List Price: $29.98You Pay Only: $21.99 You Save: $7.99 (27%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0883929026067
Format: Anamorphic, Color, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Label: BBC Warner
Manufacturer: BBC Warner
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: BBC Warner
Region Code: 1
Release Date: July 22, 2008
Running Time: 230 minutes
Sales Rank: 1362
Studio: BBC Warner
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
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Editorial Review:
Description:
This landmark series uses specialist imaging and compelling narrative to tell the life story of our planet, how it works, and what makes it so special. Examining the great forces that shape the Earth - volcanoes, the ocean, the atmosphere and ice - the programme explores their central roles in our planet's story. How do these forces affect the Earth's landscape, its climate, and its history? CGI gives the audience a ringside seat at these great events, while the final episode brings together all the themes of the series and argues that Earth is an exceptionally rare kind of planet - giving us a special responsibility to look after our unique world. This is a series that shows the Earth in new and surprising ways. Extensive use of satellite imagery reveals new views of our planet, while timelapse filmed over many months brings the planet to life. Offering a balance between dramatic visuals and illuminating facts, this ground-breaking series makes global science truly compelling.
Amazon.com:
To demonstrate the stunning beauty and overwhelming power of the Earth, Dr. Iain Stewart climbs into the crater of an active volcano in Ethiopia, jets into the stratosphere, climbs the frozen crests of the Alps, races the tide at the Amazon basin, dives into underwater caverns in Mexico, and generally enjoys himself to no end. His infectious enthusiasm is hardly necessary, though; Earth: The Biography (formerly The Power of the Planet) is five episodes of phenomenal images and fascinating information about how our planet formed and the potent yet delicate balance of life. Stewart, the program's host, seems destined to become the Carl Sagan of geology; his cheerful Scottish accent (he sounds like he walked out of Trainspotting) is just waiting for a catchphrase like 'billions and billions' to make him a household name. Earth: The Biography juxtaposes things gigantic (tectonic plates) and teeny-tiny (plankton) while gracefully explaining the crucial role each plays in making the world habitable for life as we know it. There's even surprising humor, like demonstrating the ocean's currents through the movement of 29,000 plastic ducks that were swept overboard in a storm, or how the first thing jet pilot Joe Kittinger does, after successfully parachuting from the highest point in the stratosphere anyone has ever jumped (including 15 minutes of free fall), is light up a cigarette. Add in some CGI models of prehistoric beasts and volcanic activity, and you've got a completely addictive examination of the Earth in all its majesty. --Bret Fetzer
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Better than "Planet Earth" series?
I see several reviewers not liking "Earth: The Biography" as much as "Planet Earth", both of which I own. I found the BBC version "Earth: The Biography" to be far more useful on a broader scale, packing an enormous amount of information and understanding into only 4 main episodes, and finally the amazing "Rare Planet" finale. I have a background in Biology & Genetics, but I would recommend this series to anyone- layperson or scientist. It is in-depth enough to satisfy my questioning nature, while clear and succinct enough for my 10 year old and totally non-science daughter to understand!
If you want an understanding about "the big picture" about the dynamics of our planet, then this is the right series. I feel that "Planet Earth" is more for those who would appreciate a huge in-depth episode about each little thing- a whole episode dedicated just to caves! For a broad understanding in far less time though, "Earth: The Biography" is the way to go.
Ok, well truly I'd recommend them both! :-) It just depends on your personal taste as to which style you like: everything in a nutshell, or much longer detail under the microscope kind of view.
Rating: - Big Picture Hope - with a Scottish Host
As one who feels some despair about the state of the world on socioeconomic and environmental levels, I found EARTH: THE BIOGRAPHY wide-reaching enough that I regained some energy to work for the future of the planet. Geology and geography, environment and the human footprint are dealt with here rationally and clearly alongside excellent photography and computer graphics. I buy a DVD once every 4-5 years on average; this one was an instant-buy even before its release date.
Rating: - Thought provoking and entertaining.........
All in all I think this is an excellent overview of the 4.5 billion year history of our planet. "Earth" goes a bit further than geology by putting each of the presented forces into an affective context. Our biosphere is more integrated and dependent than most people realize. This series serves to bring that thought to light. People can put out all the good or bad information they like. It is up to the reader/viewer to find the truth through several sources. None of the documentaries produced should be taken as THE authority on any subject. Whatever National Geographic would like to TELL me I should believe Is not what will evolve into the truth for me. I will decide that for myself. Considering my philosophy on assimilating this or other information I think some folks were a bit hard on this series. It is what it is and if I want more information I will find it. These types of programs are meant to be educational ENTERTAINMENT. Thought provoking without covering every possible detail. As educational entertainment this show has done a wonderful job of explaining the processes of the earth and how they relate to everything around us including our own existence. This program is worth the $20 I paid for it and this series is well worth sitting down with your kids to watch. Programs like this can only spark more curiosity and imagination. More than the actual facts and figures which can be researched at anytime I think programs like this serve to keep our curiosity and imagination moving and our brains ... Read More
Rating:  - Great Pictures, Poor Science.
I and wife are NG "fans", contributors and subscribers (also TRAVELER), but this time I was very disappointed... That is to say, they've "gone too far". Let me try to explain. (By the way we have the full DVD set, which consists of 5 programs of approximately :45 in length.) I very much enjoyed the videography, and even the host, but the program compromises what it purports to do, which is, trace the history and significance of various elements of life on earth, with some very dubious science. Let me give you an example, but in order to understand the example you must understand that every episode of the program is permeated with stern warnings, flash-forward images, etc. regarding anthropogenic global warming. (I chuckle to remember that In THE OCEANS the host, referring to a quite debatable and theoretical link between CO2 absorption and acidity levels in certain parts of the ocean, and for some reason also referring to an isolated local jellyfish kill in the south pacific [which he admits was due to natural weather fluctuations] actually exclaims: "We're pumping out so much CO2 that the oceans just can't keep up.." [This statement vis a vis acidity alone is a VERY hefty amalgam of dubious science.])In any case, the example I WANTED to give, was the main thrust of The Oceans: that because of global warming, the conveyor current is likely to "shut down" just as it did 250 million years ago when same shut-down caused the Permian extinction. I thought this was infuriating, as there remains GREAT debate ... Read More
Rating: - More of a resume than a biography ;)
'Earth - The Biography' is a documentary about Earth's geology, atmosphere, and oceans.
It provides a short overview of how our planet was created but its main focus is on how Earth's natural forces combine to create conditions for life - and how this makes Earth a unique place in the Solar system and 'perhaps in the universe'.
It's a very high quality documentary that is on the same level as 'Planet Earth' and 'Blue Planet' - with great footage and visions of earth.
The guy with the accent is actually very charming, watchable, and non-obtrusive. I'm a non-native speaker and had no problems understanding what he was saying. Besides, there are subtitles.
I only regret that they did not put any special features on the DVD. After watching all five episodes, I really wanted to see a little more.
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