DVD Review: Nature's Most Amazing Events - Page 2

"The Great Migration" and "The Great Flood" delve into the stories of the animals of Africa dealing with hostile and often deadly environmental conditions and yet somehow finding ways to survive in the Serengeti and Botswana's Okavango Delta. Particularly amazing here is the transformation of the Okavango from cracked and dried sandy plains to a lush, green field and swamp with bountiful fish, grasses, and wildlife. 

My favorites in the series include "The Great Salmon Run" and "The Great Tide". The former follows salmon as they migrate back to the place where they were spawned in British Columbia. Along the way there are natural barriers to overcome as well as hungry predators. In "The Great Tide," billions of sardines draw thousands of predators to the coasts of South Africa for a feeding frenzy beyond belief.

The photography is top notch for all of the episodes and really does bring you as close to the action as you can possibly be without being there yourself. It is definitely an amazing accomplishment by a devoted and talented crew of people all around the world.

Beyond the episodes themselves, the "diaries" are truly captivating.  The filmmakers are not only consummate professionals as far as camera-work goes, but are all adventurous souls who deserve to have their own stories told. In "The Great Salmon Run," one cameraman swims with Grizzly Bears who are starving and trying to catch the salmon while he takes footage of them in action. Talk about nerves of steel. In "The Great Tide" we see an experienced underwater photographer get his flipper nibbled on by a shark — these people deserve our admiration for their courage and dedication to their craft.

If you are a nature lover or are simply captivated by the beautiful documentaries coming out these days, Nature's Most Amazing Events should be on your list of DVDs to pick up. Each story is truly beautiful to behold. I can hardly wait to see what the BBC will do next.

Article Author: Fitz

Brian Fitzpatrick (aka "Fitz") is a software engineer and writer living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife, two daughters, two dogs, and two cats -- trying desperately to survive the chaos!

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