Galapagos

Product Description:
Studio: Warner Home VideoRelease Date: 04/03/2007Run time: 150 minutesRating: Nr

Amazon.com:
While its title may be superfluous, Galapagos: The Islands That Changed the World is a beautifully filmed journey into "the islands of the tortoise." Located due west of Ecuador, the Galapagos islands are full of gorgeous scenery and exotic wildlife. And this 150-minute documentary shows it all, thanks to stunning cinematography shot from all viewpoints--the air, sea and, of course, land. The collection is both soothing and exhilarating as it allows viewers to peek in on mating albatrosses (which are monogamous), penguins fishing, and surprisingly graceful giant tortoises swimming in the ocean. The filmmakers also manage to capture a ferocious volcanic eruption that is amazing in its clarity. The problem with many documentaries lies in the narration. A documentary filmmaker hits the jackpot when he is able to get someone like Sigourney Weaver, whose crisp narration fits in beautifully with the sweeping footage in Planet Earth. While Tilda Swanton lends a relaxing quality to Galapagos, her voice at times is a bit too lulling to hold the viewer's interest. The writing also borders on melodramatic, with talk of the simmering sea and such. With visuals as stunning as this, hyperbole is unnecessary. Charles Darwin has described the Galapagos as a world within itself, and it is said that the islands were one of his inspirations for his book The Origin of Species. While the film doesn't clearly explain why the Galapagos are unlike any other place on earth, it does showcase a destination that is unlike what most of us know.--Jae-Ha Kim

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Customer Reviews

Rating: - Could have been better!
Although the photography is great,the program is more of an overview of the Islands than an indepth study that it should have been,but I can recommend it! Although Darwin and the Galapagos will forever be linked,his evolution theory should be considered historical in its context,not presented to be factual.
Rating: - Great DVDs!
We bought this and watched it before our trip to the Galapagos.It greatly enriched our experience--we knew so much more about the geology and wildlife than the other tourists in our group.I'd recommend it to anyone planning to visit the Galapagos or interested in these wonderful islands.
Rating: - A Correction to the AmazonReview
There are no Giant Tortoises swimming gracefully in the ocean. The ocean footage shows Pacific Green Sea Turtles. The Giant Tortoises are strictly land animals.
Rating: - Galapagos
A very in depth and informative DVD of the Galapagos Islands. It's as if you were seeing them through the eyes of Darwin himself.
Rating: - A great synopsis of the wonder of the Galapagos Islands
Having just visited the Galapagas Islands for 8 days (10 islands), I didn't believe that any video could capture their wonder.This co-production of the BBC and National Geographic absolutely does.I particularly liked that it included several aspects, such as the geological history, human history, Darwin's visit and its impact on his development of the theory of evolution, in addition to the unique species found there.It really captured some incredible footage of those species and their incredible ... Read More