Disney / Buena Vista | 2007 | 90 mins | Rated G
Part of the recently launched Disneynature project, the 90-minute Earth is actually a shortened version of the colossal BBC series, Planet Earth. Though severely cut, the editors have done a smooth job of creating a cohesive project. Disney chose to focus on the three animal “families” from the TV series: polar bears, elephants, and humpback whales. Along the way, we get a glimpse at several potential predators and other animals that spend time in the areas that are discussed.
We watch as these three groups of species make migrations to areas where they can feed. The trips are arduous leaving some of the animals on the verge of death; indeed, a few don’t survive their ordeals, and the filmmakers aren’t averse to showing nature at its most unmerciful. While film is rated G, we are spared up close and personal views of animals tearing apart their prey and feeding; there is still plenty that some children may find troubling. Lions are shown gang-attacking a small elephant under the darkness of night, though cameras don’t follow the chase into the bushes. On another occasion, there is a cheetah’s pursuit and capture of a Thompson’s Gazelle.
Disney levels things out though, by showing that predators suffer as well. We are shown a male polar bear who was forced to swim 60 miles because the ice melted. Tired, exhausted, and starving, he lands on a place inhabited by walruses. He tries for a baby, but the adults circle up; as we’ve seen other species do in this series. Out of desperation he attacks a larger walrus and fails. As he curls up in the sand, wounded, just a few feet away from a colony of walruses that clearly could have nourished him, he’s resigned to death.
Narrated by James Earl Jones, Earth provides a solid alternative for those who don’t have the time to devote to the 550-minute Planet Earth series; though it does still contain some potentially disturbing images, Earth is also more likely to capture the imagination of youngsters because of the careful edits, feature length and softer, “Disneyfied” narration. If watching Earth inspires you or your family to watch Planet Earth, great; I can’t recommend it enough. If not, with Earth, you still get the opportunity to watch some of the biggest creatures on Earth and witness some of the most beautiful vistas you’ll ever see.
Disney’s Earth boasts a solid 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that matches the BBC’s impressive Blu-ray presentation. Colors are stunning, blacks are absorbing, contrast is vibrant, and detail is fabulous. the tiny You can clearly see flakes of dust swirling around a scared elephant and the textured hide of a walrus. A few sequences are hindered by errant noise and spiking grain (particularly nighttime shots and dust storm scenes) but each instance can be attributed to the film’s source, not the quality of Disney’s technical transfer. Artifacting is a problem once in awhile, slow-motion shots are occasionally graced by vertical bands, minor shimmering appears throughout the presentation, and underwater scenes suffer from faint macroblocking. Each problem is relatively minor but some viewers will be bothered by them.
Earth features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that enhances every aspect of the documentary. James Earl Jones’ commanding voice is given legitimate weight and presence, enhancing the film’s harsh environments with a convincing ambient atmosphere, and lending immersiveness to the soundfield. Whether listening to tiny creatures hopping through the underbrush, following a frightened elephant calf into a raging dust storm, or diving beneath the icy waves with a pair of humpback whales, Earth sounds full and rich.
Earth contains the following special features:
• Filmmaker Annotations: This Picture-in-Picture tracks gives the filmmakers and documentarians ample opportunity to discuss the reason the film was created, the process that went into deciding which footage would be used and which would be shelved, the original photography, the techniques used to catch such startling imagery and more.
• Living Menus Content: I really liked this idea. Users can navigate around the main menu’s globe and click on several continental hotspots, each of which reveal some limited content (either a series of facts or a short video about the area in question). Further, the menu guide suggests that the hotspots will change from time to time for anyone who has a BonusView capable player.
• Earth Diaries (HD, 43 minutes): A behind-the-scenes documentary that looks into the film’s presentation, the challenges faced by the filmmakers, and the BBC crew’s efforts to get the footage featured in the film.
• Standard DVD: I really like the fact that Disney is providing a standard copy with Blu-ray’s. Most probably still have a regular DVD player in the house.
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