National Geographic - Africa

National Geographic - Africa
by Alan Root

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DVD details

Actor: Avery Brooks
Director: Alan Root
Brand: Warner Brothers
Cinematographer: Alan Root
Producer: Alan Root
Editor: Lisa Palattella
Editor: Rob Harrington
Producer: Cathy McConnell
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 570 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-09-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: National Geographic Video

DVD Reviews of National Geographic - Africa

DVD Review: Africa DVD Series
Summary: 4 Stars

I am using this series in my middle school geography class. We are studying the culture by looking at the biomes and how people live and work among the land. This has been a good visual for the student. In the desert biome we learned about the Tuareg people group and followed a young boy on his first caravan trip across the desert. It held the students interest and opened their eyes to another culture and hopefully a heart for Africa and its people.

DVD Review: Old versus new in modern Africa
Summary: 4 Stars

Most of the currently existing reviews do a poor job of describing exactly what this series of four DVDs contains. Each DVD contains 2 episodes about life in modern Africa (i. e. eight episodes total). In particular, each episode focuses in on young African men and women who must make important life decisions and how the transformation of African society into the modern world impacts these decisions. Each episode is centered in a different region of Africa. Fundamentally, this series explores the tension of the old ways of doing things and the new ways and how the two can coexist to make something better than the sum of the parts. For example, in the first episode we follow the lives of two women in East Africa (Kenya), one of whom has chosen to get married and live in the bush with her husband, the other who lives as a single mother in a big city but returns to her small village to have a baby so that the child with have some contact with his roots. We learn a bit about the traditional culture of the people of East Africa, and see how this is being changed by the modern world. In many ways, the woman living in the big city has an easier life, but something is lost in this choice, and she realizes it. The other seven episodes continue in a similar vein, exploring life among Pygmies in the Congo, nomads in the Sahara, Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia, and other African peoples.

The best part of this DVD series is that you will, I believe, begin to understand the great diversity in cultures in Africa. The history, the cultures, the world views of the people who populate Africa is incredibly diverse. Some peoples were influenced by Islam, some not, some greatly affected by Western colonialism and Christianity, others not. The landscape, the weather, the vegetation, and the animal life also play/played an important role in the development of each African culture. Even people living in close proximity can be very different (and certainly distinct from the Western world).

There is some great cinematography of the flora and fauna of Africa, as well as the landscape, but this is not the central theme. If this is what you are looking for (a study of the plants, animals, and landscape of Africa), you'll be sadly disappointed. Some of the most glowing reviews wax poetic about the cinematography, and I think this is overstated. Also, some of the political correctness in the dialogue becomes tedious. Nearly every culture presented in this series (there are one or two exceptions) lives in peace and harmony with their neighbors, working in synergy and sharing for the greater good of all.

This is a great series, but the only reason that I give it four stars is that it is not something that you'll watch over and over. I wouldn't recommend that anyone actually spend money to add this to their permanent collection. Definitely worth watching as a rental, but probably not a collectable for most viewers.

DVD Review: close
Summary: 4 Stars

I have been to Africa...and outside of actually being there, this is the next best thing. I leave one star out-only out of malice for NOT actually being there. It's kind of like going to the zoo-after being in Africa. Nothing realted is the same-on video...or encased in zoo cages. But it is a awesom trip none the less...and I highly recommend this flick!

DVD Review: Africa is more than animals
Summary: 5 Stars

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.

DVD Review: Not what I had hoped for
Summary: 3 Stars

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.

Description of National Geographic - Africa

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."

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