18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect for your new Plasma Widescreen UHDTV, Sep 16 2006
By Library Picks Reviews "Library Picks Staff" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Genesis: Where Are We Coming From? (Nature Documentary) (DVD)
We go out and buy the latest, coolest video monitors, plasma TV's, HD and widescreens, then what do we watch? Terrible sitcom TV programming, sports (ok, how many grassy helmets can we see in vivid XCU HDTV?), cartoons, and movies with enough car chases and explosions to bore Tarentino. NO LONGER!
Genesis is just amazing, as a date movie, for the kids (careful of the sex scenes though mom), and ESPECIALLY to take that new HD or widescreen technology for an awesome spin. The cinematography is just stunning, from close ups of the anglerfish eating a shrimp, to sky high views of Africa. Sure, it's been on cable on and off, but the DVD, although not the equivalent of movie quality due to compression, is still one of the most striking you'll ever add to your library. I've read that death counsellors are even showing this to terminal patients because it is such an "upper" about life in general, with hints at the continuity of consciousness.
The little bits of philosophy ("my atoms were a cloud in me and will become the wing of a butterfly" etc.) are non-denominational and not controversial. We've had friends over ranging in age from 14 to 60 and each one has raved about the "experience."
Grab this one for a real treat, or give it as a gift that will be appreciated for years. Why do we buy a dvd anyway? After a few viewings we can recite the script by heart. Just to give us another jewel case to dust? Not so here, the images keep adding new dimensions after multiple viewings. This is the kind of DVD that the media and monitors were made for!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing film - Bad DVD, Feb 24 2006
By dh "dh" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Genesis: Where Are We Coming From? (Nature Documentary) (DVD)
This film is a wonderful experience through natures immagination.
Amazing visuals and great composition, BUT...
There is a lot of compression on the DVD. The picture could be better.
The worst part about it all is that they dubbed the french african narrator!! When I saw it at the theater they subtitled it, and it was a lot better. I don't understand the reasoning for this, but thats what you get.
I seriously suggest watching this film though - just too bad the DVD isn't as good.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
GREAT FOR BIO CLASS INTROS!, Feb 12 2006
By Gengler - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Genesis: Where Are We Coming From? (Nature Documentary) (DVD)
I was apprehensive about showing this DVD to a sophomore biology class...how would they respond to dubbed English, and the device of an African storyteller linking wordless, though beautiful images, illustrating the diversity of life on earth?
The answer is that they were enthralled. After introducing it as a folkloric description of the origins of life, and emphasizing its represantation of the diversity of life, the students really enjoyed it. It provided a great visual lead in to a discussion on the characteristics and classification of life.
A wonderful supplement to - rather than replacement for - the essential PBS series on Evolution. (although you do need to pre-screen the Why Sex? DVD in that series for older students only - the bonobos, and the scientists who study them, are just a wee bit too enthusiastic about their going at it for sophomores in general intro bio!
Too bad amazon doesn't have a photo of this great DVD to accompany the listing for identification. Highly recommended!