Description

Provides a behind-the-scenes look, with unprecedented access, into life inside the Vatican. With rare footage of secret archives, private chapels and papal quarters, the program explores the Vatican's long, powerful history, and the unique traditions and ceremonies that have survived for nearly 2000 years. Accounts from Vatican officiants, historians and devoted individuals who work closely with the Pope John Paul II provide privilieged insight into the inner workings of one of the richest wonders of the world. 60 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great insights
This DVD provides great insights into the Vatican and the role of the pope. This video tells a great story with pictures.

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO THE HOLY SEE
Gain behind-the scenes access to the See of Peter in National Geographic's INSIDE THE VATICAN. This documentary provides an unprecedented view of the inner workings of the Church, such as the election of a new Pope, enlistment of Swiss Guards, the ordination of Archbishops, the restoration of priceless works of art, and a history of the Papacy and its critical role in the development of Western civilization.

The Papacy has its beginnings with St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and leader of the formative Church. He is the first Pope, who ministered the flock in Rome at the time of Nero, and was martyred at Vatican Field in a circus in the outskirts of the city. The disciples recovered his body and buried it in the same field, which became a center of pilgrimage in the ensuing centuries. The exact spot of his crucifixion was preserved by tradition, and is now marked by an altar. Constantine the Great built a basilica at the site of his tomb, which has been replaced with the magnificent renaissance structure of today.
One can see for the first time the original tomb of Saint Peter, which had been lost for centuries and has been rediscovered only a few decades ago, right under the main altar of today's basilica.

Of particular interest are the priceless documents from the last two millennia in the Vatican's Secret Archives. One can see letters from Michelangelo to Pope Julius II, the request of Henry VIII for the annulment of his marriage (this was denied, and led to the formation of the Anglican Church), and even a demand from the Mongol Emperor that the Pope pay homage to him! (Of course, denied.)

Great attention is given into a "normal" day in the Vatican: the restoration of priceless tapestries by Raphael; the cleaning of Bernini's colossal baldachino; meetings of international figures with the Vicar of Christ. In addition, one can see the blessed ministry of Pope John Paul II, a man of great compassion. Particularly moving is footage of his visit to a leper colony in Korea: the Holy Father embraces and kisses these poor souls, not shying from their diseased flesh, but rather sharing with them the love of Christ.

Truly the Gates of Hell have not endured against Christ's Church. The successors of Peter have served the Church, and will continue doing so, throughout the ages. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Ideal for teaching about the Vatican and Papacy
Every teacher of the Catholic faith to young adults and adults should incorporate this DVD into their classes. It is so unusual to see the Catholic faith presented without an agenda -- and this succeeds. Everything is clearly explained and given a historical context. I was impressed with the archival newsreel footage incorporated into the explanation of the papal elections.

Fascinating!
I found this dvd very entertaining and informative. It is a fascinating look into the operations of the most visited place in the world. The beauty and grandeur of the place especially the priceless paintings and artifacts have made the Vatican the most valuable wealth of historical information available. The dvd is great! National Geographic has done a great presentation of the Vatican and great to watch especially if you have never been there. This dvd is a great addition to any dvd collection.

Well researched!
This video is an excellent video to show students, young adults as well as adults who want to know more about their faith and how did the Vatican came to be. I think it is also encourage anyone who is interested or curious about the Cathoilc faith to take a preview of the video. The video decribes how an ordination happens at Saint Peters, what actually goes on during an ordination. The video also decribed a Blessed and is story and how one day, he could become a Saint by the Pope. Finally, once a Pope dies, a new Pope must be elected, the video will cover that as well. The pictures of the Vatican are just awesome. I've been to Rome before, and these pictures just bring back memories. Also, I forgot to mention, the Swiss Guards. The video goes into how one becomes a guard for the Pope and there uniform. You must buy it or at least rent it if you can. The Pope is seen in several frames thoughout the video. ... Read more

Description

From National Geographic Television and Thirteen/WNET New York, Africa is a groundbreaking eight-hour series captured over two years of filming in 11 countries.

This epic series presents Africa through the eyes of its people, conveying the diversity and beauty of the land and the compelling personal stories of the people who shape its future.

Africa contains eight hours plus one-hour bonus program, "The Making of Africa." ... Read more

Reviews (9)

An extraordinary voyage
This series is absolutely stunning in many ways. First and foremost, the cinematography is breathtaking, from the verist handheld shots to the almost abstract compositions of aerial 90 degree and macro shots. Ron Fricke's Baraka has had a lot of influence on the documentary genre, and there are plenty of Baraka-type moments in here, with assorted new age-ish world music pastiches to support them.
But show is not all there is. The script is beautifully written, with just the right balance between narration and interviews, and editing that lets the product breathe, and the viewer reflect. The agility with which the episodes branch out from the story of individuals to natural, historical, social and cultural references is impressive. And amazingly, you never loose touch with reality, since the documentary's transcendence lies upon the day-to-day lives and thoughts of its subjects.
You also feel the respect the crews had for their subjects, and the «making of» bonus shows it well. Ethnological research ethics are respected, in a world where ethical rules towards the «Other» are too often pushed aside by the greed of producers and researchers.
All in all an amazing document to be viewed over and over again. This is one boxset I highly recommend.

This is Full Screen
I was just about to order this set, but just before checkout i realized that Amazon is only offering this in the FULL SCREEN Version.
Unfortunately, I am not willing to watch this wonderful series with sides cut off............

FIVE STARS for the Content

Africa- GOD'S GIFT
Two Words. National Geographic. I subscribed to the magazine, saw the atlas, and rented the movies at the Anna Lemmon Wheelock Library in Tacoma very frequently. National Geographic took us through the enchanted Amazon, and great cities like Rome, Baghdad, and Sydney. They took us through the terrifing wars of Iraq and explored the top of K2 and Mount Everest. They did documentaries on cats, tigers, lions, lizards, and traveled with Steve Irwin through Australia. Now they take on the biggest challenge yet. AFRICA "GOD'S GIFT".

I call Africa "God's Gift" because in my prospective, he did something special with it. Every continent has something special to it but Africa has a little bit more. It was featured on CBS's "Survivor Africa" as they went through exciting challenges and tasks in Kenya. The northern part of Africa, now in a country called "Egypt", had ancient lands in early times. The people built sphinxs, prymids and had very hard jobs which they did for most of the day for little or no pay.

National Geographic did their best for this and accomplished their mission at the same time. Their mission for "Africa" was to get a television special and feature Africa's best features. I can definatley tell you, that if you want to see something neat and experiance Africa at the same time, this is for you.

Don't get overeactive about this it is a great special but, you shouldn't get carried away. OK maybye you can get carried away. It's wonderful without a doubt and shows everything about this splendid continent.

Give it a try. Go ahead!

Have a good life America!,
Jeffrey Alan Cote'
(brazilgamer_tacomawa)

Wonderfully touching
This DVD series uses a refreshing and unique way to tell the story of the people, places and animals of Africa. The personal stories were touching, the landscapes were breathtaking and the close up on the animals was just amazing.

I was very happy to see a series that did not just identify what's wrong with Africa, but took the time to tell us so much of what is right and is worth saving and exploring. Timely indeed!!!

In so many ways this was more than just a documentary. This in-depth and honest look probably saved all the other documentaries or books that are about Africa.

I am glad to see that so many Africans are proud of their culture, many preserve it in so many ways and yet realize that some changes are necessary to keep pace in a global environment.

Thanks to all the wonderful people from the different countries on that beautiful continent that allowed me to peek into their lives. I am eternally grateful. Thanks also to the wonderful crew that did all the work to bring such remarkable stories into my living room. It was well worth the hard work. It was just wonderfully touching!!!

Some serious problems, and lacking extras?
From the technical point of view, the images are crisp and the sound is excellent. However, this series was shot on film, and transfer to the NTSC 29.97 frame rate just isn't good. I think the PAL version must be so much better. As a result, there are many shots where motions are jerky. I am not talking about the timelapse, ok? Those are very well done!

Second issue is that this compilation has no extras except the 1-hour "bonus" making-off, and soem web links. Where are the directors' commentary? Where are the multiple languages? The whole series doesn't even have subtitle!? This is such a shame. If you have seen an IMAX DVD before, you know what I mean, they pack so much extras into their DVDs, like 4-5 languages, closed captioned for the Hearing Impaired, trailers etc. Africa is a wonderful collection, only marred by its lack of extras, which are already becoming essentials in DVDs these days. ... Read more

Description

Relive one of the greatest tales of adventure and exploration in history, as National Geographic brings to life the epic journey of Lewis, Clark, their guide Sacagawea and the brave Corps of Discovery across the land that would become the United States. Now, two hundred years after the launch of this ambitious expedition, experience first-hand the danger and breathtaking beauty of the unknown West as it unfolded before the eyes of Lewis & Clark. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

See it at an IMAX if you possibly can!
This is a fascinating re-enactment of Lewis and Clark's original journey, told with Jeff Bridges doing the voice-over but with real actors and the original locations. It is authentic down to the last detail, including such remarkable scenes as the expedition shooting rapids in canoes made from burn-out trees, and pulling their boats by rope over the mountains of Montana.

If you possibly can, though, catch this one in its IMAX version. The movie's story is entertaining enough but imagine it on a screen several stories high - literally larger than lifesize - with a powerful sound system to match. Imagine how much cooler shooting those rapids is in the IMAX form! If you can't find an IMAX, make sure you've got a big screen and turn the sound up. This is history as exciting as it was when it happened the first time.

WMV-HD Disc Is NOT Self Destructing
This is in response to the_digital_dude's comments from July 1. The license will renew after it expires as long as the disc is in the drive. You can copy the WMV file to your computer and play it without the disc being in the drive as long as the license is active. After it expires, you will have to place the disc back in the drive and the license will be renewed. As far as I know, this is the way all of the Imax and National Geographic WMV-HD movies are. Unfortunately, one of the earlier WMV-HD movies, Terminator 2, required an active internet connection to acquire the license. I agree that the digital rights management is confusing to the consumer and really should be documented somewhere on the disc or packaging.

WMV HD is MS _JUNK_!
Please note that this film is terrific and rates five stars all the way! I first saw it in an IMAX theater and then had to have it on DVD. Read the favorable reviews of the movie itself to gain an appreciation of what makes it so great, even though it is regrettably very short considering the huge amount of effort that went into making it. It's a timeless masterpiece for better understanding a cornerstone of the history of the United States. Don't be surprised if you watch it a few times!

This review, however, is of the Special Edition DVD. Disc 1 is the standard movie playable in a regular set top DVD player hooked up to your TV. Disc 2, however, contains a high definition 720p version of the film for playback on a fast computer. At first glance of the DVD cover and the generic instructions included inside, one realizes that a fairly recent and rather powerful PC is required. Okay, for a fair number of us, that's not a problem, and it was not a problem in my case. For those of you with a PC slower than 2.4Ghz, your computer doesn't even meet the minimum requirements.

So, I was fairly excited to see what such high definition playback looked like on my 2.8Ghz PC. I noticed that there was no 1080p version of the film on the disc, as the generic instruction card inside the DVD case indicated, but I later realized that the instructions were indeed that, generic, and simply didn't apply to this particular title. Okay, at this point, the documentation goes from bad to absolute crap extremely quickly.

Putting the disc into my DVD-ROM player began Autoplay. Well, immediately an ActiveX control error appeared and suggested I look at www.wmvhd.com for a solution. Actually, that website couldn't have any less technical support for this problem than if it had been written in Latin with a black pen on a black wall and viewed in pitch darkness. Trudging through the Microsoft website links off the main WMVHD page gives precious little useful information, so after Googling on the problem for a while, I found out that this whole scenario is a Microsoft marketing ploy to sell its five-year-old Digital Rights Management scheme to content providers to eliminate media piracy. Wow, talk about shooting the baby when dumping out the bath water. This DRM anti-piracy product is downright draconian in its implementation.

Setting all ActiveX controls, cookies, and security/privacy settings to the lowest possible did not resolve the ActiveX error, nor did disabling my Anti-Virus, Firewall, or anti-Spyware software. Hunting through the Microsoft Support Knowledgebase came up totally empty. Good grief, is this technology ever poorly documented and supported even in house!

Well, after some more Googling, I finally found a piece of advice in an AV forum to just run the main movie file directly from Windows Media Player, but AFTER running the License Registration executable in the root of the DVD directory. Running licgen.exe doesn't appear to do much at first, but apparently it will authorize the playback of the main movie file by unlocking the key encrypted within it.

Okay, at this point, surely one is thinking "Hey, I finally get to see this movie on DVD in high def on my PC". Well, yes, you do, but here's the kicker: THE PLAYBACK LICENSE EXPIRES IN 9 DAYS!!! While the movie is playing in Windows Media Player and looking and sounding nice and pretty, right-click on the filename in the playlist column on the right of the screen and look at the License information. Sure enough, you'll see that there is a limited duration playback period! What in the world?????? Where was this stated on the DVD packaging anywhere?

Truly pondering if this scheme meant that disc 2 of this special edition amounted to some sort of a self-destructing DVD, I ran the license request executable the next day to see if the playback duration would get reset, but no, it didn't.

Keep in mind that none of these limitations are clearly documented anywhere in the online product description, on or in the DVD box, or even anywhere prominently on the WMVHD website. However, if you dig far enough off of that website into the Microsoft sales information for why content providers should use DRM software, it becomes quickly apparent how very anti-consumer this anti-piracy scheme really is, especially as it concerns limiting the playback options for a movie DVD that is not at all advertised in good faith as having such restrictions.

So, whether or not this High Definition DVD ends up being a frisbie in a week remains to be seen, but the poor support and documentation in getting the movie to run in the first place only to learn that it may be self-destructing is absolutely inexcusable. I wonder for this particular release if National Geographic even fully understands what they are selling here.

Again, the movie content itself is terrific. This MS WMV HD DRM DVD, however, is beyond bizarre.

Save your money
There is very little historical information in this DVD. They omitted the number of persons that began the trip, the number of boats and they did they tell anything about what equipment and goods they took along. It may be interesting for someone who never heard of Lewis and Clark nor heard anything about their journey but for the average person it is boring. There are some good scenes along the way but they are generally out takes that do not fit in with the trip. It appears to have been produced by someone that had little knowledge and little interest about the significance of the expedition. National Geographic can do much better!

Four Stars for Your Viewing Pleasure
The photography is superb, and the action and sound are enough to keep viewers of all ages engaged. As an Imax movie, this is designed for the eyes and ears, and towards those goal, it provides a great experience. Don't purchase this with an expectation of learning much about history, however. While the general course of the expedition is followed, the short length of the film severely limit the needed details to describe the journey. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Important and entertaining
Edited by Edward Norton, this PBS series takes a look at the ways in which man has unintentionally altered his environment for the worse.Some examples include hermaphrodite frogs resulting from water pollution, out of control plant life which threatens the survival of ecosystems, and overfishing and its relation to coral reef degradation.

While this series is quite informative, it is also entertaining.Norton lends a good, serious narrative to the series, and though the series presents the audience with disasterous (or potentially disasterous) scenarios, the segments usually end with a success story or a glimmer of hope.For instance, one scientist engineers a plant to absorb, or "eat", the mercury which is polluting the waters.Another segment ends with a private farmer demonstrating environmentally-friendly farming techniques to preserve local water integrity.

Highly recommended.I doubt this series has the entertainment value to hold a young teenager's (or younger) attention for long, but anyone with even a passive interest in biology and/or the environment should be pleased with this series. ... Read more

Description

Go inside the world's most elite, top secret strike force.Their mission is unique, targeted, dangerous...and only National Geographic will go deep into the secret world of US Special Operations.Follow Special Forces into battle and on secret missions in Afghanistan and Iraq as they face situations where honed skill, finely tuned instincts and split-second decision making are the difference between success and failure...between life and death. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

I liked it , good overview.
Its exactly what it says. Its inspiring ,focused and honest. Good if your a military buff. I keep watching it.

pseudo-documentary
The information value of this so called documentary approaches 0.

No info on organisation, units, equipment or vehicles.
No maps of the places they supposedly are operating in.
No coherent story line for this documentary.

The people they interview, except Gen. Boykin, might just as well
be members of some militia, by the way they dress, act and talk.

The takes of the people are not very convincing,
the people may be dressed in military garb and have
all the latest M4 mods and Blackhawk webbing
but their stance and bearing is not befitting a war zone.
They lounge around and pose on their Hummers
like in a cheap war flic.
Either the locations were totally devoid of enemy or
the people are actually members of your local paintball club and
the scenes were shot in Texas.

The interviews are bad and have no informational value.
The scenes with the "operatives" are boring and have 0 action.

All in all very disappointing, I'm afraid.

Better purchase a military documantary from Discovery.com.

The one on US Navy SEAL BUD/S training is quite good and
would serve as a fine example how a documentary may be produced.

The Truth at Last
Forget the fiction you've seen. The men in this film are the real deal. This graphic documentary is first-rate. You meet these Special Ops characters up close and personal. You go with these guys and follow their story from the streets of Iraq and the deserts of Afghanistan to their secret headquarters. What's particularly great is that they are often far from what you'd expect. But it makes you feel better to know they're there. This film also traces the history of Special Forces. If I had one complaint, I would have liked to have seen more interviews with the individual troops. But overall this film delivers big time.

A MUST SEE
Goddamn this dvd is the best military documentary footage ive seen so far. it goes deep inside of the US Special Ops and great actions of the Green Beret in Afghanistan and Irag. The most 2 exciting parts in this dvd are when US Special Ops fight against the uprising prisoners in Afghanistan and the hunt for Saddam and and weapons in Irag during the recent Gulf War. I highly recommended. ... Read more

Description

Relive the most spellbinding scenes from our television documentaries of exploration and delivery. Year: 1994 ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Nothing new, but it doesn't matter
With 30 years of some of the best documentaries around to choose material from, it scarcely matters that there is no new footage. The narration seamlessly bridges the gaps between the various shorts from National Geographic specials of the past. I wasn't sure what to expect, since it is essentially teasers of other films, but this is a great film in its own right.

We got the film for our little boys, and they've loved it from day one. My older son is learning a lot about the differing relationships of the natural world, and the broad expanse of this film is perfect for him. It never gets bogged down in the mundane, but it also panders to a long attention span. This is a big difference from the National Geographic videos intended specifically for kids. They tend to be the same basic idea...cut footage from older films, but cut so that there is no footage of animals eating each other, no mating, and it is interspersed with unneccesary music videos and cutesy animation. Even with Dudley Moore's narration, it can't compete. Skip the kid stuff and give your kids the real thing.

A wonderful compilation of highlights...you'll want more...
This video definitely holds up to repeat viewing. It offers a wealth of information on a wide variety of subjects and could easily have been an hour longer.

National Geographic really hit the mark with this video. Although it's a promotional tool, it stands on its own merits as an educational, entertaining, family video.

Immense educational value, absolutely delightful
This was probably the best purchase I ever made on amazon. I'd recommend it to anybody.. especially families with children.

Creme de la creme!
If you buy this DVD, you'll end up owning a lot more National Geographic Videos. And that's a good thing!

Sure, it a teaser. And there is no new material. It's a compilation made out of the best of their other movies. All their movies are good, so this one is the creme de la creme!

One new thing that this film does do...is drive home the point what an incredible organization they have been over the years...and how wonderful their films have been. As I watchd the movies, the voices of the narrators, particularly Jaques Cousteau, brings back memories of watching these films as a child.

And there are some crazy and totally memorable scenes...the little lizard running across the water...the spider and the tarantula...the lions...the elepahants....I could go on and on.

You'll love it...go ahead, buy it...you'll cherish it!

INCREDIBLE
This movie will be one of the cults of natural geographic's. The subjects differ from dancers to insects. I think everybody can find something about himself in this dvd. Sound quality and scenes are perfect. Extra features (pictures, cameramen dared movie)are good. This movie must be in all documentary lovers' library. ... Read more

Description

Discover the devastating powers of earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes and other earth-shattering forces of nature in dramatic scenes of destruction and inspiring human courage captured by the acclaimed filmmakers of National Geographic. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A decent exploration of Mother Nature and global weather
The Restless Earth Collection by National Geographic explores aspects of natural disasters, space phenomena (asteroids), and weather systems that affect our world throughout our lives. Spread out over 3 discs, the material is presented in a well narrated, matter of fact approach that keeps your interest throughout the programs.

'Asteroids: Deadly Impact' explores the history of asteroid and comet strikes on our planet and speculates on what future consequences we might experience when (the law of averages are we will be hit again someday) that impact occurs. Interviews with experts on heavenly bodies and our solar system reveal interesting information regarding our ever changing galaxy.

'Volcano: Nature's Inferno' is an excellent documentary on the massive and awesome display of incredible power harnessed by the earth. Volcanologists are followed to various areas of the globe where they research, report on, and study some of the earth's most active volcanoes. There is really impressive footage of lava flows, eruptions, landslides, and avalanches. A bonus feature on this disc is 'Into the Volcano' where a seasoned photographer and his crew venture close to active volcanoes and craters and record amazing footage.

The last and most interesting disc in this collection, in my opinion, is 'Nature's Fury'. Here is a no holds barred look at earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. The overwhelming power and devastation of these natural disasters have to be seen to be believed and it is truly astonshing in almost all cases. This disc documents Mother Nature releasing her fury in locations throughout the globe and how science is working today to better understand what causes these disasters to happen and how we can better prepare for it. Two bonus programs on this disc are 'Tornado Hunters' and 'Lightning Strikes', both are interesting and offer decent material.

All in all, National Geographic has produced a nice collection here that doesn't disappoint. The DVD footage is very clear and impressive and each disc offers Dolby 5.1 Surround which sounds really good. If there is any down side at all, it may be that more footage would have been nice of the natural disasters (tornadoes, hurricanes) and that is my reason for only 4 stars. Still, for the asking price, this is a worthwhile purchase if you enjoy this subject material. Recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Good Look at the Conclusion of the Adoption Process
This DVD is polished and interesting to watch.It is a great tool for showing people why one might want to adopt from China and what the process looks like when it's all done.(It doesn't represent well the 12 months or more of preparation, paperwork and expense that led up to receiving a little girl.)

I could argue pro's and con's with the other reviewers about some of the faults they found in the program--and it certainly isn't a perfect product--but I think the producers did a very good job within the constraints of the medium and time alloted.I would highly recommend this DVD to anyone who is interested in the subject of adoption from China.

Good DVD on China Adoption
I thought that this DVD was good too. Like one of the reviewers mentioned, it would have been interesting if they'd covered the reasons why people adopt from China as opposed to the US. I think the reason the film didn't go into it is because you could have an entire separate DVD on those reasons. (For example, I think you have to prove a certain amount of heritage for a given tribe or nation in order to adopt a Native American child.)
Some of those issues would take away from the China focus. Plus, every person has their own personal reasons for adopting as they do. The adoption process is not an easy one, and there are a lot of factors at stake for the adoptive parents as well as the child. That's too much ground to cover, I think.

pretty good
(I did not see this dvd but saw the TV presentation.I am assuming the dvd does not have extra footage, which may be an incorrect assumption.)

I personally enjoyed it as an adoptive father of a girl born in China.In fact we met our daughter for the very first time in the exact same room shown on this video in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province.How could I not like this?

They did a much better editing job on their footage than I did on my footage!!But I still like my video better :)

Especially moving to me is the mother who puts up a poster proclaiming to whoever might see it (hopefully the birth mother) that the girl she adopted is doing fine.Then a discussion ensues with local people.I wish I could find my daughter's birth mother.

Also moving is the footage of the foster mother sobbing because the adoptive mother did not bring the girl to see her one last time.I understand why the new mother didn't bring her - it would have been VERY painful one more time for her daughter - but it made me think of the kind looking woman who raised our daughter for the first year of her life.We have a few pictures of her and my daughter but were unable to meet her or to contact her - still to this day.

They could have added so much more, as the first reviewer said, but for what it is - it is good.Kind of glossy and feel good and cable channel quality - but still good - it does in fact hit the painful issues of previous mothers and the problem of the lack of girls in China and what that will mean in the near future for Chinese society.

Some of my fellow adopters had strong feelings about parts of the movie - the footage of the foster mother in particular.But, I don't remember their points well and would not want to speak for them.

And I agree about the Lucy Liu comment being innappropriate - especially considering this footage was professionally edited with a person of Chinese descent in charge!Oh well.If Ms. Ling didn't mind - should I?

All in all - if you are considering adopting from China - well worth the look.Not real deep but interesting.

feel-good piece that should have covered more
Lisa Ling supposedly analyzes the phenomenon of American (solely white Americans here) adopting Chinese girls.This work is meant to show that the process is perfectly complimentary.Chinese girls need parents and American adults want children: the push factors are presented as equal to the pull factors here.Americans are teary-eyed about seeing their adoptive daughters for the first time and older Chinese-American girls are interviewed saying how happy they are to be in their current living situation.Many of the American parents have Southern twangs in this documentary, but there is no discussion on whether transnational adoption is more frequent in different regions of the United States.The film pays especial attention to gender oppression in China.It covers the "bare branches" dynamic in which the predominance of boys will lead to a lack of wives for the next generation of Chinese men.This work is clearly meant to make adopting Americans and adopted Chinese-American girls feel good about themselves.Lisa Ling, tacitly, stands as the bridge between the two parties.She symbolizes what these adopted girls can become.As a Chinese-American happily overseeing this process, it is as if she metaphorically gives her stamp of approval to this process.

But one of the crucial points in the piece happened near the end.A white American father says to Lisa Ling, "I'll see you next time on 'Ally McBeal.'"Lisa Ling tries to blow the comment off, but it smacks of very problematic racist-sexism.Yes, Lucy Liu and Lisa Ling share similar initials and Chinese ancestry.They even share the real name/stage name "Ling."Still, to lump the few Asian-American women in the media together is problematic.This smacks of the racist idea that "All Asians look alike."If the American man who made the comment is going to raise a Chinese-American girl then I am really afraid for girls of color in our country.

And thus, my concern is that this film does not cover the entire phenomena of adoption across borders and identities.While China is shown as irritated by their daughters, there is no discussion of why American parents are adopting abroad, rather than at home.Thousands of black, Native American, and Latino boys go unadopted in the United States every year and this film never asks the parents why they did not choose those children.Yes, one mother sends her daughter to Chinese dance lessons.However, these American parents never answer whether they have Asian-American friends or are sensitive to Asian-American issues.There is no probing into whether these adoptive parents truly support racial and gender diversity and equality in the US.I am worried that an Orientalism is being practiced here where Asian girls are stereotyped as "obedient" and "a model minority" to be molded by American hands.You can feel this dread when Lisa Ling looks at a Chinese baby girl and coos, "I want one."You would have thought she was talking about a pet, not a person.Further, she never says "I want to raise an Asian female, i.e. like myself."She never says, "Oh yeah, then again, if I were to have biological children, they'd be Chinese regardless."While Chinese practices are condemned, racism in America is never brought up.American parents never state what they will do to protect their new daughters from anti-Asian sentiment on our side of the Pacific.

Adoption is a win-win situation in which children in need unite with desiring parents.However, this documentary showed a skewed view of the process.I wish it had dug deeper and looked at all aspects of this matter.This issue is too important to be left as just a "feel-good" presentation. ... Read more

Description

Step inside the imposing gates of the White House for a revealing visit to the most famous, yet mysterious building in America. Discover the human side of this legendary house in candid interviews with Presidents and First Ladies, and peek inside the families' rarely-seen private living quarters. Follow along as a small army of employees whirls behind the scenes in a frenzy of activity surrounding a major state dinner. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

review National Geographic's Inside the White House
Unusual and fascinating, follows a typical day in the White House, weaving together past and present, presidents and worker bees. My 6-year-old daughter was transfixed and so was I.

An excellent, in-depth view of the White House history!
This film was very well put together. Explaining the history of the White House that has never before been documented. A must see for any history and government enthusiast! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

National Geographic Deserves More Credit
National Geographic is the best company for geography lovers like myself. National Geographic takes us in life-risking settings in real places all around the four corners of our world. A lot of children and adults still don't even know that there is a National Geographic. And to see that only one person reveiwed this exellent set of spellbounding places frightens me. People should take National Geographic more seriously and start respecting the people who make these features. For this collection, the camera angles inside the films are exellent. The cameramen and photographers are obviously professionals. If you want your child to start liking geography or learn something while watching television at the same time this is just for you. If you child dosn't like experiencing it by watching the movies they can learn by playing fun and educational games and quizes as special features. This is a must have collection. It is quite expensive, but it is worth the money.

Great for a Nat. Geo. ...
This is all the Nitional Geographic DVD's in one box. If you plan to get them all or want to give as a gift it's great. A little ... but still a good value. ... Read more

Description

Three best-selling World War II titles in a DVD collector?s set for the first time ever. Experience compelling stories of America?s most extraordinary generation of heroes! Titles are: Untold Stories of WWII, The Battle for Midway, and Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack. ... Read more

Description

One thousand miles from anywhere lies a lonely outpost of coral and sea called Midway.It was here in 1942 where the U.S. and Japan fought one of the greatest naval battles of World War II that changed the course of history.And it is here again where Titanic discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard now leads a team of experts and four World War II veterans on the voyage of their lives.They're on a race against time to do the impossible: find at least one of the five downed aircraft carriers, including U.S.S. Yorktown, more than three miles underwater.Hear the heart-wrenching stories of four remarkable men and how each survived the war despite incredible odds.And join them as they pay their final respects to their fallen comrades in THE BATTLE FOR MIDWAY. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

The Battle for Midway - Excellent!
The Battle for Midway is an excellent documentary. Inter-woven in the story of the modern-day search for the sunken carriers USS Yorktown and the Japanese Kagi are the stories of veterans who lived through it and the military strategies behind one of the most important turning points of World War II. The most compelling part of the documentary for me, however, is the constant reminder of the terrible price of our freedom we enjoy today. In one day alone over 1,400 young men gave their lives in the Battle for Midway. The film does an excellent job of portraying what was asked of an extrodinary generation of young men and women from around the world. The cost was tremendous and this film is a good reminder of that and in my opinion should be mandatory viewing in high school history classes.

Excellent story of a classic naval battle
In June 1942, off a tiny island called Midway, one of the great battles of all time was fought. The battle ended in a smashing american victory. This video tells about the battle that changed the course of the second world war as welll as an expedition led by Robert Ballard in 1998 that located the U.S.S Yorktown. Includes interviews with both american and japanese survivors as well as footage of the Yorktown as she appears today. For more info on midway, get the Compainon book Return to Midway.

the quest for the U.S.S. Yorktown
Searching for the watery grave of the U.S.S. Yorktown, Robert Ballard, who discovered the Titanic as well as the Bismark, went deeper into the ocean than ever before to find the sunken aircraft carrier. Five U.S. (and four Japanese) carriers were destroyed near the outpost of Midway, and the recent footage for this expedition is contrasted with film from May and June of 1942; some of it is by director John Ford, who made two documentaries, one for the public called "The Battle of Midway", and for the families of the brave servicemen who never returned, "Torpedo Squadron", and this film includes several clips from them; they are in color, and of good quality, making it unusual WWII footage.

There are four veterans on Ballard's expedition, two from the U.S., and two from Japan, to witness the search, help pinpoint the location, and re-live their past. Over coffee and memorabilia, they "explore their own landscape of memory, and loss".
Produced and directed by Brian Breger and Peter Schnall, with music by Michael Whalen and narrated by Peter Coyote, total running time is 82 minutes.
Those who have watched the 1976 epic film "Midway", and are interested in the Pacific Theater of WWII, where some of the most tragic and dramatic events in world history took place, will find this film fascinating; it is an eerie, emotional testament to heroism, courage, and the agony of war.

Beautifully Done
National Geographic has always been known for the quality of its work in all fields, but in this particular show I believe they have gone beyond the expectations. I cannot begin to describe how happy I was to see this documentary the first time. It is divided into two sections that are intercut, one being on a ship with Dr. Ballard (Found the Titanic) looking for the Yorktown and the Japanese carriers sunk at Midway, and the other is a recreation of the actual Battle of Midway through historical footage. What is best about this particular work is it fairness to both sides. Within the historical sections of the video, it portrays both the Japanese and American sides in what I would call a fair and accurate light. No side is made up of monsters and no side is completely innocent. On the modern side of the story, it is wonderful to see the interactions between the Japanese and American veterans that are on the ship with Ballard during the search. It is an important reminder to us all that on both sides the people fighting on the ground were just that, people. They were young men fighting for their country. A particularly touching part of the episode is when the Americans join the Japanese veterans in asking the soul's of their fallen comrades to rest peacefully and offering them flowers brought from Japan. There are too many excellent points about this video to list here. I think anyone interested in World War II will love this episode.

Not So Fast
I believe this documentary should have had two parts. One part dealing strictly with the battle itself, and the second part concerning the hunt for the lost aircraft carriers.

The post-war search for the ships, in my opinion, gets "in the way" of the battle. Many facts are left out. One particular one is how the Japanese survivors of Midway were treated after they got back home. It probably was too difficult to mention those things with two Japanese sailors taking part in the search. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Educative but excludes the Latest Tsunami Attack
This movie tells about the origin and creation of killer Tsunami waves and about the destruction caused by them in the past on Hawai, Japan and some places of U.S. It tells about the cause of Tsunami i.e an under sea earthquake due to collision of tactonic plates and thus displacing a great amount of water that runs to the shores with superspeeds and causes destructions on coastal areas. The concept is good and well picturised. The only thing missing is that it does not have the coverage of latest Tsunami that hit Sri Lanka, India Etc. ... Read more

Description

National Geographic takes you on an exclusive tour inside Air Force One, part luxury hotel, part super-secret military command post. From its beginnings with President Roosevelt making a secret wartime flight in 1943 - to the historic flight that returned President Kennedy's body to Washington after his assassination - to the closing months of the Clinton administration, Air Force One takes you through the history of the world's most powerful plane. Features exclusive interviews with Presidents George W. Bush, William Jefferson Clinton, George H. W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Best inside look at Air Force One
This video is up to date and shows you Air Force One like never before. I am a TV news photographer and have covered Air Force One many times. This was a great way to see what goes on inside and behind the scenes. Great job National Geographic!!

Fantastic Video
This is a fantastic video on Air Force One. They have done a great job getting access. A little too much was shown I think
that could hurt the security of the President

Flying White House.
During President Clintons state visit to NZ last year nothing seemed to define the imperial US presidency more than his arrival in his personal jet-a modified boeing 747 no less.
It was not so much the plane itself, grand as it was but also the preceding paraphenalia of accompanying aircraft bearing personal security and bulletproof limousines. The entire apparatus of presidential security was on the move. For every visible SS agent their were 4 in the background. Waiting and watching....for anything.
Even The Queen is now relegated by her own government to the first class cabins of british airways, alas. Not to mention the mothballing of her private yacht. It says a lot for a nations head of state in what conveyance they choose to travel the globe.

I was impressed with the dedication and professionalism of the crew designated to work in AF1-although a certain servility is required their downright obsequiousness seemed to be a job requirement. From the captain even to the lowliest steward, to be seen and not heard. Do not speak unless spoken to. To some a reminder of the Nixon years.
The obligatory escorted tour through a plane only a few are priveleged to see up close-the plush carpets the spacious interiors and conference rooms and secretarial offices echoed a businesslike atmosphere, and everywhere the presidential seal as if anyone would forget who the main passenger was. If it lacked the luxurious interiors and gold fittings of the Sultan of Brunei's own 747 no-one noticed. Besides such extravagance would seem garish and gaudy. The might of the US industrial military complex was enough to offset any hint of that.
The brief history of previous presidential aircraft did seem to concentrate of the Kennedy years more so than those preceding and following, otherwise it was informative-showing us old newsreels of Eisenhower and Truman and even FDR's one overseas trip during the war-to Casablanca. The triumphant times-Nixons 1974 trip to China and the sad times.The familiar picture of LBJ taking the oath in the cabin of AF1-Jacqui and Lady bird beside him that sad day in Dallas so many years ago.

Finally we must spare a thought for Bill Clinton, now a private citizen who out of all the perks of office must have enjoyed this one the most, as any political leader would have. During his eventful 8 years in office the president seemed to be constantly filmed arriving somewhere in presidential state-stepping of alone as protocol dictated- with the familiar blue fusilage behind him like some imperial backdrop. I now sympathise with his current circumstances-Poor Bill travelling 1st class on a commercial airliner just isnt the same.

Wonderful Documentary with exciting details!!
'National Geographic - Air Force One' is a wonderful documentary that lets you see all the inside information of Air Force One. The film shows you how the Presidential Plane has changed over the years from FDR to George W. Bush! The viewer is told about how the plane is maintained and what the crew does to make it fit for the President! You get chills just seeing the greatness of the most technologically advanced plane in the world! Also included in this documentary are interviews with former President's talking about their experiences onboard Air Force One. This is a must see for everyone that is informational as well as exciting! ... Read more

Description

Tigers of the Snow presents the beautiful one-hour program on these endangered animals from award-winning wildlife filmmaker Mark Stouffer; plus the bonus never-before-released half-hour program entitled Tiger's Eye; Siberian Tiger facts; an assortment of tiger photographs in the Photo Gallery; a map of the tigers' range in Siberia; a Siberian Tigers interactive trivia quiz; and trailers of other related National Geographic programs. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Not much!
There was not very much footage of the tigers here. It looks like the fillmakers spent a lot of time in some town in Siberia, which is apparently a lot like white trash America. So instead of feeling taken away, I felt like I was taken back to the Ohio. Also, the scientists spend lot of time looking for tigers or avoiding seeing the tigers so they don't get eaten. And not much time actually running with the tigers.
There is one really cool part about hunting tigers from a helicopter (with dart guns to put radio trackers on them.) They should make a video game out of that part.
I think the whole idea of a nature documentary about one animal sounds good on paper, but it works a lot better to watch a documentary about a geographic region - you get more variety in your movie.

They Must Survive
This video is heart wrenching. All the effort that goes into saving these magnificant cats, and it's likely too late. Human greed is the worst enemy any species can face, and the Siberian Tiger is in the crosshairs now.

A world without these Tigers will be a poorer place indeed. Blake's words, once so potent, will only echo hollow in the ears of generations to come who can only see Tigers on TV, or in captivity. What that says about humankind is undeniable, we are truly inept (or uncaring) when managing the resources of this planet, myself included.

The biggest and most powerful of all cats, these Siberian beauties are so majestic. What gorgeous footage of these mammoth cats in action. Take a good, close look at your kitty and you will see the same fire smouldering in those attentive eyes. Lets save these magnificant animals!!

Professional Job. Tigers to be rescued.
This dvd has been filmed under very difficult circumstances but, still, can convey the feeling of geographical remoteness, resourceless cientific crusades and endangered wonders, such as the cats shown here. Nevertheless, the video quality, though not bad at all, might have been improved if done with IMAX cameras, such as it has been done with whales or sharks. Anyhow, the information provided and some shots, like the helicopter chases or the tiger cub at it's den, make this documentary worthwhile.

Tiger of the Snow
One of the best video on tiger especially on the Siberian Tiger, the largest big cat of them all. Too bad they are extremely endangered. This is definitely the best tiger video. The DVD also include Tiger's Eyes, a half an hour show on Bengal Tigers.

A great video for the classroom
"Tigers of the Snow" is a great video for the classroom. It has an acceptable balance of scientific study with awesome footage of tigers. No question that my college-bound biology students saw the application of science occurring out in the field. Better yet though, my remedial 16 year old science students were totally captivated by most parts of this video, especially the experiment in tiger territorality. I rarely show videos in Biology; this one is worth the time. ... Read more

Description

Surviving Everest includes the historic one-hour program and interview with the first man to reach Mt. Everest, Sir Edmund Hillary; plus a bonus half-hour program featuring first-hand accounts of those who climb the mountain; an additional exclusive interview with Hillary; an assortment of Mt. Everest-related photographs in the Photo Gallery; a Mt. Everest map; an interactive trivia quiz and trailers of other related National Geographic programs. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Disappointing and misleading
The DVD quality is poor. It feels like an old VHS tape. Most disappointing, considering this is from National Geographic! Collector's Edition my foot.

The title is misleading. This dvd has nothing to do with Everest. It mostly discusses Hillary's social endeavors in Khumbu region-- which is nice, but not what I purchased it for. If you want to see anything about surviving Everest, watch the Nova series: "Everest: The death zone".

Disappointing - Not really about Everest Climb
This DVD was, frankly, a disappointment. Very little of it is about Mt. Everest or Sir Edmund Hillary's climb. A better description of the main feature would be "What Sir Edmund Hillary did AFTER he climbed Everest". It is about the culture of the people who lived around the base of the mountain, and how Sir Edmund has helped them by building schools and teaching them about conservation. VERY LITTLE of the main feature is about his climb of the mountain.

There is an extra featurette called "Surviving Everest: First hand accounts" where individuals who have climbed Mt. Everest talk about their experiences and there is a fair amount of footage on the mountain. However, the quality of this footage is not as good as I had hoped. If you want to see major mountain climbing footage, look elsewhere. The IMAX DVD has gotten mixed reviews, so I don't know what to recommend. You may want to wait for "The Conquest of Everest" the movie made of Sir Edmund Hillary's first ever climb of Everest. I have never seen this, but it must have more climbing footage than this DVD did.

One other bone to pick, the main feature and the "extra" interview with Sir Edmund specifically mention that he had a cameraman with him and they got some amazing pictures on his first climb - BUT, these were sadly left out of the too-small "Photo Gallery".

So far, the other two National Geographic DVDs I have are pretty good: Battle for Midway (incredible battle footage) and Secrets Of The Titanic. ... Read more

Description

The Photographers includes a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of National Geographic photographers and how they get the shot presented in a compelling one-hour program; plus the bonus half-hour film on wildlife filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert entitled A Passion for Africa; an assortment of photographs in the Photo Gallery; biographies and photos of the photographers; an interactive trivia quiz; and trailers of other related National Geographic programs. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Excellent DVD for every photographers
This DVD explains in details about what it takes on being a National Geographic photographer. The experience on being a National Geographic photographer is clearly elaborated by selected National Geographic photographer. Absolutely a good buy! I will watch it over and over again!

Excellent DVD!
Not a "how to" dvd per se, I thought it gave more inspiration for the the budding photographer than anything. If you are into photography and especially photojournalism then I highly recommend this one!

Fantastic
Thrilling and insightful on the life and times of the NG photograther. It will make you appreciate what they do even more. Also motivating for those who are interesting in Editorial, adventure, or photojournalist photography.

See the real life of some great photographers
If you want some inspiration to throw all and become a photographer, this can help a lot. It show how some of the most recognized photographers work and they insights on working as a National Geographic photographer, mostly the nice things and some of the bad.

A Must See!
WOW! What more can I say! Just watching this was an absolutely extraordinary experience. This is a "behind the scenes" look at photography. It gets you up close and personal with the photographers and lets you know what is involved in trying to capture the "shot of a lifetime". I own many National Geographic books, but you won't be able to appreciate what goes into each photograph without watching this DVD. Even those who are not interested in photography will be able to appreciate it. ... Read more