BLU-RAY REVIEW

Frozen Planet

Featured In Issue 168, July/August 2012

Picture5
Sound5
WSR Score5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
BBC Video
(Catalog Number):
3000043028
(MPAA Rating):
TV-G
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$54.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
348
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2011
(Theatrical Release):
No
(Direct-To-Video Release):
Yes
(Disc Release Date):
04/17/12
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
NA
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

The Arctic and Antarctic remain the greatest wildernesses on Earth. The scale and beauty of the scenery and the sheer power of the elements are unmatched anywhere else on our planet. Using the latest camera technology, The Original U.K. Series Frozen Planet captures unimaginable imagery above and below the ice, including previously unfilmed animal behavior, and follows the extraordinary fluctuations that accompany the changes of seasons. (Tricia Spears)

There are no special features on Discs One and Two, only an isolated score and up-front ads. Disc Three contains the following: On Thin Ice (HD 57:49); Science At The End Of The Earth (HD 21:11); "Production Video Diaries" for "To The Ends Of The Earth," "Spring," "Summer," "Autumn," "Winter," and "The Last Frontier" with multiple chapters of each; and Frozen Planet: The Epic Journey (HD 59:00).

The 1080p picture is absolutely breathtaking in its capture of natural beauty—impressively mesmerizing throughout, from the depiction of the smallest crystals to massive whales and the beauty of the Arctic and Antarctic wilderness environments in their constantly transforming state. Colors are naturally rendered with bright whites and deep solid blacks. Nature enthusiasts will be appreciative of the spectacular imagery. This is a reference-quality visual experience that will not disappoint! (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is an engaging sonic adventure that engulfs the soundfield with a beautiful orchestral music score and atmospheric sound effects. The .1 LFE channel enhances the dynamic quality of the various environments, whether sea or volcanic. David Attenborough's narration is perfectly balanced and intelligible. This is a wondrous sonic experience that really connects one with the stark natural environments. (Gary Reber)