Lying on the equator are a series of islands, forged by deep sea volcanoes. On these islands live a series of unique and extraordinary creatures. These islands, while not especially hospitable, have seen some of the most bizarre and interesting animals ever to evolve. In fact, they are so instructive that they helped Charles Darwin develop his theory of Evolution. Most of these animals live on only one place on Earth: Galapagos.
In 2006, the BBC produced a three episode miniseries on the islands, narrated by actress Tilda Swinton. Like their groundbreaking Planet Earth series, they used high definition cameras to capture the breadth of the beauty and wonder on display. Also, like that acclaimed series, Galapagos does not shy away from showing the more brutal aspect of the animal kingdom. Life and death both get their due.
The first episode, "Born of Fire," introduces the islands, how they were formed, and shows some of the more volcanic locations. The marine iguana, the world's only iguana that feeds in the sea, is featured. Many of the other coastal creatures are shown, including crabs with a symbiotic relationship to the iguanas, and lizards who eat flies off of seals.
The second episode, "Islands that Changed the World," discusses how the wildlife on the islands inspired Charles Darwin to write On The Origin Of The Species. Of course, the famous Finches are featured, as well as the Giant Tortoises who live for over a hundred years. "Forces of Change" takes a look at how the ecology of the islands have changed, and the evolutionary track of many of the animals.
The three episodes are fairly self-contained, which often means that information from one is repeated in another. But it's presented differently each time, and many of the animals are so fascinating that it's nice to see them on screen again. Tilda Swinton gives a passable performance as the narrator. She's not terribly exciting, but she's never boring. But the star attractions are the myriad denizens of the islands. There are animals living in Galapagos that defy description, and they're here in all their glory. As far as nature documentaries go, Galapagos is one of the best.
The Blu-Ray Disc: