Planet Earth Blu-ray special features?

[JurassicMass88]

Hi everyone. After reading several reviews of the (David Attenborough narrated) Planet Earth Blu-ray set, several people were disappointed that the special features from the DVD were missing in the Blu-ray release. I too am a little disappointed and have yet to buy the Blu-ray Planet Earth. I then came across the discovery channle store in which they have the Sigourney Weaver narrated edition on Blu-ray with all of the special features. http://shopping.discovery.com/produc...D=1175CD70ED33
Can anyone confirm that the Sigourney Weaver version has the special features included on the Blu-ray disc? Thanks for the help.

[Leon Kennedy]

I too would like to know if the US version got that extra documentary 'Planet Earth: The Future' which the DVD version got but both HD formats did not. I was truly disappointed but I hope they do release it someday.

I still think the UK version is more superior simply because of the narration but I also heard that the US version is in 1080i and not 1080P.

[JurassicMass88]

Originally Posted by Leon Kennedy

I too would like to know if the US version got that extra documentary 'Planet Earth: The Future' which the DVD version got but both HD formats did not. I was truly disappointed but I hope they do release it someday.

I still think the UK version is more superior simply because of the narration but I also heard that the US version is in 1080i and not 1080P.

I agree, the UK version is much better because of David Attenborough's narration. I am just hoping that they will rerelease the UK version with special features, I don't really feel like buying the US version just for the special features.

[E_I]

I guess:

Blu-Ray gets the hi-def video.
DVD gets the extra content.


Get the BBC edition. The US version sucks.

[molarkid]

I placed an order on the Discovery website for Sunrise Earth Blu-Ray Disks, and somehow I must have mistakenly placed an order for the Discovery version of Planet Earth. I already have the BBC Version. I too would like to know if the Discovery version is worth keeping? If not, I'll return.

The copy from Discovery does not show any extra features on the case.

[E_I]

^ Send it back.

[molarkid]

Originally Posted by E_I

^ Send it back.

Thanks for your help!

[Mericalis]

I had both sets of this at one time, but never looked for special features on either. I gave the U.S. version to a friend, because it didn't live up to my standards that I had of the BBC version. That being said, I found this that might help

"the high-definition releases omit the extra disc of bonus features that is present on the standard-definition boxed set."--per the Wikipedia article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_Earth_(TV_series)

Might take a look through that information to find out specifics.

[JurassicMass88]

I am wondering why the US version is only $59.99, while the UK version is $66.95. Both are on Blu-ray; do you think they lowered the price just because of Sigourney Weaver's dull narration?

[Mericalis]

Originally Posted by JurassicMass88

I am wondering why the US version is only $59.99, while the UK version is $66.95. Both are on Blu-ray; do you think they lowered the price just because of Sigourney Weaver's dull narration?

Okay, I know what I said earlier was that they didn't have all the bells and whistles, but the friend I gave the U.S. version to said that there were some special featurettes on the first disc, which I didn't take a look at. Here's Hidefdigest's take on the supplements of the U.S. version:

Originally Posted by Peter Bracke

The Supplements: Digging Into the Good Stuff

Only adding to the differences between the Discovery Channel and BBC/Warner versions of 'Planet Earth,' Discovery offers a suite of four bonus featurettes (on both the Blu-ray and the HD DVD). Not that they're easy to find -- Discovery hasn't labeled them on the packaging, and they're practically hidden in a far away corner of the first disc. The only way to find them is to start an episode, then bring up the pop-up menu, and then click the "Extras" tab.

Anyway, as for the content itself, there are four vignettes totaling about 35 minutes: "Technology" (6 minutes), "Extremes" (9 minutes), "Danger" (9 minutes) and "Capturing the Moment" (10 minutes). Together, these pieces form a nice, compact little mini-doc, featuring talking head interviews with the main 'Planet Earth' producers, and with each featurette having a concise theme (self-explanatory by their titles). Also included in each featurette are some cool split screen outtakes and "night cam" footage, showing some of the complications the filmmakers faced -- not only due to the terrain and creatures they were trying to photograph, but the HD technology itself. Though a combined 35 minutes wasn't nearly long enough for me, these four featurettes offer a nice glimpse at the passion and perseverance it took to complete 'Planet Earth.'

(Note that like the previous BBC high-def editions, neither of the Discovery Channel high-def editions include 'Planet Earth – The Future,' a 110-minute bonus feature that was included as a bonus fifth disc on both standard-def DVD Box Sets. Go figure.)

So, it didn't add the Planet Earth - The Future, but it did have a few supplements. That being said, a great deal of people really think that Sigourney Weaver is less credible than David Attenborough, which means there are more people buying the BBC version and thus driving the price up. That is my take on the situation, but someone else might chime in on this one.

[sonicbox]

I'm pretty sure the Discovery episodes with Weaver are shorter and edited. I'd stick with the UK release. The bonus 'making of' stuff is interesting, but not critical.

Also, you aren't missing anything with "Planet Earth: The Future"... it's barely worth watching once. Borrow/rent the DVD release if you really want to see it.

[Deciazulado]

One of the reasons Discovery might be shorter might be because they might be running in 25/50 inside the 60i? I can't confirm it because I don't have the Discovery versions to check the timing and I already have the US Warner/BBC BD and the UK PAL DVD which run at 24 and 25 respectively (and have the same content lengthwise, not including the extras on the DVD) so I don't think I'm going to buy it a third time

[JurassicMass88]

Thanks for all of the input fellow BLUs. I have decided I will get the UK version. I am going to borrow the "Planet Earth - The Future" featurette from a friend. Maybe in the future they will release the Blu-ray set with the same features as the DVD, but I can't wait any longer, so I am going to buy the Blu-ray as quickly as possible.

[God-Gorlac]

Hey everyone. this is my first post and i am a proud blu-ray supporter! sorry to hijack the thread but i have a quick question regarding Planet Earth BBC version. Does anyone have problems with the picture quality? I have an 80 gig PS3 which is connected to a SAMSUNG 40" 1080p LCD (TN-4066F) via a Monster 400 HDMI cable which is only rated up to 1080i (cable might be an issue with this case). i have some flashing white speckles here and there during playback. It is most apparent in the first disc and especially so in the episode on freshwater? what can this be? has anyone seen this or should i return my copy? thanks for your time.

[Sylin]

Is there an online sample video (YouTube, BBC, anywhere?) of David Attenborough's narration? I saw Planet Earth for the first time last year on Discovery and rather enjoyed Sigourney Weaver's voice talent. Is this Attenborough bloke that much better?

Note: Sucks about the missing bonus disc. Consumers are getting the short end of the stick by paying more for the hi-def versions but getting less content overall.

[Galley]

Originally Posted by God-Gorlac

Hey everyone. this is my first post and i am a proud blu-ray supporter! sorry to hijack the thread but i have a quick question regarding Planet Earth BBC version. Does anyone have problems with the picture quality? I have an 80 gig PS3 which is connected to a SAMSUNG 40" 1080p LCD (TN-4066F) via a Monster 400 HDMI cable which is only rated up to 1080i (cable might be an issue with this case). i have some flashing white speckles here and there during playback. It is most apparent in the first disc and especially so in the episode on freshwater? what can this be? has anyone seen this or should i return my copy? thanks for your time.

That defect is caused by the cameras used. I don't recall the technical details.

[71Makaveli96]

i plan on buying Planet Earth, but would i have to order it online if i WANT the version Narrated by David Attenborough and NOT the one Sigourney Weaver. i ask because i have around 55 BB Certificates and don't know what to buy with them.

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by God-Gorlac

i have some flashing white speckles here and there during playback. It is most apparent in the first disc and especially so in the episode on freshwater? what can this be? has anyone seen this or should i return my copy? thanks for your time.

Is some video noise in some shots that is mostly visible because it's pulsating from the compression, so it's normal for the disc and it's not your copy If you search Planet Earth threads you'll find more discussion on it.

Originally Posted by 71Makaveli96

i plan on buying Planet Earth, but would i have to order it online if i WANT the version Narrated by David Attenborough and NOT the one Sigourney Weaver. i ask because i have around 55 BB Certificates and don't know what to buy with them.

The Warner/BBC Planet Earth discs are David Attenborough:


Region A cover/Region B cover



The Discovery Planet Earth discs are Sigourney Weaver:

Discovery cover

[Mericalis]

Originally Posted by 71Makaveli96

i plan on buying Planet Earth, but would i have to order it online if i WANT the version Narrated by David Attenborough and NOT the one Sigourney Weaver. i ask because i have around 55 BB Certificates and don't know what to buy with them.

Well, I know my local BestBuy had a few copies of the BBC version still left on the shelf the last time I loooked. You might check around...it will actually have BBC on the disc set.

[SpikesBluBlooded]

Originally Posted by ikcizokm

Is there an online sample video (YouTube, BBC, anywhere?) of David Attenborough's narration? I saw Planet Earth for the first time last year on Discovery and rather enjoyed Sigourney Weaver's voice talent. Is this Attenborough bloke that much better?

Note: Sucks about the missing bonus disc. Consumers are getting the short end of the stick by paying more for the hi-def versions but getting less content overall.

David Attenborough is best known for being the narrator on BBC Nature documentaries, and has a very distinct voice. I used to watch the shows on public access growing up, and was absolutely thrilled to get the UK version with his narration. Watching Planet Earth with his voice providing the narration is like a comfort food for nature documentaries in my opinion, and there's just nothing better. I'm sure you can find him somewhere on the internet...