National Geographic - Africa

Africa: The Serengeti This spectacular IMAX documentary has been meticulously transferred to provide one of the most stunning DVDs available, with image quality so vivid that it seems almost three-dimensional. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the images themselves are amazing, consisting of some of ...	Wonders of the African World	National Geographic - Inside Mecca Inside Mecca presents the most intimate and three-dimensional documentation of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and sheds light on the universal principles of Islam during the days of the Hajj. Learn the historical significance of the city to Muslim and non-Muslim populations alike...	National Geographic - Diamonds of War: Africa's Blood Diamonds Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 03/20/2007 Rating: Nr	Out of Africa Sydney Pollack's 1985 multiple-Oscar winner is a sumptuous and emotionally satisfying film about the life of Danish writer Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep), better known as Isak Dinesen, who travels to Kenya to be with her German husband (Klaus Maria Brandauer) but falls for an Englis...
Africa Thirteen/WNET and National Geographic Television have joined forces to create a television event for Fall 2001 - Africa: Land of the Sun - and 8-hour film series showing the majesty and wonder of this remarkable land. The series will be shot on location by some of the world's bes...	Empires - Islam: Empire of Faith Islam: Empire of Faith is the epic PBS documentary that charts the history of Islam from its beginnings in Mecca and Medina in the seventh century to the glory of the Ottoman Empire 1,000 years later. The demonization of Islam by the West has a long history, stretching back to th...	National Geographic: The Wildlife Collection Includes: Eternal Enemies, In Search of the Jaguar, Last Stand of the Great Bear, and Whales in Crisis.	Frontline: Ghosts of Rwanda FRONTLINE marks the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide with a documentary chronicling one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century. In addition to interviews with key government officials and diplomats, the two-hour documentary offers eyewitness accounts of the genocide ...	Guns, Germs, and Steel Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 07/12/2005

Africa is more than animals
This is the best documentary on Africa I have seen. I grew up in Africa, but have not returned since my family returned to the US. I watch every documentary on Africa I can get my hands on, and except for this one, they almost all completely ignore everything except large animals in game preserves. Africa is so much more, and I feel that this DVD is the first I've seen that actually captures a bit of real life in Africa. It is funny, happy, and inspiring, just like the people it is about. This does not come at the expense of amazing footage of the landscape or shots of exotic animals (including a short spot on the wildebeest, which is apparently a requirement for all documentaries of Africa). The human perspective makes the scenery and animals even more awesome. This DVD is a brief glimpse of Africa right now. It's amazing.

Not what I had hoped for
After reading all of the glowing reviews I couldn't wait to watch the series. Unfortunately, it was a little disappointing. Visually it is stunning and offers a broad view of the vast continent. The problem is in the narration. Ugh! While viewing some of the most exciting scenery in the world and gaining some insight into the many cultures of Africa the narrator seems determined to put the viewer to sleep. And rather than give the viewer a real taste of the local music, whenever someone bursts into song, whether in a children's game or at a funeral, they have chosen to pipe in some over-produced studio version of "African" music that is full of western influences. Indiginous African music is so beautiful in its rawest form; don't insult your audience by assuming that we can't appreciate music that hasn't been cleaned up and westernized.

FYI: ASPECT RATIO
. . . I have just begun to view this series via NETFLIX, and if the first disc is indicitive of the rest of the series then this is something i will be sure to purchase. As i cannot honestly review the series in it's entirety, this "review" is to make clear that despite any misprint here on amazon or on the packaging -(don't have the box so i can't say)- this series IS in full 16X9 anamorphic widescreen - it does state as much on the discs themselves. many people, like myself, will not buy/rent dvds if the aspect ratio is not preserved on disc. For those concered; have no fear, it's in gorgeous widescreen. 5-stars for disc 1 and the beautiful transfer

National Geographic "Africa" Series
Beautifully photographed. However, if you're interested in Africa from a political and historical standpoint, as I am, this is not really the video series for you. Excellent wildlife and nature footage (just as you'd expect from National Geographic) and even an attempt to convey some sociological lessons about "urban" vs. "tribal" differences. Overall, well worth watching, but don't look to it for very deep historical or political enlightenment about the continent.

National Geographic Africa
To know a country is to know its people. Previously apart from South Africa, Africa was a homongenous blur to me. This series looks at the different regions of the continent through the eyes of the people who live out their lives there. It contrasts the traditional ways with the ways of change giving both a glimpse into the past and into the future. The flora and forna also feature but are featured more to show the struggle to survive in different habitats and a changing world.