Rating: 
Summary: An amazing suspension of belief
Review: A science fiction fantasy told and presented as reality. Which doesn't seem like much until you realize this *is* reality. Unearthly creations both monstrous and spellbinding, painstakingly caught on video and presented in the comfort of your living room. No prior knowledge of undersea life is necessary to enjoy this visual feast. Even my 5 and 7 year-old children find this video as fascintating as those about dinasours. By the way, I brought this DVD series after reading the book of the same name. The book obviously goes into more detail but both are a highly recommended addition to your library.
Rating:
Summary: Waiting for the DVD, Review of the series
Review: Assuming that the transfer is decent (a pretty safe bet), this DVD should be absolutely amazing. A few scuba diving friends that I know in England were raving about the series when they got to see it way back in September, and they were dead on the money. This show has amazing footage of the undersea world, scenes that I can only dream about seeing for myself, even with the travelling I do for my own scuba vacations. I had to stop saying "wow" whenever something breathtaking was shown, because I was saying it non-stop.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning!
Review: From the commercials before the airing, I knew this was going to
be good...but boy, it greatly exceeded my expectations. The photography is uterly amazing. I still don't know how they got some of the shots. I look forward to showing friends and family the DVD's for years and cant wait for the next release. This set not only is a great purchase, but makes a phenominal gift for anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Marvelous,excellent and Surprising!
Review: I didn't know what was the big thing about it when I was watching the commercials for it but when I finally got the chance to see it I was atonished.It's unbelievable the beauty of nature. Some many species hidden in the deep blue sea that we never imagined they existed.The narration was great.It was quite well done and the whole crew deserves credit for the good job they made. While watching this you'll see we're nothing in this world.The world is much more of what your eyes can see and even your mind.This DVD would be your passage for a world you never knew it existed....a Blue Planet.
Rating: 
Summary: Quite pleased....
Review: I gave this as a gift to someone who knows a thing or two about marine biology and fully expected that person to cite all the discrepancies and untruths each video contained. To my utter surprise (and relief!) the recipient enjoyed all 4 episodes (2 per tape, also a surprise) and actually learned a few things too!
That other 2-pk (Part 3 and Part 4 of the series) is looking pretty good as a follow-up gift.
Rating:
Summary: Great family viewing
Review: I live in Chicago, which is nearly a thousand miles from salt water, so I know very little about the sea. Normally, I'd skip a "nature series" like this, but a glowing review in the "Wall Street Journal" piqued my interest; so I bought the set. And am I glad I did! Each show is informative, yet dazzling entertainment: beautifully photographed, well edited, and framed with just the right narration and music. The series arouses your sense of awe at the world of nature around us. Everyone in the family, from my teenagers to my four-year-old, enjoyed the series. However, the little guy was very upset when he saw the baby whale being taken down by the killers; you may wish to keep that from young children. The DVD transfer is excellent; it looks great even on our old Toshiba using composite video. As a bonus, each program comes with a ten-minute "making of" documentary; and each disk has an in-depth interview with a member of the production staff. I've pre-ordered the second set, and we're looking forward to the day it arrives.
Rating:
Summary: Great series!
Review: I love it, and my 3-yr old does too.
Rating:
Summary: phenomenal natural history of sea life w/ today's knowledge!
Review: I saw the entire series when they came out on Discovery Channel. I was shocked to see the footage of killer whales taking out a blue whale calf. I was mezmerized to see funky green/blue lights 2 miles under the sea. I was wowed to see them go back to a whale carcass 18 months later to find sea life still thriving on it. They would show all levels of the ecosystem, from plankton and bacteria to whales to sharks, back to plant life and all the way back. The only drawback I found was only seeing it in fullscreen mode on a widescreen monitor. Now, with these DVDs in anamorphic widescreen, I can enjoy this with my whole family for years to come. the summary is true to form when they say it's a current complete natural history of the oceans, but think of it more as a tribute to aquatic life on this planet, this "bright blue ball, just spinning, spinning free, dizzy with Eternity!"
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly excellent series, but some disturbing sequences
Review: I spent an entire afternoon viewing these DVDs, and am quite impressed with the completeness of this series. It has footage I've never dreamed of having the priveldge of seeing, and pretty much all I watch on TV is wildlife and environmental promgramming. The cinematography and accompanying score play well into each other -basically, if you want a first-class, close-up, stunningly unique view of the oceans, this would be the thing to watch. I'm still awed by the camera angles and lighting the photographers were able to obtain. Who would've thought that bioluminescence could be so absolutely beautiful, albiet otherworldly, or the panicked finesse of a giant shoal of sardines could be downright graceful and mesmerizing to watch? However, if you're sensitive to the delicate balance of predator/prey, be warned. I was surprised to see this series so laden with predation. It seems to me the series should be called "The Food Chain of the Sea", as almost every sequence on both DVD's contained footage of one animal losing its life to another, including a lengthy sequence of a pod of Orcas attempting and succeeding at killing a grey whale calf. The calculated and perfectly-timed maneuvering of the Orcas is completely engrossing, but mothers and sensitive individuals will more than likely find it extremely disturbing to witness, since, although the event is part of the natural scheme of things, one can't help but be saddened at the way the event unfolds. All in all, other than the heavy predation, this series is informative, educational and excellent viewing. You will not be sorry for your purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly excellent series, but some disturbing sequences
Review: I spent an entire afternoon viewing these DVDs, and am quite impressed with the completeness of this series. It has footage I've never dreamed of having the priveldge of seeing, and pretty much all I watch on TV is wildlife and environmental promgramming. The cinematography and accompanying score play well into each other -basically, if you want a first-class, close-up, stunningly unique view of the oceans, this would be the thing to watch. I'm still awed by the camera angles and lighting the photographers were able to obtain. Who would've thought that bioluminescence could be so absolutely beautiful, albiet otherworldly, or the panicked finesse of a giant shoal of sardines could be downright graceful and mesmerizing to watch? However, if you're sensitive to the delicate balance of predator/prey, be warned. I was surprised to see this series so laden with predation. It seems to me the series should be called "The Food Chain of the Sea", as almost every sequence on both DVD's contained footage of one animal losing its life to another, including a lengthy sequence of a pod of Orcas attempting and succeeding at killing a grey whale calf. The calculated and perfectly-timed maneuvering of the Orcas is completely engrossing, but mothers and sensitive individuals will more than likely find it extremely disturbing to witness, since, although the event is part of the natural scheme of things, one can't help but be saddened at the way the event unfolds. All in all, other than the heavy predation, this series is informative, educational and excellent viewing. You will not be sorry for your purchase.
| 
