Originally released in 2007, the BBC’s Planet Earth set the bar for the Blu-ray format. Almost anyone who wanted to see the best of what high definition could do picked up Earth; people who never gave a second thought to nature and its inner workings were suddenly rapt by it. The eleven-episode series has some of the most beautiful, jaw-dropping imagery to ever grace the screen.  From start to finish, Planet Earth is a unique opportunity to see things most of us would have otherwise never seen. Since most viewers are likely aware of the sets content, this review will focus on the differences between the 6-disc 2011 Special Edition release of Planet Earth and its 4-disc 2007 predecessor.

To quote the back cover of the latest release, “the greatest Blu-ray release of all time just got even better, newly encoded to take advantage of recent innovations in Blu-ray technology.” This sounds great since there have been some notable improvements in Blu-ray technology since 2007. Knowing that, I was more than a little surprised to discover that the BBC has presented the series in 1080i, rather than 1080p. It’s even odder considering that the 2007 edition is presented in 1080p. While this current release of Planet Earth is still impressive, it’s hard to deny that more recent BBC nature documentaries—Life comes to mind—look clearer, and burst forth with more vivid color.

Still, this transfer offers much to recommend. For the most part, colors burst off the screen. Things are lifelike throughout, beautiful earthtones, solid contrast, and reasonably deep (albeit imperfect) black levels. Detail is ALMOST reference quality. This is good looking stuff.

Differences between the 2011 Special Edition presentation and its 2007 counterpart aren’t all that apparent, regardless of what innovations and technologies were used to produce the new encode. Shot for shot, the two editions are nearly comparable. Noise is more apparent this time around, but it’s ingrained noise courtesy of the photography, mosquito noise courtesy of the encode, or digital noise courtesy of some small compression issues. Banding occurs from time to time, most often when the underwater cameras are at work; though it’s less of a problem here than it was in the 2007 edition.

The “i” in “1080i” will scare away some fans and leave others grumbling, but in motion, the 1080i encode isn’t going to disappoint very many people. Comparisons between the 1080i and 1080p versions end in a near draw, although I think the 2007 1080p presentation still has an edge, particularly when it comes to wide shots teeming with fields of birds or beasts. Ultimately, anyone straddling the fence should focus on the real upgrades the Special Edition affords: a DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 surround track and more than thirteen hours of special features and bonus documentaries.

The 2011 Special Edition release boasts a strong 2.0Mbps DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 surround track. Sir David Attenborough’s narration is paramount here, so audio improvements are apparent when he pauses and nature speaks. Rear speaker activity isn’t overwhelming, it’s just perfect. Thunder storms, raging rivers, and the cacophony of animal calls and environmental ambience are clean and clear. LFE output isn’t amazing, but it does a fine job with the material. Dynamics are wonderful, and every stampede sounds thunderous Fine stuff.

The special features here are wonderful, and a great reason to make the purchase.

  • Audio Commentaries (Discs 1-3): Five episode commentaries are available. On “Pole to Pole,” producer Mark Linfield discusses the challenges of starting the series correctly, provides an overview of the various locales and animal life that appears, details the editing and pacing decisions made before the show debuted, and the icy trials and bone-chilling tribulations the Planet Earth photographers and crew faced along the way. For “Mountains,” Vanessa Berlowitz is just as engaging and informative as the others, not to mention one of the best commentaries in the set. Producer Huw Cordey delves into “Caves” and strikes a balance between Linfield’s matter-of-fact dissection and Berlowitz’s lively chat. He rarely takes a breath, making the most of his 49-minute reflection on the weeks and months he spent trekking beneath the surface of the planet. Producer Jonny Keeling tackles “Great Plains.” He weaves stories, production info and accounts of day-to-day obstacles and dangers with reserved passion. Finally, producer Mark Brownlow reads a pre-prepared series of thoughts of reflections, stumbling over some of his written words and disappearing for longer stretches than the other commentators.
  • Music Only Viewing Option (Discs 1-4): Each episode includes an isolated score.
  • Planet Earth Diaries (Discs 1-4, SD, 107 minutes): Each episode is also accompanied by a candid eight to ten-minute production featurette that goes behind-the-scenes to put faces on the men and women responsible for capturing Planet Earth‘s breathtaking imagery. As an added bonus, five of the featurettes offer an optional commentary track; Linfield returns for “Pole to Pole,” Berlowitz for “Mountains,” Cordey for “Caves,” Keeling for “Great Plains” and Brownlow for “Shallow Seas.”
  • Great Planet Earth Moments (Disc 4, HD, 46 minutes): Sir David Attenborough narrates “the high points and not-so-high points” of the 10-episode documentary series and its production, and revisits it’s most stunning vistas, arresting footage, daring photography and dazzling moments. Numerous interviews with key members of the crew are peppered throughout.
  • The Future: Saving Species (Disc 5, HD, 59 minutes): “There have been few natural history films like it. Planet Earth. What a world we live in, and what an experience it must have been to film it. So why have the production team come away with mixed emotions?” That’s the question that drives the first of three additional documentaries housed on Disc Five.
  • The Future: Into the Wilderness (Disc 5, HD, 59 minutes): This program explores the deeper importance of wilderness. It will ask how it serves us now, and why isn’t just virgin territory waiting for an ever-expanding humanity to take it over.” Like “Saving Species,” “Into the Wilderness” examines the threat posed by population, the growing economy, and the manner in which humans use their wealth.
  • The Future: Living Together (Disc 5, HD, 59 minutes): Rounding out Disc Five’s three-part reality check, “Living Together” again poses a level-headed argument and makes a strong case for conservation.
  • Snow Leopard: Beyond the Myth (Disc 6, HD, 49 minutes): Disc Six also offers a trio of bonus documentaries, but each one is smaller in scope. Up first is a fascinating introduction to the elusive snow leopard and its battle for survival in the mountains of Pakistan. Rather than follow a biologist or a wildlife photographer, though, it follows a journalist who’s worked in and around Northern Pakistan for the last twenty years as he searches for snow leopards, studies their behavior.
  • Secrets of the Maya Underworld (Disc 6, SD, 49 minutes): The Yucatan is a place of great mystery and even greater underground intrigue, and modern explorers have found something in the Maya underworld that, as narrator Simon MacCorkindale puts it, “has changed the way we understand the Yucatan forever.”
  • Elephant Nomads of the Namib Desert (Disc 6, HD, 49 minutes): “Elephant Nomads of the Namib Desert” is a majestic and engrossing study of the elephants and their families, the protection the older members provide their calves, the aggression of wandering bulls, the struggle to find food as the seasons change, and the plights of several individual elephants.
  • Frozen Planet Sneak Peek (Disc 6, HD, 13 minutes): An extended preview of Frozen Planet, the upcoming seven-part nature documentary series co-produced by the BBC and the Discovery Channel. I can’t wait!