Aug. 29, 2006 - Documentaries ~ Iceland, Greenland, Antartica & Candy Reviews
We have been watching a lot of Documentaries lately (thanks to the Discovery Channel sale and Netflix!)~ its helped us all get a better understanding of the Arctic, Antatics, Iceland, The Ocean and even candy. Here are some of our favorites thus far:
Globetrekker: Iceland & Greenland ***This wasn't what we were expecting at all, it was a trip/tour through the modern cities in Iceland and Greenland (I didn't read the description too thoroughly) Its worth watching solely for the reindeer butchering incident:) Really, it did help us to better understand how people live in the freezing climates now ~ as oopsed to the way things were before...
The description:
Offering arctic weather and a lot more besides, Iceland and Greenland are two of the most spectacular places in the world to visit. Breathtaking scenery runs throughout both countries, including much snowbound terrain, most of which houses some weird and wonderful creatures. This guide begins in the relatively normal surroundings of Reykjavik, then ventures out into the wilds to discover dog sledding, Eskimo's, and the local dish of fermented shark!
Modern Marvels: Candy *****This was fascinating, interesting and informative, just for "fun" learning. If you like touring candy making factories, learning a little bit of history along with it, this is perfect. The kids watched it twice, Dh and I each watched it as well... and Abyni asked to watch it during her "rest time" ~ of course, they were all craving chocolate by the time all was said and done!
The Description: Romanticized in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as the stuff that dreams are made of, candy has charmed its way into the stomachs of Americans, who gobble 7 billion tons it every year. Making stops at real-life candy factories such as See's Candy, Schimpff's Confectionary and Hershey Chocolate World, this installment of "Modern Marvels" reveals how some of your favorite products are made and sheds light on candy's sugary history.
IMAX: Antartica *****This was FANTASTIC! The part with the penguins had my kids ROLLING on the floor with laughter. The whole thing was engrossing even for me, the distractible one! Awesome filming... well worth watching! We wathced this one more than once too.
The Description: Custom dictates that IMAX films erupt with breathtaking cinematography, and Antarctica is no exception. Beginning with an undersea ballet courtesy of some resident penguins, the film then takes viewers through a submerged, crystalline grotto and examines climate changes to the frozen frontier. This 1991 documentary captures Antarctica's grandeur, from the continent's glorious glaciers to the meteorological treasures locked in its ice sheets.
Galapagos Island: *This one was kind of boring for me... I wasn't interested and left it to Dh to watch it with the kids. Definitely with the evolutionist slant.
A marine biologist from the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History leads this astonishing expedition to the Galapagos Islands, a world that is still relatively new and evolving. Descending to depths of 3,000 feet, the scientists find a window into the past and a frontier for exploration.
Microcosmos **** Interesting, really cool camera work, up close in the world of bugs and critters. Jaedin was mesmerized. This was a documentary with very little narration, so it was very much like actually observing nature on your own. You could see things happening and playing out without someone telling you what was happening... and even I could figure it out:) REALLY cool.
Critters of the small kind are featured in this interesting look at the seldom-explored world of insects, snails and other undersized creatures as they go about their daily lives. By using unique microscopic cameras and powerful specialized microphones, this highly praised French documentary gives new meaning to "a bug's life."
Those are the Netflix DVDs ~ I'll have to review the Discovery Channel ones that we bought later... its SCHOOL TIME:)
