South Pacific [DVD]

This BBC documentary explores the vast ocean that is the SOUTH PACIFIC. There are 2 discs which contain 3 hour long programmes on each. Disc 1 explores the OCEANS OF ISLANDS (Programme 1) of which there are 20,000 ranging from the largest New Guinnie to small areas of land, all of which have been formed by volcanic upheavals over millions of years.Programme 2 CASTAWAYS shows how life has spread to even the most remote islands in this ocean which is 10,000 miles wide.Programme 3 on disc 1 is entitled ENDLESS BLUE and follows some of the creatures that migrate thousands of miles each year in persuit of food in this vast expanse of ocean which contains one quarter of the worlds water.Disc 2 starts with a programme entitled OCEAN OF VOLCANOES which looks at the processes that have created the islands in the South Pacific and shows that even today there are active volcanoes which are creating land for future colonization.Programme 5 called STRANGE ISLANDS visits some of the pacific's most unusual island inhabitance.Programme 6 is FRAGILE PARADISE and looks at the way humans have impacted on the South Pacific causing damage to the flora and fauna of this region of the world.This series contains some superb photography on land, in the air and under the sea which shows nature at its most beautiful and diverse to give a wonderful insight into a world that is remote and mostly still unexplored.At the end of each programme is a short slot on the making of the series and how the team overcame obsticles to bring the shots they wanted back from each assignment.My only criticisom of the series the commentary is slow and long winded and combined with a tendency to repeat items from earlier episodes, it is slightly boring in places. But on the whole it is a fantastic series worth watching again.

The photography is great. The rest, including the narrative, is a three out of five. True, the regular narration and comments fit well into this documentary on the islands of the South Pacific, but I'm not sure on the content of it and even the general structure of the episodes.For me the human stories are almost a sprinkling amongst the fish and the more irrelevant bugs and fruitflies. We also see a lot on the carnivorous caterpillars, we see a lot but a lot on the albatross chicks and their demise. Why first call the Coconut crab a Robber crab, even if that is its other name, as it cracks open a coconut? The episode about the drifting whale hunters is entirely stretched out and during it we are offered stories of more creatures of the deep. I wasn't impressed by the description of the volcanic formation of the many South Pacific islands as there is hardly a geographical term used, next we see only a quick air view of Rangiroa atoll and never find out how an atoll is formed exactly. The human element, nature, unusual bugs, marine animals of the South Pacific are thus revealed.Maybe we should be glad there is no chance of any overwhelming information. The filming of the underwater volcano exploding out of the depths is fairly amazing.

This is really a 4.5 star. This is an excellent DVD with nearly 6 hours of coverage. Excellent photography, good low key narrative. Covers some unusual land animals/birds plus lots of marine life. Takes a good look at some of the native tribes associated with the islands and deals with conservation issues, including 1 section devoted to the future of this fragile area. There are also "diaries" which detail the problems associated with producing the series - some might find these interesting though I did not. Recommended.

This must be close to the best nature documentary series ever made. It tells the story of the South Pacific and its thousands of islands, their peoples and wild creatures, all spread across a quarter of Earth's surface. Unforgettable wildlife shots alternate with skin-tingling film of waves, seascapes, volcanoes and vegetation, all with fabulous music and an intelligent commentary. An evolutionary perspective prevails, as the films explore adaptive radiation among isolated island species, and the consequences of isolation for the conservation of those diverse life forms. Meanwhile the South Pacific is a vital part of the global ecosystem, controlling the weather of Australia, South-east Asia and far beyond through the El Niño Southern Oscillation, and buffering the impacts of global warming (a story also told in  Water: Life in Every Drop ). All in all, an incredibly satisfying watch.

In perfect accordance with its tradition this BBC documentary offers the finest extract of magic seen on the Blue Planet and the Planet Earth, but here six hours is devoted only to South Pacific - the ocean, seas, islands, wildlife and culture. If you ever asked yourself what is colour of a sea you will find thousand hues of blue, and many, many more...If you like islands as I do (after all coming from country which has 1000) enjoying this 20.000 is, even over DVD remarkable experience...so good that even absence of Sir David (real brand of BBC) voice is tolerable. The last episode about sustainable development, i.e. sustainable retreat (ref. Planet Earth) should be obligatory educational material.

Plenty of information given in this DVD If you are interested. Its a bit like going on a package holiday so much to see and digest.You can learn so much about a fantastic area of the world which most of us will never see in real life.So many Islands to visit with their wildlife some of which are not found anywhere else. Brilliant photography and informative background help to keep one entranced at the many different types of life. Watching in your own front room without the humidity and the heat of the area helps to add to the enjoyment.The BBC have once again given us bugs,fish and plants in abundance with their weird and wonderful facts and the way they live.