National Geographic - Kratt Brothers: Be the Creature: The Complete First Season Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the Kratt Brother's third television show, their first being "Kratt's Creatures", then moving on to "Zoboomafoo". Also, this is their first show geared towards an older audience.
This first season contains thirteen 47 minute episodes. Since no one has previously listed these out, I'll do so now. Underneath each, I will label which have more graphic predation scenes, as some have wondered about that. Disc 1:
1. BROWN BEAR:
The Kratt brothers go to the Alaskan Peninsula to see how bears coexist feeding and in everyday life. Then in the second half, they go to a new section of the Alaskan Peninsula to see how mother bears successfully raise their cubs.
PREDATION - Only mentioned in this episode, never shown.
2. WILD DOGS:
The Kratt brothers go to the Okavango region of Botswana to see how Wild dogs raise their pups. Then it's off on the hunt to see if they can keep up with the dogs. Finally, they emigrate with the young Wild dogs that are looking to start new packs.
PREDATION - There are some quite graphic predation scenes when the Wild dog's overtake their prey. *Also* - Regurgitation of the meat for the pups is shown.
3. LION:
The Kratt brothers go to the Chobe region of Botswana to witness the spectacle of lions on the hunt.
PREDATION - This may be the worst episode as far as predation scenes go.
4. LEMURS:
The Kratt brothers go to the Mozambique Channel off of Madagascar, to see as many lemurs in as much of Madagascar as they can.
PREDATION - None. Disc 2:
1. MANATEES:
The Kratt brothers go to the Florida Peninsula to follow the plight of Manatees in winter, and talk about the danger that human's are bringing to their environment.
PREDATION - None.
2. JAPEANESE MACAQUE:
The Kratt brothers go to the Mountains of the Shiga Heights to witness the Monkey's unique hot-tubbing behavior and discuss their culture. They then travel to Southern Japan to see the Coastal Monkeys, and their different forms of culture.
PREDATION - None.
3. COASTAL CREATURES:
The Kratt brothers go to the Patagonian region of Argentina to see the lives of the many coastal creatures that live there. Also, they try to document the Orca's unique method of beach hunting.
PREDATION - The final scenes of the Orca's catching seal pups is quite
graphic. Disc 3:
1. CHIMPS:
The Kratt brothers go to the Ngamba Island Sanctuary in Uganda, Africa to see orphan chimps getting a second chance at life. Then, they go to the Kibale Forest Reserve to witness Wild Chimpanzees on the hunt of Colobus Monkeys,
PREDATION - The scenes of Chimp's eating monkeys is quite disturbing.
2. MONGOOSE:
The Kratt brothers go to the Mweya Peninsula in Uganda, Africa to follow the lives of a pack of Banded Mongoose.
PREDATION - A pup is killed by a monitor lizard.
3. SHARKS:
The Kratt brothers go to False Bay, South Africa to witness sharks seal-hunting.
PREDATION - Sharks leaping out of the water to snag seal decoys and a
shark chasing a seal. No actual killing or disturbing scenes
here.
4. BATS:
The Kratt brothers go to Bracken Cave, Texas, to see the largest concentration of Mexican Free-tailed Bats in the world.
PREDATION - Some young bats being eaten by beetles and snakes are sad. Disc 4:
1. KANGAROO:
The Kratt brothers go to the Snowy Mountains of Australia to live with a mob of Eastern Gray Kangaroos. This episode depicts the life-cycle of the male and female.
PREDATION - None.
2. BABOON:
The Kratt brothers go to the Simien National Park in Ethiopia to find out who's in charge of the Gelada Baboon society.
PREDATION - None. Special Features:
Explore a Creature Fact-files. This is a great collection from the Kratt brothers. Can't wait till' Season 2!
UPDATE: Season 2 is looking highly unlikely by now. :(

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What's it like to run with wild dogs in the Okavango, prowl with lions in Botswana, swim with manatees in Florida, patrol the Patagonia coast with killer whales and dig for clams with grizzlies in Alaska? These are just some of the up-close experiences award-winning wildlife filmmakers Martin and Chris Kratt have in the first season of the hit series from the National Geographic Channel. Travel all over the world with the Kratt brothers as they live with the animals on their turf seeking to understand what it's like to Be the Creature. Each adventure offers a fresh perspective on the private worlds of some of nature's most extraordinary animals.

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Growing Up Wild Cats Review

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(More customer reviews)Animal Planet's "Growing Up" is not only inspiring, but wonderfully educational for everyone who views these great videos. There are 4 episodes including lions, tigers, a black leopard, and Cheetahs! All four videos are wonderful!
There is another Growing Up video which contains 4 videos on Arctic animals. All animal lovers will find themselves falling in love with these special creatures!

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For the first time on DVD, you can enter the world of Lions, Tigers, Black Leopards and Cheetahs, as these cubs find their way through their young lives with the help of some professional human caregivers.

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Man Vs Wild: Season 4 (3pc) Review

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(More customer reviews)Bear has definitely kicked up the pace for his new season. Lot's of horrendous situations with devastating results and mishaps that lead to a test of complete endurance. Will Ferrell debuted on a special episode where he and Bear travel through frozen climate and seas of deep snow and rough terrain. The drop-in scenes have gotten more intense as well as the level of skill that it takes to inhabit such inhospitable regions as Viet Nam or just south of Siberia. Bear has the chance to take down big game that could gouge or skewer Grylls with a swipe. As for the bad parts of the season... the case in comes in. Its just a cheap fold up cardboard case with pockets that the DVDs slide into. Not very feasible and doesn't look presentable. Would have paid more for a copy that had a half-way decent case that wasn't 2 inches wider than normal DVDs. A must-have for those who enjoy the wilderly!!

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In each episode of Man vs. Wild Bear Grylls strands himself in popular wilderness destinations where tourists often find themselves lost or in danger.13 Complete Episodes Plus Bonus, including: Men vs. Wild w/ Very Special Guest Will Ferrel Behind The Scenes Special Locations:Alabama, Arctic Circle, Vietnam, Texas, Alaska, Panama, Big Sky Country, China, Guatemala

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Man vs. Wild - Season 1 (6 DVD set) Review

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(More customer reviews)I abosuletly love this show. Some people say Bear loses a lot for having a camera crew and putting himself into certain situations that aren't truly dangerous, but this is a television show and it is supposed to be entertaining.
With that aside, I bought this 6-DVD set from amazon with hopes of it being of high quality. I was sorely mistaken. These are DVD-R transfers from an outside company.
The downsides to this set include:
There are no interactive menus
The letterbox presentation bars at the top are unsteady and shake.
The actual shows are not of DVD quality
On the second disk of part one, it wouldn't return back to the menu after the episode was over, it just returned to the middle of the episode.
I returned this item to amazon and they were very friendly about the entire ordeal. Their customer service has never steered me wrong.
The actual Discovery channel box set of Man vs. Wild season 1 has fixed all of the above mentioned problems because they are the actual DVDs. So in short--if you want a good copy of a great show buy the Discovery Channel DVD's.

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Man vs. Wild Season 1 (6 DVD Set): Learn life-saving survival skills in some of the toughest, most treacherous environments on the Earth with a man no stranger to extremes, Bear Grylls. Drawing upon all his experiences as a soldier, mountaineer and seasoned adventurer, watch as Bear strands himself in popular wilderness destinations. Armed with a few supplies and the clothes on his back, see how he claws his way back to civilization while demonstrating survival techniques along the way.The following 10 Episodes are included:1. Alaskan Mountain Range 2. Sierra Nevada 3. African Savannah 4. European Alps 5. Everglades 6. Iceland 7. Mexico 8. Kimberly Australia 9. Ecuador 10. Scotland
This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

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Nature's Most Amazing Events (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)There will inevitably be comparisons between "Nature's Most Amazing Events" and Planet Earth. While I can't say that this new series is quite as groundbreaking, it is still pretty great and has some amazing footage.
As its title suggests, "Nature's Most Amazing Events" focuses on some of the most amazing events in the animal kingdom. I actually like the fact that each episode stays in one location (as opposed to the way Planet Earth jumped around the world). However, I thought it could have gone beyond Africa and North America. I also thought this series had some amazing footage of birds and whales, particularly of birds underwater. Those scenes alone make the series worth buying.
One note: I originally watched this series on the Discovery Channel. For some reason, Discovery used another narrator (Hasani Issa), not David Attenborough. As viewers of nature documentaries know, Attenborough's infectious enthusiasm makes his programs truly a joy to watch. As such, this DVD will be much better than the televised version for simply having Attenborough as the narrator.
Now, onto the episodes:
1) Arctic Summer:
This episode focuses on Arctic environments and includes many of the usual suspects, such as Polar Bears. There was a great scene with baby Gillymots learning to fly. The birds essentially jump off a huge cliff and try to land in the ocean. Many miss and bounce along the ground - but survive! This scene evoked the infamous scene in Planet Earth with the ducklings jumping out of the tree - but many times higher, with Arctic foxes waiting at the bottom to eat any unlucky baby Gillymots.
2) Grizzly Wilderness:
This episode follows the Salmon migration in the pacifc northwest - and all of the animals trying to eat them. There's some great shots of the Salmon swimming through the water. In one shot, a Salmon is swimming through a waterfall, jumps out of the water, and - in slow motion - flies toward the camera. There's also a cool scene of a dead Salmon decomposing in fast motion.
3) Surviving the Serengeti:
Unfortunately, there wasn't much new in this episode. It covers the wildebeest migration in East Africa. The wildebeest migration is certainly one of nature's most amazing events, but the Serengeti is also one of nature's most documented events.
4) Army of Predators:
This episode covers the army of predators that chase Sardines. I loved the footage of Gannets plunge-diving into the water to eat fish. The birds look like they're swimming underwater. I've seen some other documentaries trying to capture birds underwater (including Blue Planet: Seas of Life), but this scene was by far the best. The episode climaxes with a battle royale between Gannets, Dolphins, Fur Seals, Sharks, and Bryde's Whale all chasing the Sardines.
5) Kalahari Flood:
This episode focuses on southern Africa, with the drying up of the Okavango River in Botswana. The footage of the Termites up close looks great in HD. These scenes were even better quality than the Termite footage in Life in the Undergrowth. Also lots of elephants wallowing around.
6) Pacific Feast:
This is another underwater battle royale, with Stellar Sea Lions, Orcas, and Humpback Whales all going in for some Herring. This episode includes some of the best blu-ray footage of whales I've seen, with extensive footage of Humpbacks hunting using "bubble nets." The "whale song" that the Humpbacks use while "bubble netting" is haunting. After watching this, it is absolutely clear that these animals are intelligent - coordinating group action, using tools (bubbles), and taking advantage of the Herrings' weaknesses. There's also a great shot of a Humpback exhaling through its blowhole and catching a rainbow on its breath. The mist from the blowhole changes colors from blue to green to yellow to red. I can't describe what it looked like other than to say it was pretty amazing. This is easily some of the best Humpback footage ever.
In short, if you enjoy nature documentaries, don't miss out on "Nature's Most Amazing"! It has wonderful footage of birds underwater and whales. While there are some low points (notably the Serengeti), the best moments far exceed the ocean scenes in Planet Earth.

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Witness the planet's most breathtaking natural events, and follow the dramatic wildlife stories behind them. Combining the epic cinematography of Planet Earth, with all the emotion, intimacy and storytelling of a wildlife diary, this series charts the effects of global climatic phenomena which transform entire landscapes, drawing in thousands of animals and determining their fate. Each episode is set in a different part of the world - from the great flood of the Okavango delta to the plankton blooms of the Pacific Ocean, and from the Indian monsoon to the race for survival triggered by the annual Arctic melt - and shows how immense natural forces, often starting thousands of miles away, drive a chain reaction that culminates in a spectacular wildlife event. For some animals, it's a window of opportunity, but for others, it's the most dangerous time of their lives. Follow their emotional, involving stories to a dramatic climax where their fate will be revealed. Episodes: The Great Melt, The Great Salmon Run, The Great Migration, The Great Tide, The Great Flood, The Great Feast.

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Life Review

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(More customer reviews)The Life series is fantastic, but it comes in two versions -- this one, narrated by Oprah Winfrey for the US market; and the original version as narrated by the naturalist David Attenborough.
While the cinematography remains unchanged, Oprah's narration lacks the depth that Attenborough's years of experience as both naturalist and narrator brings to the table. I strongly recommend waiting for the US release of the original BBC version, narrated by David Attenborough.

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From the BBC and the Discovery Channel, producers of Planet Earth and The Blue Planet: Seas of Life, comes the newest landmark natural history series, Life. In Planet Earth, we brought you the world as you've never seen it before. Now, get closer with Life. Four years in the making, filmed over 3000 days, across every continent and in every habitat, with breathtaking new high definition filming techniques not available for Planet Earth, Life presents 130 incredible stories from the frontiers of the natural world, 54 of which have never been filmed before. Packed with excitement, revelation and entertainment, this remarkable 11-part blockbuster, narrated by Oprah Winfrey, captures unprecedented, astonishingly beautiful sequences and demonstrates the spectacular and extraordinary tactics animals and plants have developed to stay alive.
DVD Features:Deleted ScenesFeaturetteMusic Only Track

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National Geographic: Great Migrations Review

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(More customer reviews)Reviewers: if you love this series, please add your review to bump up the lousy and rather inappropriate comment of the two-star rater. This is NOT a BBC rehash, it's a National Geographic documentary that focuses on the perils and hazards of the migrations of a variety of wildlife, from tiny to huge. While a Mare river crossing might be just that, each one is different and dramatic and most definitely traumatic for the faint-at-heart. It's nature in all its glory and brutality, and it shows how humans have added to the dangers with our ever hungry encroachment on migration routes that have existed for thousands upon thousands of years.
I highly recommend this well made, excellently filmed documentary.

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Three years in the making, and from award-winning National Geographic cinematographers, Great Migrations takes viewers around the world on the arduous journeys millions of animals undertake to ensure the survival of their species. Shot from land and air, in trees and cliff-blinds, on ice floes and underwater, Great Migrations tells the formidable, powerful stories of many of the planet's species and their movements, while revealing new scientific insights with breathtaking high-definition clarity. Narrated by Alec Baldwin.

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