NOVA: The Planets

I recommend this over the similarly named Blu-ray from National Geographic. The presentation here is much less annoying, more oriented towards adults. Great content, great real images AND great animated images, great explanations. I suppose my only gripe is that when any scientist is featured, explaining their work and their discoveries, that person's face is shown in close-up detail. On a big TV, well...that's a bigger, more well-lighted human head than you're ever gonna see in real life. Each speaker dominates your living room, and stares DIRECTLY at you while they're talking--how do they even film that? It's like they are truly speaking to a camera. And with their huge blazing face right up front. It's a little unnerving. Producers, take heed! You don't have to show the tiny hairs on a person's forehead, just because you have the technology to do so. But don't let that stop you. I've re-watched it a couple times already. This is an excellent Blu-ray--easily the best space program I've seen in the past 10 years. Worth having on disc, for sure.

Great graphics and very interesting but could do without unscientific analysis, eg explaining science with pool tables

This is one of my favorite series from Nova. I have watched all of the episodes too many times to count and I always see something new. I highly recommend this item.

PBS always has some amazing series, and this one was near the top of the list. It goes through the major planets, including how they were created and the amazing facts that they are even now revealing to us. And the production graphics are exemplary! Also, a great learning series for our grandchildren.

Every astronomy fan should have this. Never ceases to fascinate. Great visuals.

Not too bad an exposition of the planets. Good graphics and interesting narration. However two quibbles: 1) A rather dopey, treacly song at the beginning of each episode. Some guy wailing non-rhyming lyrics that has something to do with the planets. 2) The annoying tendency to suddenly switch to "talking heads". You're engrossed in great vistas and animations of planets and their planetscapes. When suddenly you get a full face shot of some scientist emoting. I appreciate the added information that these planetary scientists add to the narration. But do we really need to interrupt the flow of the program to actually see them facing the camera and talking? Maybe it was something that these scientists insisted on for appearing in the documentary. "You've got to SHOW me talking!" I found it distracting and annoying interruption.

Saw this on PBS. Liked it so much we purchased it. Arrived perfect.

Everything you would want to know about the planetS

We loved the dvds on this subject. It was exciting, sad, tense, everything. We learned so much watching it. I bought it because Jupiter is my planet, and wanted to see what Jupiter was all about. Plus there is other planets on the discs. It is so amazing to see what is going on up there, watching all of the movement of everything in space one almost thinks that each rock or planet or moon is programmed. You have to see this everyone. You will never forget it. I am going to see if there are more dvds with the other planets on it.

Excellent show , wonderful narration by Zach Quinto, amazing CGI . This show is just fantastic, explains how our solar system came about.

I needed to upgrade my information packages on astronomical research. This DVD appears to do just that. It is great!

This is one of the best documentary series I've seen. It's one of those programs that you learn more each time you watch it, and Zachary Quinto is perfect in narration.

Great computer-generated imagery! Great planetary images! Great sound! The narrator and narration are excellent.! The Planets Blu-ray is very informative, interesting, and exciting!