Planet Earth: The Complete Series (2006)

[Farid]

Planet Earth Special Edition Blu-ray

Planet Earth Special Edition Blu-ray Review



Planet Earth limited Edition Blu-ray


https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=6834

2entertain will release a "Deluxe Edition" of the critically-acclaimed nature series Planet Earth in North America, in September 2011.

This has been confirmed by the distributor in the British thread for the "Special Edition".

This will be the 3rd Planet Earth release in the US.
1) The BBC version (1080p)
2) The Discovery version (1080i)
3) The Deluxe Edition

PS. The UK Special Edition is 1080i50. I believe it's going to be 1080p in the US, but who knows. Plenty of variations

[KrugerIndustrial]

Originally Posted by Farid

2entertain will release a "Deluxe Edition" of the critically-acclaimed nature series Planet Earth in North America, in September 2011.

This has been confirmed by the distributor in the British thread for the "Special Edition".

This will be the 3rd Planet Earth release in the US.
1) The BBC version (1080p)
2) The Discovery version (1080i)
3) The Deluxe Edition

PS. The UK Special Edition is 1080i25. I believe it's going to be 1080p in the US, but who knows. Plenty of variations

So this is just the same UK Special Edition?

[NathanDrakeFan]

Thank god. I can only assume it uses the same transfer as the superior UK version. Planet Earth was $80 wasted for a blu-ray whose picture quality was totally underwhelming, even when it was new. That series' picture quality is terribly overrated.

[Jimmy Smith]

Originally Posted by NathanDrakeFan

Thank god. I can only assume it uses the same transfer as the superior UK version. Planet Earth was $80 wasted for a blu-ray whose picture quality was totally underwhelming, even when it was new. That series' picture quality is terribly overrated.

The series was shot in the wilderness under difficult conditions. What digital noise and other flaws exist are likely the result of the difficulty of the shoot not the transfer of the Blu-Ray. I doubt that the movie can look much better than the first Blu-Ray provided.

[One4Deuce]

Hmmm... interesting. I already own Planet Earth but if this is worth double-dipping, I may consider it. Looking forward to hearing more about this.

[NathanDrakeFan]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Smith

The series was shot in the wilderness under difficult conditions. What digital noise and other flaws exist are likely the result of the difficulty of the shoot not the transfer of the Blu-Ray. I doubt that the movie can look much better than the first Blu-Ray provided.

Let's ignore the noise. The detail and clarity was underwhelming

[rammsteinfan]

IF the picture quality is better and there are more special features then I will double dip. I got the first release for $25 so i dont mind dropping more if its better quality since my nephew wants a copy i can just pass down my old one.

[Pyoko]

Originally Posted by NathanDrakeFan

Thank god. I can only assume it uses the same transfer as the superior UK version. Planet Earth was $80 wasted for a blu-ray whose picture quality was totally underwhelming, even when it was new. That series' picture quality is terribly overrated.

Then you're going to be disappointed again because the the video quality of the UK special edition is only marginally better than the first edition. The audio in DTS-HD HR sounds a lot better though.

[threefiftyrocket]

so will this be narrated by David Attenborough? If so then I'm all for it because I never bought the original release.

[NathanDrakeFan]

Originally Posted by Pyoko

Then you're going to be disappointed again because the the video quality of the UK special edition is only marginally better than the first edition. The audio in DTS-HD HR sounds a lot better though.

Good enough inceptive for me to double dip then.

[42041]

Originally Posted by NathanDrakeFan

Let's ignore the noise. The detail and clarity was underwhelming

it was largely shot on 720p cameras. nothing to be done.

[bigshot]

What constitutes a "deluxe edition"? Fancier box? Coffee table book included? A tshirt with Attenborough's smiling mug on it? An alternate Oprah track we'll never listen to?

[KrugerIndustrial]

Originally Posted by NathanDrakeFan

Let's ignore the noise. The detail and clarity was underwhelming

It really is not THAT bad. Rather nice actually(UK Special Edition).

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by NathanDrakeFan

Thank god. I can only assume it uses the same transfer as the superior UK version. Planet Earth was $80 wasted for a blu-ray whose picture quality was totally underwhelming, even when it was new. That series' picture quality is terribly overrated.

Wow, so good to see I am not the only one who thinks this way!
I believe it to be the most over-rated BD in terms of PQ out there.
People must be blind or sth. not to see the numerous issues that plagues this series.

Originally Posted by Jimmy Smith

The series was shot in the wilderness under difficult conditions. What digital noise and other flaws exist are likely the result of the difficulty of the shoot not the transfer of the Blu-Ray. I doubt that the movie can look much better than the first Blu-Ray provided.

Yeah, we know that, but the encode surely could have been better. There was tons of banding, and they can adjust contrast for better black levels after the fact, can't they?
They could possibly even remove the horrible flicker that destroys some of the most amazing shots, such as the Angel's falls sequence...
Audio could finally receive lossless, or at least a DTS HD HR track, and making ofs would be a welcome addition too.

I would double dip if all those issues were addressed.

What is that UK SE you guys speak of?

I have the BBC (Attenborough) set, with the elephants and birds on the cover.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by 42041

it was largely shot on 720p cameras. nothing to be done.

Aha. Is the cat finally out of the bag, or is this just a guess?

Do you have any source to back this up?

[42041]

Originally Posted by Bluyoda

Aha. Is the cat finally out of the bag, or is this just a guess?

Do you have any source to back this up?

http://www.videography.com/article/60612

"The workhorse camera of the series was Panasonic's AJ-HDC27 VariCam, chosen because of its distinctly clean image and variable frame rate capabilities (up to 60fps). Sony HDW-750 HDCAM cameras were also used in several instances. In a couple of locations, where the loss of an HD camera would prove too great a risk for the continuation of the shoot--in the remote jungles of Guyana, for instance, and also for a year-long Antarctic shoot of penguins--35mm and Super 16mm cameras were used because they were known quantities and parts could be replaced easily in the event of a breakdown. However, the Panasonic VariCam endured environmental adversity in deserts, mountains, caves, oceans and forests to prove itself to be admirably rugged and reliable. "

That Panasonic camera is 720p.
However that article also says that the aerial footage was shot on 1080p Sony cameras, the same ones used for Avatar and Star Wars Ep. 3.

[vegeta88]

Originally Posted by Farid

2entertain will release a "Deluxe Edition" of the critically-acclaimed nature series Planet Earth in North America, in September 2011.

This has been confirmed by the distributor in the British thread for the "Special Edition".

This will be the 3rd Planet Earth release in the US.
1) The BBC version (1080p)
2) The Discovery version (1080i)
3) The Deluxe Edition

PS. The UK Special Edition is 1080i50. I believe it's going to be 1080p in the US, but who knows. Plenty of variations

Yep. Learned that the hard way and am currently just sitting on that edition.

I would definitely be interested in buying the SE version if it got to a low enough price range. Thanks for the info!

[Andrewtst]

Originally Posted by Pyoko

Then you're going to be disappointed again because the the video quality of the UK special edition is only marginally better than the first edition. The audio in DTS-HD HR sounds a lot better though.

Marginally better? For me it is a huge improvement!

The UK Special Edition PQ transfer is nearly perfection, the Standard Edition is too bad until I can't even watch it more than 10 mins, then I took out the disc. Thanks 2Entertain re-release this series, or else I must be miss out this wonderful documentaries. (Anyway I had notice people reporting US device can't properly transfer 1080i/50 data, this might the issue why US people often said 1080i transfer is bad in quality)

Beside the great transfer of PQ, the AQ wise is undeniable stunning.

[Bluyoda]

Originally Posted by 42041

http://www.videography.com/article/60612

Oh, thank you very much for the link!!

So, I am glad to have the confirmation that I wasn't seeing things that weren't there.

This does makes those ''pro'' reviewers who were raving about the incredible reference PQ at the time so much less credible.

I gave the series a 2,5 for PQ on here, which is a bit harsh, but I felt I had to compensate for the overwhelming amount of rave reviews distorting the harsh reality of it all.

There are some incredibly beautiful shots, and even episodes that look rather great, but there is always a shot lingering around the corner destroying the stunning beauty that preceded it.
Soft photography, macroblocking, loads of banding, unresolved black levels, tons of video noise in dark patched, supremely distracting flickering....

I am much happier with most of the shots in LIFE.

So, is the UK SE in 1080i 50hz? Is it really better?

Either way, I am curious about the upcoming edition, and hope that it'll be better than what we have now.

[KrugerIndustrial]

I haven't seen the original Planet Earth, I only have the Special Edition. Yes it has problems, more than a few. But there's no way I could rate it as low as 2.5 or even 3.5. Definitely at least 4. Like said earlier, 1080p cameras were used to film aerial shots and those indeed are visually the best part of this series. Absolutely stunning.

And yes, UK SE is in 1080i 50