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DVD Review: YELLOWSTONE: BATTLE FOR LIFE

Studio: BBC Earth
Year: 2009
Cast: Elk, wolves, grizzly bears, squirrels, foxes, trout, assorted birds, moose, beavers, otters, coyotes, pronghorns, bighorn sheep, bison
Director: Andrew Murray
Release Date: September 29, 2009
Rating: Not Rated for (nothing objectionable)
Run Time: 02h:27m:02s
Genre(s): documentary

"This is no ordinary place." - narrator (Peter Firth)

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Here's another BBC Earth project that is on par with the stunning Planet Earth series, only this time focusing solely on the rugged and durable inhabitants of the Yellowstone wilderness.

Highly recommended.

Movie Grade: A

DVD Grade: B+

This outstanding BBC Earth production is actually a three-part series on Yellowstone, a place referred to here as the "most treasured wilderness on Earth". Things are broken down into segments entitled Winter, Summer and Autumn (spring, apparently, is just a blip on the seasonal radar of the region), with each running 45 or 50 minutes, or viewable via the Play All option as one long doc (albeit one with separate opening and closing credits after each). Narrated with handsome decorum by actor Peter Firth, this is akin to an exploded view of the Planet Earth series, with the same level of visual detail and exploration.

As the very first National Park (thanks for that, President Ulysses S. Grant!), Yellowstone thankfully remains much the same as it must have for centuries, a complex geothermal ecosystem where—as the title of this indicates—the animal and plant life are in a constant "battle for life" as the seasons make living a challenge. The trademark camera work from BBC Earth captures all of this natural intensity with abundant footage that is breathtaking and majestic, whether it be winding aerial shots or upclose action of wildlife doing its wildlife-y thing.

This is both a comforting and heartbreaking viewing experience, as the sprawling mass of natural beauty of the region is counterbalanced by the harsh seasonal conditions, though I suppose it would seem the animal life has adapted as well as can be expected. For those wondering, the whole circle-of-life deaths that usually fill nature programming is kept to a minimum here, despite plenty of nerve wracking "almost" moments. There are, naturally, things like eagles munching on carcasses, wolves taking down an elk and grizzlies catching trout, as well as a quick shot of an elk mounting another. Humans don't make an appearance the Autumn segment, where we're shown hunters lurk who skirt the edge of the Yellowstone boundaries for wayward elk and pronghorn.

With the massive success of Planet Earth, the BBC Earth team has elevated the nature documentary to entirely new levels, and they continue to release high quality productions with camera work that is cinematic and revealing.

Yellowstone: Battle for Life is yet another winner in their catalog.

IMAGE/AUDIO
The 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer doesn't compare to its absolutely gorgeous Blu-Ray counterpart, but this SD offering is still a strong one. The level of detail at times is excellent, most notably on the frequent animal closeups. Some modest banding is evident occasionally, knocking this one down a peg, but it remains a very effective presentation.

Two audio options are available, in either Dolby Digital 5.1 surround or 2.0 stereo. The differences between these two are massive, with the bland stereo track cleanly taking the wind out of the dramatic sails of the big, sweeping orchestral score, as well as deadening Peter Firth's narration. This is a case where the 5.1 mix is a substantial improvement, creating an encompassing multi-channel experience where the sounds of grunting, roaring creatures is deep and loud. English SDH subs are also included.

EXTRAS
Extras are bundled under The People of Yellowstone heading, and consist of three short pieces highlighting individuals important to the production. But instead of looking at how things were shot, these segments introduce us to some people who know unique elements of Yellowstone intimately, in their own way, so we're given a much more personal perspective. The three shorts are Jeff Henry: The Snowman (09m:35s), Geyser Gazers (10m:12s) and Mike Kasic: The Fishman (09m:51s). Also included are promos for BBC Earth productions and a Python-esque one for BBC America.

Posted by: Rich Rosell - October 19, 2009, 5:42 am - DVD Review
Keywords: nature, planet earth, yellowstone, bbc earth