The BBC is a very respected documentary producer having given us the extraordinary Blue Planet and Planet Earth among many others. They have released a new entrant in the Earth series in the form of Earth - The Biography.
The Documentary
Unlike Planet Earth which looks at wildlife and ecosystems, Earth - The Biography looks at the massive and devastatingly beautiful geological forces that have shaped our planet. The Biography is split into five episodes spanned over two DVDs giving us a look at the various aspects of the planets forces from volcanoes to glaciers to the endless oceans.
Hosted by the very talented and passionate Dr. Iain Stewart, a Scottish geologist, the series is an incredibly dynamic and fast paced look at our world and the amazing forces that shape it. Dr. Stewart takes us around the globe and looks into the maw of volcanoes and examines the destructive forces of water and glaciers. One of the most recurring themes in the series is the observation that humans do not really have a lasting impact on this resilient planet we call Earth.
This theme can be very controversial to environmentalists, but looking at the facts of the world’s history in this biography you simply cannot deny what they are saying. Demonstrations of what a glacier can do to an environment, how the Earth’s crust is constantly forming new mountains or how rain and water erase traces of human life are poignant and eye-opening.
Dr. Stewart is a key part to this documentary series and as much a star of the show as the Earth itself is. He is a gifted speaker and obviously an expert in the geological field as he travels all over Earth examining the wondrous facets of our planet. He is constantly in the thick of the action whether it be crawling under a glacier or standing at the lip of an active volcano. His narration and constant presence enhance the feel of the series instead of halting the flow as is possible with other narrators.
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