Ron Finley
• Producers: Bill Latka
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Family Home Ent
• DVD Release Date: May 20, 2003
• Run Time: 49 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008ZZ7E
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #92,511 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
15,000 years ago, the Cro-Magnons had evolved to become the sole residents of Europe. They had all the abilities of modern humans: the power of speech, reasoning skills, and a belief in the afterlife. But it was still a struggle to survive in a land where large dangerous carnivores competed for living space. As the humans spread out across the world, they made their way over an ancient land bridge connecting Asia and the Americas: Beringia. Life inthe tundra was treacherous, and three stranded women had to use their ingenuity, skill, and sheer guts to survive emong the Woolly Mammoths on which they depended for survival. Moving to North America, the so-called Paleo-Indians developed even more sophisticated weapons and their ability to communicate. They flourished among the waning megafauna like the Giant Ground Sloth. Hunting reached its climax on the Great Plains of North America when two small bands of Paleo-Indians came together for a ritual buffalo hunt, driving hundreds of buffalo off a cliff in a massive slaughter. Early human's ability to adapt is what pushed them to the four corners of the earth and beyond, Before We Ruled The Earth.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cro-Magnons had to deal with many problems..., January 15, 2004

By	Michael Valdivielso (Alexandria, VA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Cro-Magnons may have outlived all the other early humans but they still had to fight against all the dangers stacked against them: the weather, large carnivores, and the prey which can be just as dangerous. We go from Europe, over the land bridge from Asia to America, following mankind as they develop new hunting skills, new tools and new ways of life. Nothing is sugar coated - a few hunters are shown being killed (but no REAL animals were harmed).
Linda Hunt is the narrator for 'Mastering The Beasts', while John Slattery's voice is used for the 'How We Know What We Know' segments, with their timelines, maps, and archeological information. Lots of details within the 49 minutes but no extras on the DVD.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ho Hum, March 3, 2006

By	John A Lee III "jal3" (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I suppose its fairly well done; it's just not all that interesting.

The show deals with the hunting practices of Cro-Magnons and early Indians. Some of it is accurate and much is, of necessity, pure speculation. It is well reasoned speculation for the most part but it is speculation. Its also quite dry, even with the CGI rendered scenes showing men (and women) at their work hunting the large animals.

The show is presented in a few vignettes from differing times. Each sets up a hunter or a would-be hunter and a conflict of some type. Perhaps a man does not seem brave enough to go on the hunt or perhaps all the menfolk were killed and the women have to take the lead. The show then goes on to speculate about religious beliefs and demonstrate how the game was killed.

Its not bad. It just not good either.

6 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Looking at dinosaurs from the human angle, August 22, 2003

By	"artemis773" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews

Recently, I became interested in dinosaur programs. Only thing: dinosaur programs, at least most of the ones I've seen, tend to take the side of the dinosaurs! Not this program. This program involves you in the lives of different people from that time. It was entertaining and original. I also enjoyed the graphics. If you are interested in this time period, I would reccommend this dvd. Then come back & tell everyone what you think!