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da ([personal profile] da) wrote2008-08-17 09:59 pm
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Re: BBC Planet Earth

We just watched the Caves episode.

Opening shot: human figures diving into an inky cave that's obviously hundreds of meters deep, without ropes. It's not for a while until we see the parachutes. Well photographed.

But then, things got absolutely disgusting.

The glow-worm that trapped insects in mucilaginous silk, in the opening 5 minutes, was sort of gross, and the worm was mostly translucent (that's so's its rear-end could glow, I suppose).

The caves of Borneo with 3 million bats, acres of bat guano, and the guano crawling with cockroaches? That was gross too, especially when we saw a bat fall into the feces and be devoured alive by roaches.

But the kicker, just when we didn't think we could say "ew" again: snotites. Stalagtite made of bacteria. Ew.

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[identity profile] thingo.livejournal.com 2008-08-18 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
Guys, that episode is some of the best TV I've ever seen. It's revolting but incredible. All of it. Be sure to watch the special features for the episode too. They show the guys filming the giant roach-infested mountain of guano, and what they went through over a month of shooting. I believe one of them said "nobody should have to live in poo". But I'd have to verify the exact quote.

[identity profile] melted-snowball.livejournal.com 2008-08-18 11:42 am (UTC)(link)
It may be incredible, but so were the snow leopards.

[identity profile] da-lj.livejournal.com 2008-08-18 12:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes. That was the quote.
chezmax: (Default)

[personal profile] chezmax 2008-08-18 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)
... I totally forgot to watch the special features when we borrowed them. Damn.

Also, Planet Earth is the only thing I've watched so far where Blu-Ray actually made a difference.

[identity profile] da-lj.livejournal.com 2008-08-18 01:32 pm (UTC)(link)
That's odd... on our copy (just ordinary DVD), the special stuff plays automatically after the episode- at about the 47 minute mark. I'm not even sure the counter resets (as a different track).

Anyhow, you're welcome to borrow the Poo Caves Episode (or any others) if you're willing to watch the extras in regular-def. ;)

[identity profile] sulle-stelle.livejournal.com 2008-08-19 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
Ew. I'm revolted, but simultaneously utterly fascinated.

(Hmmm... Barf or smile? Barf or smile? I can't decide.)

[identity profile] da-lj.livejournal.com 2008-08-19 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
I guess that's how these things work. I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it again, but I think it was worth watching once. :)

[identity profile] ancawonka.livejournal.com 2008-08-19 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
Oh that is my favorite episode of that show, hands down. I LOVE LOVE LOVE that pan up the guano mountain.

In fact, I'm going to go play it right now!
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