Africa (BBC / Discovery) -- February 26th, 2013

[McCrutchy]

Africa Blu-ray

This is airing right now in the US on the Discovery Channel, but there are some inconsistencies with the UK version product details. For one, there is only one edition of this series being made available in the US, and the Discovery Channel airings have narration by Forest Whitaker and not David Attenborough. To be clear, David Attenborough is apparently still in the episode "Africa: The Future" in the US version, because he physically appears in this episode.

The US version also appears to have re-edited the series in some way for broadcast, as it is seven episodes instead of six (I read something about the making of portions at the end of each UK episode being cut out and combined into a seventh episode?) and finally, the US version is listed by Discovery as being two discs, while the UK version apparently has three discs according to the BBC shop.

Our news article seems to believe that the US Blu-ray will have the Attenborough narration and be only six episodes, but then I would have to question why Discovery bothered to re-record narration and re-edit the program if the intention was to just release the original UK version on the US market.

Can anyone with an advance copy confirm exactly what is on the US Blu-ray set?

[Mooch360]

Only interested in seeing the British version.

[Jimmy Smith]

This is the same pattern the Discovery gave to Planet Earth, Life, and Frozen Planet

In all cases although the Discovery channel continues its disgusting practice of cutting the episodes down and dubbing over Attenborough with some two bit actor they hire who knows absolutely nothing about naturalism the American BBC releases have still given America uncut episodes and Attenborughs narration. I so wish Discovery would stop thinking American audiences can't handle a British accent but having the proper versions on Blu-Ray really makes it all better

[jerzdawg]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Smith

This is the same pattern the Discovery gave to Planet Earth, Life, and Frozen Planet

In all cases although the Discovery channel continues its disgusting practice of cutting the episodes down and dubbing over Attenborough with some two bit actor they hire who knows absolutely nothing about naturalism the American BBC releases have still given America uncut episodes and Attenborughs narration. I so wish Discovery would stop thinking American audiences can't handle a British accent but having the proper versions on Blu-Ray really makes it all better

This +1000, hated when I actually had to wait until the british version was released as I refused to listen to Oprah, Weaver, etc instead of David. I think I even ended up importing Planet Earth before it was finally released in the US. I would like to believe the original BBC version will be available for us at some point.

[WorkShed]

To be fair, Forrest Whittaker's voice over for Africa was miles better than Oprah's Life, Weaver's Planet Earth, and Mike Rowe's Human Planet efforts.

However, David is the best.

[agoofykindasuperman]

So any clarification yet? I have this pre-ordered with Amazon.ca but am afraid of getting some lack-lustre version if the UK is getting a far superior set!

Hope something is announced soon so I can rest easy, or cancel the pre-order on time.

[McCrutchy]

Africa Blu-ray REVIEW

Sir David's narration is intact, now I'm just wondering if this is native 1080p, or if it was sped up slightly and converted from 25 fps (i.e. 1080/50i).

[Dubliner1]

Just fyi, I received the UK version yesterday...and it includes 3 blu-rays discs (US release has 2).

[skylog]

sure most have seen, but amazon matched best buy, bringing it down to 22.99. i can not wait to hear sir david.

[mzupeman]

Originally Posted by skylog

sure most have seen, but amazon matched best buy, bringing it down to 22.99. i can not wait to hear sir david.

Ditto. Just ordered via Amazon this morning. Great price!

[hedliniv]

is the UK version Region free? Any comparisons between the two versions? I am wondering if is worth the additional cost of importing from the UK....

[Blu-Benny]

watched a bit of this @ my parents last night on cable. my dad was telling me about the giraffe fight and he dvr'd it.

truely amazing!!

[Indiana Jones]

Originally Posted by hedliniv

is the UK version Region free? Any comparisons between the two versions? I am wondering if is worth the additional cost of importing from the UK....

Yes its region free but its 1080i/50hz so unless your player and TV are 50hz compatible I doubt it will work.

Have so far watched 2 episodes of the UK set and they looked stunning.

[Blu-Benny]

Watched the version I bought from best buy last night for a bit…..watched the Kalahari episode.

It seems like the commentary is different from the original broadcast. I watched the bit w/the mearkat’s and the giraffe fight and it seemed different.

Does the UK set have the original commentary from the original broadcast??

[rammsteinfan]

I love the part with the spring bucks or whatever they were called from Episode 4. Just watching them jump for joy had my family laughing for a while.

Great show. Cant wait to see what next years Survival series will be like. Hopefully Attenbourgh will still narrate.

[Blu-Benny]

is there anywhere to find a list of what has already been produced and what's coming??

i'd like to get more into shows/blu's like this.

[vocalhouse]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

i'd like to get more into shows/blu's like this.

PBS Nature recently showed Attenborough's Life Stories. It had clips of how he started, technical advances in filming and sound that allowed him and the team to get those footage, and things that they got away with

[Show spoiler]like taking home an organgutan

. The BD will be released next month.

[WorkShed]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

Watched the version I bought from best buy last night for a bit…..watched the Kalahari episode.

It seems like the commentary is different from the original broadcast. I watched the bit w/the mearkat’s and the giraffe fight and it seemed different.

Does the UK set have the original commentary from the original broadcast??

This is the real version. The Discovery version is edited and redubbed.

[Blu-Benny]

Originally Posted by vocalhouse

PBS Nature recently showed Attenborough's Life Stories. It had clips of how he started, technical advances in filming and sound that allowed him and the team to get those footage, and things that they got away with

[Show spoiler]like taking home an organgutan

. The BD will be released next month.

Originally Posted by WorkShed

This is the real version. The Discovery version is edited and redubbed.

thanks for the info guys!!

[skylog]

Originally Posted by Blu-Benny

is there anywhere to find a list of what has already been produced and what's coming??

i'd like to get more into shows/blu's like this.

bbc has many natural history/nature titles; the most recent, popular, comprehensive and available on blu ray being:

planet earth
life
frozen planet
human planet
africa

as well as the titles vocalhouse mentioned. check out the reviews here, and if you decide to purchase, i suggest you get the titles that have attenborough doing the narration. he is a joy to listen to.

i hope that helps