Planet Earth (US Edition) - High-Def Digest review

[jed]

Peter's review of 'Planet Earth (US Edition)' is up. Featuring the re-edited version of the series that aired in the US, this one ends up being different from the best-selling BBC high-def version in several key ways

Full review here:
http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/984/planetearth_us.html

[WesleyTech.com]

Ouch! Inferior video quality, 50 minutes of HD footage missing and more make it clear that the BBC version is superior. On top of all that, I really enjoyed David Attenborough's narration, so I couldn't see myself springing for the Sigourney version, even if they were equal.

[RichGardner]

Yeah, I was waiting to see if they would release the US version before I bought the other one. I'm glad I waited, I'll pick up the original.

[Arkadin]

sounds like a total bust on all levels compared to previous release. sad. i was expecting much more.
with a release like this you really have to wonder what the point is. I mean except for lovers of Space Lady there seems to be absolutely NO other reason for this to exist. why Discovery? why?

[seawoof]

Well, bummer. Discovery hasn't sent out my replacement version of the US Planet Earth, so maybe I'll just ask for a refund and get the BBC version for a lot cheaper than $99.95 at Amazon.

[Vriess]

Butchered, Defo the bbc version for me.

[Cowboy Bebop]

why on earth would they go through all the trouble of making a whole new disc, and a new encoding for just another part of the world?

strange...


-Bass

[ni9ht_5ta1k3r]

Forget this version: BBC version all the way!

[Cowboy Bebop]

absolutely, BBC version wins hands down

[ni9ht_5ta1k3r]

Besides, Weaver's voice is not voice over material. Somehow english accented voice overs sound better for some reason.

[ibanezjeepguy]

wow, I bought the BBC version, it should come in thursday from amazon... a LOT cheaper than 100 bucks, I think I got it for 65 or something brand new.
stupid discovery channel. though my tv only displays 1080i max I still want the best in disc quality for when I do upgrade tv.

[k00k]

David Attenborough IS the voice of Planet Earth. Why on earth anyone would want to listen to Weaver is beyond me. If you've been watching any number of the brilliant BBC nature docos around before this one, you'll know what I mean. Its just not British without Attenborough narrating. And starring in many of them also. He will be sorely missed...

[HomeTheatreFreak]

In all honesty I understand why they created a different version with Sigourney however I personally dont think they should have. It was simply to make this set more accesabe to the American market as Sigourney is quite popular actually in terms of doing voice overs and she has an American voice. Believe it or not but alot of people have a problem understanding David A and prefer an american voice and that is mainly why they did this and from a business point of view it does make sense.

With that being said its disappointing that they were not able to keep the quality the same across both versions because this doumentary deserves a flawless presentation as it is groundbreaking stuff period. Oh well people still have the BBC version to choose from and hopefully most people take that route thus avoiding the problematic american release. It was never even up for debate in my household as nobody can touch David A in my opinion and I preordered the BBC version the very first day it was offered. Watching a BBC documentary without David A is like eating popcorn without butter and I honestly dont know what ill do when they finally replace him for good as he has a couple more documentaries in te pipeline after which he is supposedly hanging up the microphones for good. It will be a very sad day indeed.