Plot: What’s it about?
Can you ever know enough about sharks? Thanks in large part to the wild success of Jaws, sharks have become one of nature’s most popular predators. The Discovery Channel recognized that love affair with Shark Week, a week of programs devoted to sharks of all kinds and those who have experience with the creatures. Shark Week is an epic event on cable, something fans look forward to and count down the days until the next one. The special week now celebrates two decades of existence with Shark Week: 20th Anniversary Collection, a four disc release. This set has a fantastic assortment of Shark Week content, a look at the history of the shark, a glimpse at the potential future of the shark, shark attacks, shark hunters, shark survivors, you name it. If you want to know something about sharks, more likely than not, its in here. So now in between Shark Weeks, you can revisit some of the best programs and never go without your shark fix.
Just when you thought it was safe to watch some DVDs, Shark Week is unleashed. The annual marathon of shark shows is one of the best weeks on cable, a true television event. I love Shark Week, so when I saw this set was announced, I couldn’t wait to see which shows were included. As it turns out, this is about as good as fans could demand, a great selection of shows with varied themes. I know some people might find it hard to believe there can be that much to know about sharks, but these fourteen episodes prove there is a lot of depth to be explored. You’ll hear from shark attack survivors, shark hunters, and shark attack rescuers, to get first hand stories of how dangerous sharks can be, as well as a breakdown of the shark’s vicious bite. A trip down memory lane shows us prehistoric sharks, while another program traces what the potential evolution might bring, based on known trends. The sharks of the world are profiled, including those lovable South African ones. Shark Week: 20th Anniversary Collection is fantastic, a must own release for fans of Shark Week and so it is well recommended.
Video: How does it look?
The shows are presented in full frame, as intended. Some of the episodes are older than others, so there is some variance in overall quality, but all the shows look good. None of the footage looks worn, thanks to clean prints and while detail isn’t razor sharp, the image isn’t overly soft. The more recent programs yield a more refined visual presence, but even the oldest of the shows still holds up and looks solid. I saw no compression issues either, so I think fans will be pleased.
Audio: How does it sound?
These programs sound just like they do when broadcast, solid, but unremarkable. The audio is clean and free from problems, but never provides much presence. The on location footage sounds a little rough, but that is unavoidable in these cases. The basics come across as well can be expected, with clear vocals and decent background atmosphere. These are documentaries, so we don’t need dynamic audio, but the shows still sound good.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes no bonus materials.
