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 Animals
in the Wild
Madacy
Entertainment's Animals of the Wild set of five DVDs will
knock any nature-show enthusiast right out of her or his
chair. Filled with one stunningly photographed sequence
after another, with all manner of feathered, scaled, hooved,
and invertebrate critters booming, chirping, and squawking
in stereo surround sound, this series proves it isn't your
grandmother's nature show. This is the latest and greatest
in hi-fi brought to bear upon the bloody Darwinian struggles
of the African steppe, the Galapagos Islands, and everywhere
in between.
Fans
of animal attacks will enjoy Fangs and Claws, devoted to
the culinary habits of such creatures as the Komodo dragon,
the whale shark, and army ants. Cries in the Wild lets animals
such as meerkats and buffalo speak for themselves, and includes
a fascinating segment on night dwellers. In Amazing Habitats
the little guys steal the show, with weaver birds and termites
putting us primate architects to shame. The myriad ways
animals disguise themselves is explored in Animals Undercover.
The best disc in the series, A Walk on the Wild Side, is
devoted to how animals make their way through the world.
You'll never look at a dung beetle the same way again.
The
interactive aspects of Animals in the Wild, including trivia
and information on endangered species, seem added on as
an afterthought, but they're nice to browse after the 53-minute
programs are over. The best thing about the whole series
is the stunning photography, which the most fanatic nature-show
lovers can even watch frame by frame. --Ryan Boudinot (Amazon.com)
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 Dolphins
- IMAX
Believe
it or not, an IMAX film can make the transition to video
perfectly well. It might not be three stories tall, but
Dolphins is still a lovely, larger-than-life exploration
of these strangely intelligent creatures. Visit the Bahamas,
Argentina, and beyond to see different varieties (like the
graceful duskies) play and hunt. Pierce Brosnan's narration
and Sting's music fill the water with sound and add counterpoint
to the dolphin's shrill cries; the film is an overwhelming
experience even in the living room. Two short features follow
the main attraction: see behind-the-scenes footage of the
making of Dolphins as the enormous IMAX camera follows the
sleek, gorgeous beasts, and learn some hard facts about
marine science including how dolphins fit into their complex
environment and why their numbers are at risk. Few nature
films bear repeat viewing as well as this one--new details
leap out at the audience each time. --Rob Lightner (Amazon.com)
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