There have been numerous DVD releases of late that feature Australia in part or in whole, and while there is undoubtedly unavoidable overlap in content, each has offered something a little different. Wild Australasia continues that trend.
Keen observers will know that this six-part BBC series is, at the time of writing this review, gracing our screens on Sunday nights thanks to the ABC. So why would anyone want to shell out the dollars for their own copy? It makes for excellent viewing, there are some nice extras, and it would make a wonderful present to send to friends and relatives overseas.
Each of the six episodes is roughly 50 minutes in length and narrated by Australian actor Matt Day. The introductions and summaries within each episode are a little sugary and somewhat emotive, but the guts of each episode is much easier to listen to, citing numerous facts and statistics. There are lots of familiar animal faces and incredibly beautiful landscapes, but I for one never tire of hearing and seeing our unique island home’s sights and sounds.
The photography is good, and whether it be night or day, on the land, in the seas, or in the skies, there are some beautiful shots that are the result of good planning and undoubtedly an amount of good fortune. Documentary lovers will be well served by this series.
Episode One: Wild Australia. The opening episode is a bit of an extended and general introduction to Australia, its unique landscapes and flora and fauna.
Episode Two: Desert Heart. As the name suggests this episode takes us into the dead centre of Australia and proves that it is anything but dead, and includes amazing footage of Lake Eyre in full flood.
Episode Three: Southern Seas. This is becoming predictable, huh? Take a trip under the raging southern seas from Shark Bay on the west around to New Zealand on the east. See what happens on, and in, these dangerous but beautiful environments.
Episode Four: Gum Tree Country: Get to know your neighbour, for most of us have a gum tree nearby, there are so bloody many of them. Here we see them in bloom, on fire, devoured by koalas, and being lived in by all manner of beasties, large and small.
Episode Five: Island Arks. Moving away from Australia, this episode takes us on a journey around and through the islands that surround the island continent, most of which were at one time part of Gondwanaland. Consequently, there are some familiar critters that live on those islands, but evolution is a strange mistress.
Episode Six: New Worlds. When worlds collide, something has to give, and it's usually the most vulnerable flora and fauna. This episode sheds light on the destructive nature of the arrival of white man and his foxes, rabbits, toads, horses, pigs, cats, camels, ploughs, tractors, trucks and poisons. This episode is not the happiest of the six, but there is some good news to finish off. Phew!
Wild Australasia is a two-disc set presented in a 16:9 enhanced, 1.78:1 aspect ratio, as it was on television. Colours and tone are of most importance in a series such as this and it can be reported that both scrub up very well. Colours are wonderfully natural with no evidence of grain. There are numerous sunsets, colourful birds, fish and other wildlife that look great. There is also a good deal of night footage for such things as possums and other small mammals, and these are mostly very good, exhibiting few problems with shadow detail. Black levels are hampered by noise at times, but these moments are neither frequent nor severe.
Aliasing and shimmer are not present, and there is no evidence of marks, dirt or specks. There is a layer change in the middle episode of each disc, but it's smooth and relatively non-disruptive. The sharpness and clarity of the image should easily satisfy.
As long as you are only expecting a decent Dolby Digital stereo audio track at best, then you are not going to be disappointed, for that is the only option, but it does sound good. The narration is loud and clear and comes at you from both front speakers. There are no really loud and booming sounds apart from a few storms, some crashing waves and some of the music that accompanies the series, much of which is most enjoyable in its own right.
There is some obvious separation as sea birds and various other critters whiz about on-screen, and the odd storm and over-dubbed underwater footage demonstrates. Only the beautifully shot underwater segments are obviously overdubbed. They sound good, just not very natural. It’s like having a large aquarium gurgling away in the room. That aside, this audio track does the job more than adequately.