Into the Blu

BBC is the premiere source for the most engaging and incredible documentaries in my opinion, the scope and scale surpass blockbuster movies and the cinematography and approach used to film these docs prove the filmmakers talent, dedication and passion. ‘Wonders of the Solar System’ removes us from our comfort zone and expands the view from our friendly Planet Earth to the mystery that is our Solar System. Does it live up to the BBC’s previous efforts?

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When it comes to documentaries, the British Broadcasting Corporation, otherwise known as the BBC, strives to not only to provide a high quality production, but the best that can be offered.  The 2007 release of Planet Earth was truly a sight to behold and up to that point, was arguably the greatest nature documentary of all time.  Not only did the crew manage to capture the beauty of nature, they also managed to grab footage never before seen, ranging from highly endangered creatures to behaviors of desperation. You would think the BBC would be satisfied with such a monumental undertaking, but they decided to follow it up.  Their latest Blu-ray release is an extension of sorts from Planet Earth, simply titled life. Continue Reading

When I heard Hamlet was coming to Blu-ray, I was immediately asking myself whether it’d be Kenneth Branagh’s version or Mel Gibson’s… or perhaps Ethan Hawke’s modern telling. I was surprised to find that the first Hamlet to get the Blu-ray treatment was none of the above, but rather a screen adaptation of a recent stage version starring David Tennant and Patrick Stewart. How does this modern retelling of the classic Shakespeare play hold up to previous incarnations?

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BBC is synonymous with groundbreaking documentaries, with Planet Earth being the ultimate example of riveting documenting and beautiful cinematography. Wild Pacific is produced by Planet Earth’s producer Huw Cordey, which brings along some expectation. Does Wild Pacific bode well in comparison to its big brother, Planet Earth?

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Galapagos, considered to be earth’s microcosm, tells the story of a series of islands that were Darwin’s inspiration for the theory of evolution. The islands even now are home to a large array of different species seen nowhere else on the planet. The documentary covers everything from the history of the islands, Darwin’s presence and the amazing animals that inhabit the area. Continue Reading

Nature documentaries and Blu-ray go together like peanut butter and jelly or macaroni and cheese. In this humble writer’s opinion, the two best nature documentaries on Blu-ray to date are Planet Earth and Galapagos, both produced by the BBC, which feature some compelling storytelling and above all else, stunning video presentations. Now along comes another nature documentary showing great promise, Earth. Snappy title huh? While Earth is released by Disneynature, it is a co-production with the BBC and the Discovery channel along with Green Light Media. Given this pedigree, it will be interesting to see how Earth stacks up against the best. Continue Reading

I have been a huge fan of Torchwood since season one ran on HDNet back in 2007. Season one featured some incredible writing, making it one of the most original and interesting sci-fi TV series I have ever seen. Season two was even better, with better character development and stronger story lines. Torchwood is not a series that is afraid to take risks, such as killing off several central characters. Continue Reading

Documentaries can be a hard sell, especially when they’re covering nature, as this is subject matter that has been covered time and again.  So when the BBC decided they were going to do one on a grand scale, they had their work cut out for them.  How could they do this documentary differently and what would they cover?  How about the diversity of our great oceans?  What about the untamed plains of Africa?  Why not choose to film our planet’s least-explored environments; caves?  In the end, the BBC covered each of these environments and many, many more.  Continue Reading

The arrival of Blu-ray and high definition home video has had an enormous effect on the documentary industry. Suddenly cinematographers can bring us to the most remote reaches of our globe and even beyond, and they can do so with such detail and sharpness it’s like opening a window to these once unreachable places. Wild China is a perfect example of this ability. With incredible HD equipment, this mini-series from the BBC brings the hidden realms of China into our living rooms. Continue Reading