Planet Earth Blu-ray special features?

[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.

[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