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If you're new to Coast, this is the series that investigates and explores the mysteries of the British coastline. It's an ambitious piece of work, attacked with real enthusiasm and knowledge by its team. And it's their passion that's one part of the success of this series.

The other magical ingredient though is the British coastline itself, and few opportunities are passed over to maximise it. There's some glorious photography on show here, all the better for its digital presentation, and if anything--extraordinary given the running time of the three series--the only criticism of note is that in their desire to cover all of the British Isles, the team go at a faster pace sometimes than you'd like.

That's hardly a damning criticism though, and it certainly pales in comparison to perhaps the best complement that you can attribute to Coast, that it inspires you to seek out and visit the many places it shows you. A superb, fascinating piece of work, and this three-series set is a complete delight. --Jon Foster
Coast - a must!, 2008-07-20

This is an excellent series with true BBC investigation and great contribution from experts and people that lived during the times that some of the programs refer to.
It is definitely worthwhile buying and watching the whole series and it gives many hours of entertainment at a very good price. I actually think that buying the 3 series in one box is a great advantage and worth the extra money as you can not get enough of it.Great value!
Please go ahead and buy all 3 and you will enjoy it for sure!!

A thorough and entertaining overview of one of evolution's greatest success stories, the series is loosely structured to follow the development of mammals, beginning with the basics in "A Winning Design", which clarifies what makes a mammal different from reptiles and birds--no, it isn't egg-laying: both the platypus and the echidna are egg-laying mammals; it's their ability to adapt. And it's this adaptability that becomes the crux of the remainder of the series. "Insect Hunters" focuses on mammals who have specifically adapted to eating insects, from the giant anteater and the armoured armadillo to bats, which have evolved into complex and effective hunters. "Plant Predators" demonstrates the particular (and often peculiar) adaptations of herbivores, while "Chisellers" is about those mammals who feed primarily on roots and seeds, ranging from tree-dwelling squirrels to opportunistic mice and rats. "Meat Eaters" talks about the evolutionary arms race that exists between predators and prey, and the unique adaptations of both individual and pack hunters. Omnivores are explored in "Opportunists"--mammals like bears and raccoons, whose varied diet allows them to occupy nearly any environment. "Return to the Water" discusses those mammals such as whales, seals and dolphins that have left behind life on dry land and adapted completely to life in the sea, existing at the top of the food chain. The last three episodes--"Life in the Trees", "Social Climbers" and "Food for Thought"--take the viewer through the development of primates, eventually culminating in that most successful mammal: man. --Robert Burrow
Great for kids too!, 2005-06-15
With three boys ages 3,5 & 7, DVD requests were always Bob the Builder, Thomas, Tweenies, etc. No longer! David Attenborough has the rare talent of capturing the attention of adults and young children alike. This series is excellently presented, beautifully shot and thoroughly enjoyable. If you would rather your children learnt something when watching the box, then this is the DVD for you.

Long in the making, the idea behind the show was to, using some cutting-edge technology, film previously unseen areas of the ocean, and to investigate life beneath the waves. And in doing so, it pretty much encompasses the full spectrum of creature size. From the staggering, gigantic whale of the first episode, through the miniscule life that's documented as the programme progresses, it's a jaw-dropping experience.

It's also a very, very accessible one. Thanks to a diligent, warm narrative from Sir David Attenborough, there's plenty of fact married up to the sheer spectacle of The Blue Planet, although in many ways the stunning photography almost needs no accompaniment. It's timeless work, too, with immense rewatch value, uncovering both life that's never been photographed previously while charting the habits of the more familiar. Icing The Blue Planet's cake is a series of short pieces documenting just how some of the incredible pictures were captured, and these are almost as interesting as the main feature.

Enough of those superlatives, though. Because The Blue Planet simply demands to be seen and enjoyed. Prepare, like many before you, to be mesmerised. --Simon Brew
Epic, 2007-11-05
Wonderfully filmed, Blue Planet is a superb experience taking the viewer to another world: the seas of our planet.
The exploration of the depths of the ocean is particularly fascinating and intriguing. A truly novel experience.
Well worth the money.

The central idea finds Parry adopting the workings, methods and practices of the tribes that he spends time with. And the reason this works so well is Parry himself, providing a respectful, clear and calm core to a programme that could so easily have fallen foul of many assorted trappings of the genre. His findings throughout Tribe are frequently fascinating, and the programme itself is diligently paced to give you ample opportunity to take it all in. It's immersive and genuinely involving television.

The episodes collected together in this Tribe boxset find Parry travelling through the likes of Ethiopia, Mongolia and the Himalayas, and there's a real sense of not knowing what you're going to discover when each episode begins. Marry that into episodes with strong rewatch value--for both educational and entertainment purposes--and Tribe emerges as little short of a modern television treat. --Jon Foster
Watch this series and gain insight into how people have lived for the majority of the past 200,000 years plus of the human race, 2008-02-18
This series is very exiting to watch (enhanced especially for those who dabble in bushcraft) but for me it is more important than simply giving viewing pleasure). It has given me insight into the past that i would value at much more than 30 quid - try something in the region of priceless.

Bruce Parry visits tribes across the whole length and breadth of the world visiting tribes that vary greatly and so are unique. His attitude is such that he is immediately likable. He is very humble even at the end of his journey when he has achieved so much. What he must have learnt on the way- truely remarkable. I could not do it, most could not do it.

There are those i believe that would like others to believe that history proper began in the 20/1st century and that anything before that can be classed as a time of barbarism, squalor etc. The complexity,love,respect,multi-facetted nature of the people revealed in these short programmes (it is fair, i think, to say that some of the tribes have been left in such a state as for their ways to be little changed through time) are the same as us - a wise man in one episode is able to reveal the oneness of the human race and indeed of everything.

I hear people here call members of tribes animalistic: we are animals, they in the episodes are animals, but as the West moves towards a more destructively unsustainable path perhaps we leave the animal kingdom and become as parasites. Perhaps they are better than us. I do not have the answer but perhaps you can find one in these programmes.

Finally I would say that people who would get upset at the destruction of a culture before their very eyes should not watch certain of the episodes - The Penan tribe.

Alasdair Robertson

Spread over a good ten hours, the series charts life and nature in dozens upon dozens of differing locations around the earth. Diligently and warmly narrated by Sir David Attenborough, Planet Earth calmly goes close in on its subject matter when required, and then pulls out some stunning perspective shots that are simply breathtaking. It’s hard to come up with the right superlatives to do the photography on the programme any kind of justice, and that it’s married to such fascinating subject matter is all the better.

And if you think the original broadcast of Planet Earth was something special, or you were gobsmacked by the picture quality on DVD, just wait until you see it in 1080p HD glory. Particularly some of the broader shots here are all but without parallel, and it’s a real reward for those who have invested ahead of the crowd in high definition technology.

Presented over five discs, and matching wonderful content to spot-on visual presentation, Planet Earth is now not just a landmark in nature documentary film making. It’s also a chartermark of quality for just what HD DVD and Blu-ray can offer. A stunning release, in more than one sense. --Jon Foster
1080i or 1080p argument resolved ?, 2008-11-08
It is outstanding.
I rented it but then bought the USA import version because of Amazon Reviews. This was a costly mistake and 1 disc less.
My Panasonic Blu Ray player info when playing picture reports this as 1080p. I have a full 1080p 37inch Panasonic TV.
The "extra" disc is 1080i so the packaging reports the whole as 1080i
Some people say the USA import is so much better. I think this is a case of " The Emporers New Clothes" fairy tale.
I have read all the arguments regarding buying the US import version and found this report on an AV forum which I believe to be correct.


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ALL versions of Planet Earth, on both HD DVD and Blu Ray, are 1080P. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE YOU BOUGHT IT OR WHAT IT SAYS ON THE BOX, THE MAIN PROGRAMMES ARE ALL IN 1080P, WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

The video files (as in actual size in MB) are exactly the same size on both versions (US/UK); just try both versions in your player, you will not see a difference.

The UK version mentions 1080i on the box because the 'extra' programmes are in 1080i, but this is at 30fps so the motion looks much better than the main programmes anyway. The 1080i on the box is merely the BBC trying to cover themselves against accusations of false advertising.

Whats worse than people on forums talking nonsense is that if you look at Amazon or Play..com there are people posting 'reviews' which are saying it is 1080i and that they are disgusted with the BBC etc and telling people to buy the US version. There people should ask themselves WHY the BBC would release a lower quality product in the UK - this would cost MORE money, and they would gain nothing in return. The answer is THEY HAVEN'T. It's all 1080p. Use yer loaf!

So please lets stop this nonsense, any lack of image quality in Planet Earth is due to the original recording technology used (24p film / early HD cameras) and not the release format.

If you want the best demo 'nature' disc then just get BBC's Galapagos, it's not as interesting but you'll have no complaints about PQ. (and YES it's 1080p, AND 30fps.