Earth: The Biography [Blu-ray]

The Blue-Ray box that "Earth: The Biography" came in says the format is 1080i, not 1080p.

Every BBC Blue-Ray and HD disk I have previously ordered has been 1080p. I also ordered "Wild China" in Blue-Ray at the same time and it is also labeled 1080i.

It gets worse if you read the comments from "The Blue Ray Expert".

"Earth: The Biography," is an interesting BBC documentary follow up to "Planet Earth." However, shame on the BBC for false advertising.

It's a disgrace that the BBC would put out a 2008 "Blu-ray release," with Blu-ray packaging that falsely claims "1080i Format" on "2 Blu-ray Disc 25" on the packaging, with two enclosed DVD discs marked with the "Blu-ray" Trademark, when what you actually get is a giant rip-off.

You get 2 Standard Definition, 480p discs in the Blu-ray package, that are marked with the Blu-ray Trademark, which are only capable of 480p up conversion to wide screen viewing. This is NOT High Definition!!!

The BBC even has the nerve to use the same BBC - HD promotional introductory video, as was used in Planet Earth, which falsely suggests that you are actually watching a High Definition video!!

BBC, for all that you do right, your Marketing Department, and whomever else may be responsible for this fraudulent "Blu-ray" release of "Earth: The Biography", undermines the BBC's credibility and does a disservice to your loyal audience and clients.

The BBC should recall this fraudulent "Blu-ray" release of "Earth: The Biography" immediately, and continue to only release "Earth: The Biography" in Standard Definition.

Unlike the BBC series "Planet Earth", which is a stunning series in itself, "Earth, the Biography" shys away from lifeforms on the planet and looks at the Earth herself; in all its glory and complexity.

While I strongly disagree with one reviewer claiming this is proof we are ALONE in the Universe (C'mon, we can barely see into our own galaxy, let alone the billions of other massive galaxies in the Universe!), there is no doubt that our planet is rare amoung celestial bodies. Requiring all the right components to support complex life; like human beings. To believe the Earth was created by some super being is naive at best. This series proves we weren't here before, and we won't be again some day in the future...but Earth will still go on. Ian says, "forget save the Earth, she will survive, how about save the human race!"

Beautiful to watch, deeply interesting and thought provoking, and slightly frightening with it's dire warnings of global warming, I highly recommend this series to all who love our planet.

This is an excellent series. The perspective given -- that the earth (and therefore complex life) is absolutely unique in the entire universe -- goes against the grain of the deeply held belief of generations raised on the fantasies of Star Trek, Star Wars and the goofy SETI crowd. We need to understand what Dr. Iain Stewart, the enthusiastic host, is trying to impart to us: The myriad chance factors that absolutely had to happen at the exact time and in the exact order that they occurred for the earth to become a perfectly balanced habitat for higher forms of life is so unbelievably fantastic that to think it has been repeated elsewhere is ludicrous -- not to mention mathematically impossible.

I also recommend that you read the book, Rare Earth: Why Complex Life Is Uncommon in the Universe by Dr. Donald Brownlee and Dr. Peter Ward, which is the basis for the 'Rare Earth' hypothesis expounded upon by Dr. Stewart. They rework the famous "Drake equation", which was put forth back in 1961 when our understanding of all of the forces necessary for life to exist was quite incomplete. This "equation" became the basis for the Sagan school of belief that the universe is just chock-full of "Class M" planets inhabited by cuddly, bug-eyed aliens who, naturally, have radios, computers and fly spaceships. Of course, SETI has found nothing and never will -- because there is nothing to find!

We are ALONE in the universe -- and that is the most profound thing to realize.

With vivid, well-composed landscapes and animal shots popping up at least once a minute, this documentary series looks great in Blu-Ray. Even many of the basic shots are really well lit. The CGI effects are cool, too.

Is it as good as Planet Earth? No. These shows are not a nonstop visual extravaganza. But don't let that dissuade you. If it wasn't for "Planet Earth" everyone would be raving about this set. Because though the screen sometimes shows just a guy or two talking in front of a washed out sky, overall "Earth: The Biography" is just as interesting and at times even more informative. And like I said, though it's not all eye candy, there is plenty of it.

These are the same shows that recently aired on the National Geographic Channel. There are no bonus features.

Disc 1 has three shows, "Volcanoes," "Atmosphere" and "Ice." Disc 2 adds "Oceans" and "Rare Earth." Each of the first four explains how that particular system works, as well as what happens when it's messed with.

The last show examines a theory that says simple life may actually be common on other planets, but complex life -- i.e., animal life -- requires such a complex sequence of events that we'll never find another human-like population. It goes on to examine how humans are damaging the planet. Did you know each year people cut down enough forest to cover the state of South Carolina?

Everything is presented with plenty of objective, scientific information.

My favorite show is the first one, since it includes the formation of Earth. Did you know scientists think our planet once had a twin? Or that the moon is drifting away from us?

Though the narrator, Dr. Iain Stewart, speaks in a Scottish brogue, I didn't have any trouble understanding him. He's calm and articulate.

By the way, you can't help but be reminded of "Planet Earth" as you watch this. A commercial for it is actually the first thing that comes up when you pop in Disc 1.

Besides "Planet Earth," I'd recommend pairing this up with An Inconvenient Truth. Or a trip to go see Wall-E.