Review of Planets, The

Video

It has taken me quite a while to write a review of this double DVD.

Firstly this disc is L O N G!! It contains all eight 50 minute episodes of this ground breaking BBC science documentary series that stunned us all when it first ventured onto our screens in early 1999. Nothing like it had ever been seen before, and it took three years to make. The next documentary series in a similar vein ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ will be out on DVD this spring, but for me, The Planets is far more factual and entertaining.

This series uses state of the art computer animation, combined with real footage of the wonders of our solar system. This was one DVD I was really looking forward to seeing on my projector. The sheer scale of the enormity of space is vividly brought home and it really makes the viewer realise how insignificant he is when considered on a cosmic scale. The next time you are being shouted at by your boss in the office for something trivial, having seen this series you can just smile at him and think how insignificant he is. And the best bit is that your boss wont be thinking like that! To him, his own little world is the office. To you, you know we are just carbon based life forms on an evolutionary ball of rock 3.6 billion years old. Kinda makes you think dunnit?!!!

Well, where was I? Ah the video quality! Well this is an excellent DVD in terms of the quality of its video tracks. I have tested this disc on an RGB connected Sony TV, the projector, and a DVD ROM drive, the latter being the unit that most often reveals a crap picture, but no. This disc has a great transfer – something that is only to be expected as this series would have been vastly let down if the DVD had suffered with bad picture quality.

The disc is anamorphic, and you get four episodes per DVD.

Audio

The audio is in Dolby Digital but not 5.1, as being a TV series 3 point surround is supplied. Interestingly, the best Dolby Digital trailer is proudly included at the start of each DVD (the train one!) which makes you wonder why, as there is no 5.1! Still – one to show off to your mates with.

This series is truly brought to life by the specially composed score that accompanies the stunning visuals. A mix between contempory and classical, the music adds clout to this production and atmosphere. The shots of the open void of space with the tiny Earth sized moons of Jupiter revolving around this gas giant is powerfully brought home to the viewer with a crescendo of audio.

Features

This double DVD really doesn’t give you anything bar this tremendous TV experience.

The menus are beautifully animated and the two DVDs each contain four episodes.

Conclusion

Stunning! Fab! Wow!

I love this DVD, as I did the series when I saw it last year. The subject matter is awe-inspiring and the creation of the universe just has to be appreciated with the sheer respect it deserves.

The computer animation and accompanying audio makes all eight 50 minute episodes compelling viewing, best experienced late at night with all the lights off and the sound at a moderate level. You have to concentrate on the wealth of factual information that is being presented to you, so uninterrupted viewing of each episode is a must.

At £34.99 it is a DVD that should be considered. You have well over 6 hours of entertainment here! Hats off to the Beeb for a truly marvellous documentary series.