Movie Reviews

Planet Earth II – Ultra HD Movie Review

Five years in the making, Planet Earth II explores some of the most beautiful and amazing parts of our world in stunning Ultra HD.
Synopsis

BBC Earth is well-known for its stunning footage of some of Earth’s most beautiful and intriguing places. Divided into 11 episodes, Planet Earth II shows us how life exists in many of our planet’s most extreme environments. Narrated by David Attenborough, the viewer is transported up close and personal with animals, plants, and remote lands, some of which have never been filmed.

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Specifications
BBC
2016, Ultra HD w/HDR, Not Rated, 6 Hrs (11 episodes)
DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
Narrated by: David Attenborough

Rating

Entertainment:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:

Violence: No
Sex: No
Language: No

Commentary

This review may seem a bit late given that Planet Earth II was released on Blu-ray over a year ago. But I picked up the Ultra HD version a while back to use as demo material for a projector review and have been mesmerized ever since. In days of old, I journeyed to trade shows to see the latest displays and projectors. All of them showed stunning footage shot with Ultra HD cameras in extreme slow motion. I learned that this footage was rented at a cost of hundreds of dollars a minute. I suspect with the release of Planet Earth II in 4K, there will be no need to spend the money. The video on this disc is quite simply the state of the art. It doesn’t get any better. The story told by David Attenborough is equally compelling. Though the three discs total six hours, I watched them in one sitting. This video should be part of any enthusiast’s collection. Even a short demo will be the best thing you can possibly show on your new display.

Technical

There is no Hollywood movie that can compete with Planet Earth II’s video quality. Thanks to the latest high-res cameras and some innovative filming techniques, there isn’t a single moment when every object is not in perfect focus. The use of extended color and HDR is also unmatched. Dynamic range is seemingly without limit and the color demands a display that can show all of the DCI-P3 gamut.

Audio is of equally high quality with beautifully performed and recorded live orchestral music and clear dialog from the narrator. There are some effects from the landscape, but they remain in the background. Though it’s not Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, the viewer is completely enveloped by the sound track.

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Extras

The only bonus feature is a 54-minute documentary that goes in-depth with filming techniques and some of the brutal conditions endured by the film crews. It’s a fascinating look at how the series came to be.

Chris Eberle

Chris' passion for audio began when he took up playing the bassoon at age 12. During his third year at the New England Conservatory of Music, he won a position with the West Point Band where he served for 26 years as principal bassoonist. He retired from the Army in 2013 and is now writing full time and performing as a freelance musician in Central Florida. As an avid movie lover, Chris was unable to turn away the 50-inch Samsung DLP TV that arrived at his door one day, thus launching him irrevocably into an obsession with home theater. Dissatisfied with the image quality of his new acquisition, Chris trained with the Imaging Science Foundation in 2006 and became a professional display calibrator. His ultimate theater desires were realized when he completed construction of a dedicated cinema/listening room in his home. Chris is extremely fortunate that his need for quality audio and video is shared and supported by his wife of over 25 years. In his spare time he enjoys riding his recumbent trike at least 100 miles per week, trying out new restaurants, going to theme parks and spending as much time as possible watching movies and listening to music. Chris enjoys bringing his observations and discoveries about every kind of home theater product to as many curious and well-informed readers as possible. He is proud to be a part of the Team and hopes to help everyone enjoy their AV experiences to the fullest.

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