Blue Planet : Complete BBC Series (Special Edition 4 Disc Box Set) [DVD]

It’s hard to rain too many superlatives on The Blue Planet, surely one of the finest and most fascinating nature documentaries ever made. But nonetheless, we’re going to try.

Long in the making, the idea behind the show was to, using some cutting-edge technology, film previously unseen areas of the ocean, and to investigate life beneath the waves. And in doing so, it pretty much encompasses the full spectrum of creature size. From the staggering, gigantic whale of the first episode, through the miniscule life that’s documented as the programme progresses, it’s a jaw-dropping experience.

It’s also a very, very accessible one. Thanks to a diligent, warm narrative from Sir David Attenborough, there’s plenty of fact married up to the sheer spectacle of The Blue Planet, although in many ways the stunning photography almost needs no accompaniment. It’s timeless work, too, with immense rewatch value, uncovering both life that’s never been photographed previously while charting the habits of the more familiar. Icing The Blue Planet’s cake is a series of short pieces documenting just how some of the incredible pictures were captured, and these are almost as interesting as the main feature.

Enough of those superlatives, though. Because The Blue Planet simply demands to be seen and enjoyed. Prepare, like many before you, to be mesmerised. --Simon Brew

The Blue Planet is the first ever comprehensive series on the natural history of the world’s oceans.

Narrated by David Attenborough, the extraordinary images of this marine epic reveal the sea at its most fearsome and alluring, exposing some of its best kept secrets. Enter a world of breathtaking beauty and discover new species, visit unseen habitats and witness stories of survival never caught on camera before.

Accompanied by a superb soundtrack from the award-winning composer George Fenton, this DVD is further enhanced by the technical brilliance of the film and sound quality.

The Abyss sends cameras to the last great frontier on our planet – the deep sea – to reveal an amazing world including rare footage of the most incredible sea-life.

Amazon Abyss searches the river’s hidden depths to find primitive dolphins, giant pink electric knifefish, giant black piranha and other astonishing creatures.

Dive to Shark Volcano ventures to Cocos Island, an underwater volcano whose waters are a haven for sharks.As cameras reach new depths, we witness shark behaviour from the heart of the action.

This definitive natural history of the world's oceans covers everything from popular shores and teeming shallows to the mysterious open depths. Two-thirds of the planet is covered by the oceans and yet they remain largely unexplored and certainly under-filmed. The TV series Blue Planet changes all that and subsequently changes our views of the deep. Advances in underwater photography have opened the doors to unknown territories never before explored.

Includes 3 new programmes: The Abyss, Dive To Shark Volcano & Amazon Abyss.