Oceans (2008/BBC DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Documentary: B

 

 

Though I did not like some of the reality TV and editing repetition, the BBC mini-series Oceans (2008) could not be timelier as the Gulf of Mexico fills with an oil spill that seems never-ending and is causing permanent damage that is manmade beyond belief.  The eight hour-long episodes over 3 DVDs include:

 

1)     Sea Of Cortez

2)     Southern Ocean

3)     Red Sea

4)     Atlantic Ocean

5)     Indian Ocean

6)     Indian Ocean Costal Waters

7)     Mediterranean Sea

8)     Arctic Ocean

 

 

Even then, the group of explorers including Philippe Cousteau use the latest technology, knowledge and hard work to analyze, explore and tell the stories of the lands, species and how they have survived, as well as how they are being eroded (often senselessly, without planning, for instance) worldwide in a way that we may make fishes and other creatures extinct.  This could definitely tip the balance of the planet for the worse and cause yet another environmental disaster.  Despite so many programs warning of this, I wonder what it will take until the majority of us wise up and become pro-active.

 

Though this could have been a little better, some of the footage here is rare and in some cases, we may never see some of this the way it is again, so if you are interested in Oceans, you should definitely catch it.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image was shot in what looks to be 1080i HD video, but there i9s some very nice footage here throughout despite the motion blur and DVD’s inability to show the full definition.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is also not bad and has some surrounds, but a 5.1 mix would have been nice.  There are no extras, but when they do a Blu-ray, a new featurette on the BP/Halliburton Gulf disaster should be included no matter what British Nationalists who have been attacking the BBC for a while like.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo