Nature: Window to the Sea

Nature: Window to the Sea produced by PBS.

Plot: The show documents the change in American aquariums' focus throughout the years. Originally, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago offered the opportunity to show off the city's wealth. The New England Aquarium attempted to expose artistic vision by breaking away from the display cases of traditional aquariums through state-of-the-art exhibits. Eventually, both of the organizations focused on exposing inland Americans to the animals, environments, and issues of the sea. Following the collapse of the local fishing industry, the Monterey Bay Aquarium offered stimulation to the busted economy. It also provided a major education opportunity, giving a major research institution to marine biologists. Conservation became a growing concern among aquariums, and the Wakiki Aquarium lead the way in coral, giant clam, and monk seal protection and propagation. Aquariums have changed from a means of displaying wealth to an opportunity to protect the ocean.

Genre: History, Animals, Documentary

Reading Level: Not Rated, but family-friendly.

Similar Titles: Oceans in Glass: Behind the Scenes of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Blue Planet

Personal Thoughts: A well-planned documentary linking historical, social, and environmental issues. Many modern visitors assume all aquariums, as well as zoos and nature parks, began with conservation in mind. However, many started for economical or social reasons. Yet, just because they began with less-than altruistic intentions does not mean they fail to have a positive impact on their guests or their animals. A highly recommended documentary for ocean enthusiasts and future marine biologists.

How Stuff Works: Salt

 
How Stuff Works: Salt produced by Discovery.

Plot: Most people know salt as the white, grainy substance in a shaker. However, salt remains the key for some of the most important, expensive, efficient, and dangerous discoveries, situations, and products known to humanity. As the only rock necessary for a healthy diet, salt allows humans to function. It also causes major health and development problems. To get salt, humans spend enormous amounts of resources and effort. Evaporation and mining provide salt, but also create vital wildlife sanctuaries and safe storage spaces. Salt may even provide an answer to the growing energy crisis, since it will combust when exposed to high radio frequencies. Humble salt, while often ignored, allows humans to exist.

Genre: Documentary, Science

Reading Level: Not Rated; while some episodes of the series focus on items like alcohol, this particular episode does not contain such references.

Similar Titles: Modern Marvels, How Stuff Works

Personal Thoughts: The episode runs like an updated version of the Eyewitness videos. It offers rapid "bits" of information in a fast-paced, graphics-heavy manner. While it does not contain the elaborate computer illustrations of the Eyewitness episodes, the information is more complete and the show is twice as long. Apparently, the show's series also focuses on other food items, such as corn and coffee, as well as other materials such as copper, lead, water, and rubber. The series offers an in-depth look at items often dismissed as mundane.

Life

Life produced by BBC.

Plot: Following the success of Planet Earth, the series observes the major groups of animal life on the planet through the use of artful filming, exotic locations, and professional narration. The four-disk series contains episodes on insects, reptiles & amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, primates, and conservation issues.

Genre: Animals, Documentary

Reading Level: Not Rated, but some hunting scenes may be intense for sensitive viewers.

Similar Titles: Life, Mammals, Nature's Most Amazing Events

Personal Thoughts: Two versions of the series exist. The one I watched was narrated by Oprah Winfrey and seems very youth-focused. However, many viewers prefer the original version with David Attenborough, citing the more experienced narrator and professional script as a better format. The version I saw tones down biological terms and situations, preventing the seriousness of the science from making a dramatic impact, so the preference is understandable.

On a more personal note, the focus on mammals becomes annoying quickly. For a series claiming to focus on Earth's lifeforms, half of the episodes focus exclusively on mammals. While mammals are interesting (and marketable), they are a very poor representation of biology. Insects and fish offer more variations of life than mammals, so they provide a better picture of what life requires. Similarly, amphibians and reptiles are different enough to merit their own episodes. A few major groups of animals, such as crabs, spiders, and mollusks, fail to receive any notice at all. A series claiming to focus on all life-forms should avoid such bias.

March of the Penguins

March of the Penguins. Produced by Warner.

Plot: The movie follows an extraordinary event in Antarctica. Every March, emperor penguins leave the comfort and safety of the ocean and slowly move across land. They travel to their breeding grounds, where they mate. While the females return to water to recover from the egg-producing process, the males wait on land for the entire winter. When warmer weather finally returns, the females arrive to feed and tend the newly-hatched chicks. Both the parents care for the young bird until it is finally ready to live on its own.

Genre: Documentary, Animals

Reading Level: Rated G. However, there are some "Bambi's mom"-esque moments, so be prepared.

Similar Titles: Winged Migration

Personal Thoughts: A rare, commercially successful full-screen documentary. The popularity is not difficult to understand. With beautiful photography, narration by Morgan Freeman, and classical music,  the film manages to capture the audience in the life and death struggles of an otherwise comical bird.

The film won several awards, including an Academy Award, Cesar Award, and Southeaster Film Critics Association Award.

Eywitness: Volcano

Eyewitness: Volcano. DVD produced by DK Publishing, 2007.

Plot: Based on the best-selling book series, the show, produced in 1997 and transitioned into DVD format in 2007, offers a study of the world's most powerful and destructive natural phenomena. Volcanoes shift the land in large explosions, releasing enormous amounts of ash, mud, gases, and lava. Yet, they also affect locals in a positive way. The ash provides nutrients for plants and compounds for industry and mining. The power of the volcanoes also form the basis of myth and culture. Presented through the "Eyewitness Museum," the DVD manages to copy the books' famous white backgrounds and solid information while displaying dynamic animation.

Genre: Documentary

Reading Level: Not rated, but good for middle schoolers.

Similar Titles: Eyewitness Series, Ring of Fire: IMAX, National Geographic: Volcano

Personal Thoughts: The DVD displays information cleanly and comprehensively. Sadly, most of the technological displays, like the "Eyewitness Museum" seem outdated. As a result, viewers used to more elaborate graphics may become disinterested.

In addition to the main show, the DVD offers a "Making of Eyewitness" section. The thirty minute subprogram shows the technology and film methods used to produce the programs. I found the explanations amazing. Technology, particularly in the entertainment industry, has changed so much in the past thirteen years. Tweens will probably like the show for its information, but I really enjoyed the retrospective.

The Beauty of Ugly

The Beauty of Ugly produced by Nature. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/the-beauty-of-ugly/video-full-episode/5380/

Plot: The documentary reviews some of the least homely animals in existence. While some animals, such as sea otters, enjoy human adoration, others seem positively hideous. Yet, the "ugly" aspects often provide the best means to survive in harsh habitats. For example, the bizarre "fingers" on a star-nosed mole's snout allow it to detect the slightest movements in its tunnels. The enormous drooping nose of male elephant seals allow it to intimidate rivals. Even the naked head of a vulture has purpose. Since the bird lacks feathers on its head, the likelihood of infection from its carrion diet is greatly reduced. Not all animals appear attractively, but sometimes the ugliest aspects of a creature permit its survival.

Genre: Documentary

Reading Level: Not rated

Similar Titles: Life, Earth

Personal Thoughts: Nature generally produces solid documentaries. This one is no exception. The show displays familiar and non-familiar animals in an introductory manner without becoming condescending. While everyone tends to find some animals attractive and others less so, realizing the purpose of unusual appearances remains vital for biologists (and biology students). As a side note, while I have seen photographs of star-nosed moles before, I had no idea they are so small. I expected them to be the size of a traditional mole or perhaps a ground squirrel, but the one in this video is roughly the size of a hamster. Since it is so small, it almost looks cute...until the camera zooms in on the weird nose.