Another Clarkson Epic

Wow, I really enjoyed this film. It has all the brilliant cars we'd all love to have in our garages. It's a showcase of the engineering masterpieces at the present day and age. And as usual, to tie things together, Clarkson's incessant humerous comments provide very frequent bouts of laughter which makes the journey to find the perfect thriller car a highly enjoyable experience.

The only thing I didn't like in the film was that a whole segment towards the middle is based on blowing things up rather than finding the perfect thrill.

It's a very enjoyable film to watch for all the petrol-heads out there and I'd highly recommend it.

Keep it up Clarkson!

Just BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Planet Earth what more can you say. The pictures on Blue Ray is just breathtaking!!!!! What's even more impressive was shipping to sunny California from UK took only 5 days. Order it on 12-17-08 and got it on 12-22-08. Amazon is the best!!!!

brillant

My brother just bought this for me (I put him up rent free for months when he came back from traveling). One of the best things he has ever got me. There are five DVDs and I've already watched three, I've only had it a week.

When you watch it your just in awe of the scenery, it's beautiful. There is a purposefully made score for it that just adds to the enjoyment. As for people that say they can't hear David Attenborough because of the music, they must be deaf the music always quietens down when he talks. I love the Planet Earth Diaries parts, it's very enjoyable to watch.

I may be wrong but I think this was the first or first major nature progamme to be filmed fully in HD and it's all the better for it.

Top Gear delivers

This game is brilliant and it's not just a game.
Its basically a Top Gear show with just Richard Hammond and Stig, with the fun of taking part in a couple of the challenges.
As well as the rounds like Carabungee and Powerslide skittles which cunjure up images which you won't be disappointed with, there are loads of new Top Gear style challenges such as Hamster racing a dirt bike in the Bowler, a car Top Gear fans will be familiar with.
There's loads of classic clips as well, and this DVD is a sure fire winner for anyone who loves Top Gear.
Utterly brilliant!

Very good but more off-track details please!

This is a good overview of the 2008 season detailing the on-track highlights of each race well. The commentator is great too, he should commentate on the live races! The special features are a nice addition too.

The reason I give this DVD four stars, however, is because it would've been nicer to have more interviews with the drivers and team personnel, and have more information about what happened off-track at each race. They started to do this well with the 2006 Season Review but have neglected it a bit with this and the 2007 DVD.

Shame about the sound

I had great expectations of this DVD and first impressions of the sparkling video were encouraging. Then came the 5.1 dts sound. This simply wasn't up to current standards. It sounded muffled with a peculiar fading in and out of instruments. The sound stage was compressed without any illusion of being in a concert hall, rather
lo-fi. I so wanted to be taken in by The Stones but found myself disappointed.

A wonderful documentary

I have just received it this morning and saw only parts of this DVD BBC Collection.

Pictures are as wonderful as the ones of Planet Earth : I regret not having yet bought an LCD Full HD TV set, it's worthwhile for such a good documentary.

An important point for foreigners like me (French): it's subtitled in English for the Hard of hearing. The subtitles make easier for us to understand all the Sir Attenborough's commentaries. Even the extras are subtitled.

Obviously it would be better if the BBC had released this DVD, as Planet Eaerth, with other languages subtitles.

But nevertheless I recommend the buying of this item strongly to Amazon's customers.

Incomparable...

Incomparable. Moving. Poignant. Horrific. There are not enough superlatives for this series. If it was up to me, I'd make every teenager in the Uk watch it - just to make them realise what sacrifices our ancestors had to make so that they can enjoy their much taken for granted freedom.

Snappy and educational financial overview. Very timely!

This is an accessible and extremely useful series which popped up at just the right moment to help unravel exactly what's been going on with the worldwide money markets.
The presentation is clear, concise and occasionally witty, and has really helped us to get to grips with the mysteries of the modern money machine.

Prof Niall Ferguson is an engaging host and an excellent historian who has no trouble demonstrating how the same systems and behaviours affect financial markets, be they in the 1700s or right now. He normally relates each high-falutin' fiscal concept straight back to how it affects the real world.
Most of the six programmes rely heavily on his narrative with footage from around the world, as he explains how money itself began on Babylonian tablets, then how the Medici clan began banking; how the bond market rose and made millionaires of the Rothschild family, and so on.
Inevitably, much of the older material is hard to illustrate and, if you want to rest your eyes for a while, then you can quite easily just listen to the voice-over. The images on screen can be repetitive paintings of the main players, or blurry shots of stock market traders, or strings of meaningless share prices. There are moments when this series would probably work just as well as a radio programme!

However, the core information is fascinating. Ferguson explains how stock bubbles happen and the psychology behind bear and bull markets. He uses recent examples to illustrate historical trends -- such as the rise and fall of Enron. And with the more recent info there are interviews with relevant people which are enlightening and entertaining. And all through each programme, Ferguson underlines an uncomfortable truth: that financial dealings have had major impact on all aspects of global history, from the Dutch East India Company to the Renaissence to the French Revolution -- right up to day. Scary...

So if you'd like to understand more about hedge funds, stocks and shares, limited liability companies, money itself, global banking, reflation and deflation and heaps more -- this is a must-watch.
We've found it to be very enjoyable and extremely informative.

8/10

Complete Charley

Unlike most reviews for this thusfar I thought I'd wait to see the whole series. How can you really comment if you haven't?

Before I start my review of the series I'd say that watching this on DVD is the way to go. This kind of adventure should seem epic and long, put it on and watch 3 episodes back to back. Not in a weekly form. I found Long Way Down much better on DVD than on TV due to this. Oh and one more thing, it's not as good as Ewan McGregor And Charley Boorman - Long Way Round [Special Edition] [2004], few shows are, so don't expect it to be.

So, it's Charley on his own, but not for the first time. Charley Boorman - Race to Dakar follows Charley as he and his team enter the infamous Dakar Rally. In this Charley has to show his abilities as a Biker and presenter, good training for By Any Means.

By Any Means is a different adventure altogether. Gone are the BMW motorbikes, replaced by over 100 different types of transport as Charley goes from Ireland to Australia 'by any means'. Really this is one big, nerdy transport documentary, showing how people move around the world, talking more about machines than cultures. This isn't a documentary about soaking up cultures as per the previous outings. Things get trickier as the series goes on, climaxing in a some dangerous events in the last episode.

Charley does well, he's obviously a good guy and is willing to show all to the camera (literally). This is more like your mate going on an adventure than a TV/Film star, which is By Any Mean's charm.

I've enjoyed it on TV and I'll do even more so again on DVD.

Should have ten stars!

This is an amazing DVD... if you dont watch it you really are missing out.. I never knew what a fantastic place China is... such contrasts. For me this out shines Planet Earth and Blue Planet..A world in one country.. I will be giving out copies of this for Christmas presents... an education very well done. Thanks BBC!

A visit to Venice?

One the surface, Venice is supremely beautiful and romantic city- the gondolas, the masked balls and, of course, the canals at sunset. But Venice is really a city created out of adversity, hard trading with the East and naval battles. Thankfully, the balance in this DVD is beautifully trod by our native guide, Count Franceso da Mosta. As you have probably guessed by now, he leaves the tourist trail behind to give an insiders view of the city. From Casanova to Napoleon; the Jewish Getto to the stealing of St Mark's body from Alexandria; the story is enticing and enthralling. And, of course, it makes you want to visit (or return to) Venice.

Whether you just want to enjoy the touristy bits of the city, or find out more about the history, this DVD is perfect capturing of Venice on film.

Fantastic TV series!!!!

This is an excellent TV series. It's a unique look at the side of American life that you rarely see & Stephen Fry is the ideal host, injecting his unique perspective & brand of humour. Unlike other series, looking into America, he hasn't gone for the obvious subjects. Instead concentrating on the people & their different ways of life. His love for the country & its people is apparent & his presentation of a different side of America (away from the usual stero-typical over weight arogant race we're normally presented with) is both fascinating & informative. The filming is beautifully shot, with some stunning views (this weekends episode featuring Monument Valley was simply stunning & makes you want to jump on the next plane over there). I can't wait to get the DVD to watch even more & look forward to more of Stephen Fry presenting in the future. The natural successor to Palin. Highly Recommended !!!!

Alfred would be pleased

Wainwright Walks is a series of filmed hillwalks in the magnificant Lake District by Julia Bradbury. The guide books of Alfred Wainwright are referred to continually throughout each journey, hence the title.

It is a beautifully filmed dvd, particularly the aerial photography used at the beginning of each episode to outline the intended route of the hike. On the walk, Bradbury links up with local guides and experts for additional insights and explanations. The only drawback I felt was with the presenter. Bradbury is a pleasant, competent host, easy on the eye and the ear. However, she lacks the credibility of a true outdoors expert like a Nick Crane that we have become to expect with such programming.

Nevertheless, this series is essentially a tribute to the outstanding scenery of the Lake District and the man who helped popularise it through his guide books. It has done justice in both cases.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

This is without doubt the most awe inspiring documentary I've ever seen. Beautiful archive footage of the planning and lead up to this most daring and glorious stunt shows how the 21th century has become nothing more than a time of gutless media spin. This is the human spirit at its best. Watching this will make you fell more alive and introduce you to the most daring and difficult to exorcize prank in history

Great but....

This is a brilliant DVD, and I thoroughly recommend it however, I have already seen all of these on Dave, and so if you have already seen them then there is no point. So if you dont mind that much about getting it, you can just see them there as their bound to come along some time.

The last word on Joy Division?

Less is more. The genius of this documentary is Jon Savage's interview technique. The 3 surviving Joy Division members talk with the interviewer like they were talking to a mate in the pub, in a totally unaffected manner. The end result is the most insightful piece on Ian Curtis to date and - surprise, surprise - he was just an ordinary guy.

Slick production values (Peter Saville is a"consultant") give the video a pleasing Factory-ish feel. The copious extras (unused interview snippets from the various participants) are bitty but something that the avid fans will no doubt want to work their way through religiously.

Curiosity value is added in the short contributions from Richard H. Kirk and Genesis P. Orridge (who looks more like Pete Burns than I remember).

A well put together and well presented film from people who clearly understand what Joy Division were about.

BRILLIANT

I have been using these kind of techniques ever since I went to see Tony Robbins, but this put it into very easy to understand principles that I use everyday. So much so that I have bought it for loads of family and friends. I should get a discount by now!

If you are going for a job use it with Expert's Guide Interview Skills DVD which is also on Amazon. Both are fantastic. Job Interview Skills - Extended DVD & CD

Beautiful and Evocative

This is a stunning series, taking the viewer all around the British Isles and invoking not just the stunning and often wild imagery but the art, poetry and wildlife that was insired by it and also providing a good deal of information about those who created it.
David Dimbleby is a terrific presenter, relaxed, erudite, nuanced and clearly enjoying himself. I also have the equally brilliant How We Built Britain and only hope Mr Dimbleby puts more time and effort into further projects such as these.