Wild Pacific [Blu-ray]

A breathtaking trip of the Pacific. I've learned so much more about the Wild side of the Pacific. I'm a huge fan of the Earth's different oceans. different continents, the trenches, the food, the animals that exist throughout this world, the faults that cause chaos, wind, lightning, floods. So much knowledge!!!

DISCLAIMER: Before anyone get's their feathers ruffled, I don't mean to bash the BBC, English accented narrators, etc. I just want to inform potential buyers that the version they buy will be very different from the Discovery Channel version.Like most Americans who will be ordering this from this site, I initially saw this on the Discovery Channel, and it is truly awesome. The Discovery Channel version is narrated by Mike Rowe, who has an incredible voice, and does a fantastic job. No wonder Discovery Channel uses him as much as they do.Before purchasing this, I saw the credits to Benedict Cumberbatch, and wondered if this DVD (Blu-Ray) would be like Planet Earth and have the BBC version. (For Planet Earth, I actually preferred the BBC/Attenborough version over the Discovery Channel/Sigourney Weaver version, although both are good.)Inevitably, no review showed up to clarify which version it was, so I ordered a copy on Blu-Ray so I could free up some space on my DVR. Unfortunately, it is the BBC version, and I find Cumberbatch's narration to be extremely sub-par. I've done some narration work, so I may be hyper-critical, but the difference between Rowe and Cumberbatch is so huge, I don't think I'll ever watch the Blu-Ray version. So much for freeing up space on my DVR...The writing is nearly identical, and English vs. American accent is rarely an issue for me. But Cumberbatch's voice tone and odd inflections seem so inferior, I can't believe the BBC didn't select someone else (they have so many good narrators...) for this series, which excels in every other aspect.Obviously, the Discovery Channel execs realized their American audience needed a change, and selected Mike Rowe. Thanks for a great job Mike, I wouldn't have watched the whole thing in the first place otherwise.ALSO: The episode titles and chapter titles are different than those listed on the Discovery Channel On-Air broadcasts.In any case, the scene with the dolphins off the coast of New Zealand is worth the price of the set, it's an amazing series.

I had read a lot of reviews of this set and detected mixed emotions among many reviewers. Normally BBC nature productions set the standard though so I went ahead and bought it as the mighty Pacific has always fascinated me. I was not disappointed. In reviewing this series, I think it's important to mention that Wild Pacific, which ran on the Discovery Channel, is the same series as South Pacific which ran on BBC and BBC America if I recall, depending on which version anyone here might have seen. I think the Discovery version was cut a little different but was basically the same. In either case, what a show it is. Wild Pacific is cut into 6 parts, each covering a different aspect of the Pacific Ocean. The first episode explores the fact that there are indeed so many islands, thousands in fact. The second deciphers how animals and plants made it to all of these isolated places. The third documents the immense diversity of the Pacific, perhaps the most important eco-system in the world. The fourth episode is about the role of volcanoes in the Pacific, the so called "Ring of Fire". In episode five, the focus is on the unique animals and plants that exist on only one or two islands in the Pacific and nowhere else. Finally, episode six discusses how fragile the Pacific is and what kind of trouble it faces from overfishing, global warming and other threats. This series does not cover every aspect in depth but it covers a lot of information, provides amazing photographic documentation of the subjects covered and brings tears to the eye at times with the beauty of places most of us can only dream of. It is in a word, astonishing. Good is always mixed with bad and this documentary is no different. You get to see some amazing things but always, the threat of annihilation never seems to be far away at any point whether the threat is directly from people or from the changing world or just from the fact that only existing in one place and in such small numbers makes a species vulnerable from the start. You truly get to see how amazing and how fragile the mighty Pacific is. God's handy work I call it. Some reviewers complained that this video series talked too much about people and not enough about the wild life. I politely disagree because in the case of the Pacific, humans have had a monumental impact on what they found there as they colonized it and this can teach us many important lessons. Some cultures have learned to live sustainably in their island and coastal homes, whereas others totally destroyed their local environment and themselves with it. We can learn a lot about what we should and should not do to ensure our own survival and that of the world around us. In brief, if you never buy another BBC documentary series buy this one. It teaches so many different things and shows some of the most stunning scenery of places you can only imagine that you will never see for yourself. Truly, it is an astonishing place that no words can do credit. Thank you for reading and please enjoy the blue, blue waters and sandy vistas that await you.

I enjoy this genre, and this video delivers. Beautiful photography. Accurate info - mostly. There is a factual error I noticed, but not really a game-changer. Good infotainment.

Did not like human interaction.Beautiful scenery.

Another one of BBC's "Wild" series and it ranks up there with the others. Not quite as expansive as Wild China, and a bit repetitious with some segments appearing twice through the set, which I why I gave it only 4 stars instead of 5. However, this DVD set gives an excellent view into life in and on the Pacific. Because the Pacific is an oceanic realm, much of the photography is underwater. There are also many scenes of bird life which are fascinating. Anyone sensitive to the plight of birds may want to know that, as in nature, many birds meet a ghastly end in these films. And, as in other of the "Wild" series, the films touch on the conflict between humans and nature. The last section touches on the future of the ocean and what programs may or may not help secure the future of some of these oceanic species. Highly recommended.

Have not viewed this DVD I purchased from you as Knowledge Network on cable TV has all parts of the series of the disks BBC Earth production available to me weekly as a special production, in High Definition.. The "value" to me was only as a back-up to my TV viewing of the original BBS South Pacific broadcast I've already viewed. I think the cost to me is a bit excessive, in comparison to the BBC Earth PLANET EARTH series production, which has the world renowned David Attenborough as narrator. PLANET EARTH DVD is a far better value in comparison to South (Wild) Pacific, in my view. Delivery was as expected...a positive.

Beautiful images of a breathtaking place

Outstanding photography and excellent writing make for a great show worth watching several times.Monkey Skinks, Ground Parrots, and self fertilizing Geckos intercut with astounding photography of waves like you've never seen them and things about native people of Hawaii and other islands that will surprise you.Just when I've seen it all along comes this excellent series.This team should do more....

Beautiful scenery