WARNING for anyone buying BBC's "Life" on BluRay

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Anyone in the US, that is. The original BBC version of the series Life (the sequel to Planet Earth) is coming to Blu-Ray in the U.S. It's the version narrated by David Attenborough (the US version is narrated by Oprah Winfrey ). Here's a link.

The problem is this: The UK version is encoded at 50Hz, which only a small fraction of US Blu-Ray players can handle.

So if you don't have one of these players, your only options are to 1) go without, or 2) put up with Oprah's narration. I'd rather go without, of course.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

They shoulda got Sigourney Weaver back. Oprah narrates like she's talking to a classroom of slow 3rd graders.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

^^Does she do that Oprah thing, like, "HEERRREES A MANNNN-A-TEEEEE!"?

 

[Temis the Vorta]

No but she overpronounces things (and sometimes mispronounces words) with this annoying sing-songy voice.

 

[Sheep]

The Attenborough narrated Life BD set is coming to the U.S. and will play just fine. It will be released on June 1 according to your Amazon link. I'm glad they're giving us the option because Attenborough kicks ass and Orca, well...doesn't.

The people encountering problems are those who imported the region-free U.K. version only to find that it's encoded at 50Hz and won't play in most U.S. BD players. This isn't a widespread problem, period.

 

[Aragorn]

They shoulda got Sigourney Weaver back. Oprah narrates like she's talking to a classroom of slow 3rd graders.

Slow third graders? I think you just insulted her audience that does everything she tells them to.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I've never watched this but you'd think they could fit both narrators on the disc and make everyone happy.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The people encountering problems are those who imported the region-free U.K. version only to find that it's encoded at 50Hz and won't play in most U.S. BD players. This isn't a widespread problem, period.

I see. Well, that's good.

 

[D Man]

I've never watched this but you'd think they could fit both narrators on the disc and make everyone happy.

Yeah, I've wondered the same thing. Weaver's narration on "Planet Earth" was great, but so was Attenborough's. One would think they could fit two audio tracks onto one disc, seeing as they have no problems doing so with commentaries and additional languages on other sets.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Is the audio track the only difference? There's no variations in actual footage?

 

[Warp Coil]

Is the audio track the only difference? There's no variations in actual footage?

I can't speak for "Life" (I haven't been watching), but I am fairly certain that "Planet Earth" was re-cut as well as re-narrated. So I suspect there are some slight differences between the BBC and Discovery versions.

As for the narration issue, offering two different DVD sets allows for each company to sell and make money off of them. The BBC wants you to buy their version, whereas Discovery wants you to buy their version, instead. It's always about money.

 

[LitmusDragon]

Buyer beware! Discovery in their infinite wisdom has decided to release the David Attenborough and Oprah Winfrey versions of Life separately, as two different sets! In addition, the Oprah version is some one hour and thirty minutes shorter than the BBC cut. This is in stark contrast to the BBC Planet Earth released previously, which was the same cut and had a selectable Sigourney Weaver or David Attenborough narration track all within the same set.

Attenborough version at Amazon.com
Oprah version at Amazon.com

 

[FreezeC77]

They shoulda got Sigourney Weaver back. Oprah narrates like she's talking to a classroom of slow 3rd graders.

Slow third graders? I think you just insulted her audience that does everything she tells them to.

I think that's an insult to slow third graders comparing them to her audience...

 

[tharpdevenport]

I skipped watching it because she did the voicing.

 

[Sheep]

I've read online that the Attenborough version inexplicably features higher quality 1080p video, as opposed to the 1080i video of the Orca version. Yes, most people won't be able to tell the difference but why there's a video quality difference is beyond my comprehension--it's not like Orca is taking up more space. Er, Orca's narration, that is.

 

[LitmusDragon]

I'll probably wait for the price to drop to pick this up. I still haven't watched all the Planet Earth discs yet.

Blue Planet is still my favorite Attenborough production, but then I really like underwater stuff for some reason.

 

[Deckerd]

It's amazing how similar the Attenborough brothers sound now in their eighties. I challenge anyone to guess who's speaking without any clues.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

It's amazing how similar the Attenborough brothers sound now in their eighties. I challenge anyone to guess who's speaking without any clues.

I always felt Dickie had more of the luvvie in his voice than David.

On the other hand, the Dimbleby boys... now, they sound very similar.

 

[Warp Coil]

I've read online that the Attenborough version inexplicably features higher quality 1080p video, as opposed to the 1080i video of the Orca version. Yes, most people won't be able to tell the difference but why there's a video quality difference is beyond my comprehension--it's not like Orca is taking up more space. Er, Orca's narration, that is.

Discovery broadcasts in 1080i so nearly all of its HD content delivers in this format. The Oprah-narrated masters for "Life" are 1080i so what's why the Blu-ray discs are in that format.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

They shoulda got Sigourney Weaver back. Oprah narrates like she's talking to a classroom of slow 3rd graders.

^^Does she do that Oprah thing, like, "HEERRREES A MANNNN-A-TEEEEE!"?

Too which some quick witted smart ass 3rd grader might say "A cousin of yours?"