BBC Atlas of the Natural World - Western Hemisphere and Anarctica (Land of the Eagle / Spirits of the Jaguar / Wild South America / Life in the Freezer)

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This staggeringly beautiful collection of four BBC series about the natural (and often social) history of the Americas and Antarctica is something to behold. Rich in endless detail yet satisfying as an integrated vision of continental eco-systems, BBC Atlas of the Natural World makes our planet look like a miraculous place indeed, with an astonishing diversity of wildlife and habitats. The story of human migration across Western lands figures into several of this box set's 18 hours of viewing, providing a subjective view of the environments which people explored and settled over many thousands of years.

Central America is the subject of the four-part "Spirits of the Jaguar," which begins with Mayan creation myths about a battle between gods leading to the formation of the Earth. In fact, islands of the Caribbean were forged by volcanoes 150 million years ago, with plant and animal life following some 70 million years later. Typical of BBC Atlas of the Natural World is the extraordinary photography in this program: frogs and insects suddenly caught in flowing tree sap, crocodiles leaping to pull prey from trees. The story of the Mayans—farmers, astronomers, inventors—moving from the deserts of Mexico down to the jungles of Central America, their lives sustained by slash-and-burn agriculture and good nutrition, is told. So is the tale of the lost civilization of the Aztecs, wanderers for ten generations, viewing themselves as a chosen people, extinguishers of other peoples in Mexico and ultimately destroyed themselves by Spanish conquistadors.

"Land of the Eagle" is a four-part, eye-opening history of North America's transition from home to 10.000 years of native peoples to carved-up European territories eventually devoid of many natural wonders (including buffalo and massive forests). This melancholy story of paradise exploited is offset by remarkable cinematography of wolves, grizzlies, snakes, beavers and birds, while "Wild South America," with its own quartet of episodes, is equally dazzling in its nature photography. South America looks like a magical place of dramatic beauty in this series, a continent once joined to Australia (the two lands share an abundance of marsupials) and home to the world's largest mountain chain and a river (the Amazon) that carries one-fifth of Earth's water. The incredible sights of the Andes and Patagonia (the latter so near Antarctica) are almost indescribable. Speaking of the bottom of the world, "Life In the Freezer," in six epsiodes, is one of the BBC's most splendid productions, a tour of Antarctica hosted by Davd Attenborough that is far more compelling than March of the Penguins. --Tom Keogh

Description

The first release in BBC Video's ambitious Atlas of the Natural World series presents an in-depth look at the Western Hemisphere and Antarctica. This six-disc set brings together four landmark BBC series that combine to give one of the most comprehensive portraits of the Americas and Antarctica ever assembled. In over 18 hours of programming viewers will explore the vast richness of the land, wildlife and peoples of North America (Land of the Eagle), Central America (Spirits of the Jaguar) South America (Wild South America) and Antarctica (Life in the Freezer).

Customer Reviews:

ASTOUNDINGLY FANTASTIC NATURE SERIES .......2007-09-07

This series has very good explanations of how wild life is affected by the environment; how it affects their life style, behavior, diet, etc. The greatest diversity of environments and creatures of any nature series I have ever seen. Fantastic cinematography. No gory scenes of predators killing prey. Just a broad coverage of the web which makes up all life in the Americas. A scientific presentation with great humor and appeal. I own a large library of nature and wildlife DVD; this is one of the very very best. I have waited for this one to come out on DVD for a long time.

Average customer rating:

Loved since childhood
For the most part... Blech.

Spirit of the Eagle
Starring: Dan Haggerty , William Smith , Trever Yarrish , Jeri Arredondo , and Taylor Lacher
Director: Boon Collins
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001IXSSW
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Customer Reviews:

Loved since childhood.......2006-12-28

I have loved this movie since I was a kid. Beautiful footage of the eagles is great with an adventurous plot line. Great for slightly older kids.

For the most part... Blech........2000-12-02

I borrowed this from the library some time back, and was VERY unimpressed by the 'story' this all goes by (The 'kid who was picked on but is confident in the end.' type deal.) and it has a small bit of misinformation. The one redeeming factor of this video is that it does have some exceptional footage of bald eagles, which is only slightly inturrupted by the little kids' wowing over it.

Average customer rating:

Loved since childhood
For the most part... Blech.

Spirit of the Eagle
Starring: Dan Haggerty , William Smith , Trever Yarrish , Jeri Arredondo , and Taylor Lacher
Director: Boon Collins
Manufacturer: Simitar Ent.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Animal Action | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: 6305103526
Release Date: 1998-09-09

Customer Reviews:

Loved since childhood.......2006-12-28

I have loved this movie since I was a kid. Beautiful footage of the eagles is great with an adventurous plot line. Great for slightly older kids.

For the most part... Blech........2000-12-02

Average customer rating:

Runner up for the worst movie of all time

Spirit of the Eagle/Sign of the Otter
Starring: Spirit of the Eagle , and Sign of the Otter
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007XG3W4
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Customer Reviews:

Runner up for the worst movie of all time.......2006-04-14

The all too often out of breath American militia Leader (Dan Haggerty) gives a painfully mind numbing performance as an uninspiring Military Captain during the revolutionary war. Rick Washburn also joins this rag-tag team as a British Commander attempting to provide some comic relief but ultimately leaves you begging for relief from this hopeless movie. On the back of the DVD it says it is much akin to the spirit and theme of Dances with Wolves and to which I can only respond by quoting the ninth commandment, "Thou shalt not bear false witness". Heaven help us all that this movie may never find its way into our DVD players. It's only saving grace is that it's rated PG. If you have children that you don't mind making dumber, buy this movie for them. It's a great sedative.

Average customer rating:

Spirit of the Eagle [Region 2]
Starring: Ken Carpenter , James Karen , Taylor Lacher , Don Shanks , and William Smith
Director: Boon Collins , and Kathleen Phelan
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Action & Adventure | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000EYK4AS
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Dan Haggerty: Spirit of the Eagle/Sign of the Otter

Average customer rating:

Runner up for the worst movie of all time

Dan Haggerty: Spirit of the Eagle/Sign of the Otter
Starring: Dan Haggerty
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00028G76G
Release Date: 2004-07-06

Customer Reviews:

Runner up for the worst movie of all time.......2006-04-14

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