Filmmaker Judy Irving has created an exemplary documentary simply by paying attention to the details of the world around her subject.
Wild About Animals? See More!
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill (book) |
March of the Penguins |
Grizzly Man |
Winged Migration |
Best Documentaries of 2005 |
Nature & Wildlife DVDs |
Description
An "engrossing, delightful film" (The Washington Post), THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL is the bonafide sleeper theatrical hit of the year. The film's endearing guide is Mark Bittner, an aging bohemian, but the supporting cast members, a rambunctious flock of urban parrots, are the true stars, and their surprisingly humanlike behavior makes for a wondrous and rare experience. The film follows the ups-and-downs of these wild birds within the green niches of San Francisco as Bittner befriends, feeds, and names the members of the flock. Along the way, we meet many unforgettable characters: among them Connor, the grouchy yet lovable outcast of the flock, crying for a mate but luckless in his pursuits, and "the lovers," Picasso and Sophie, inseparable until Sophie is forced into mourning when Picasso disappears. More than a mere birdwatcher, Bittner finds solace in his immersion with these strikingly beautiful creatures - but how will he cope when he's evicted from his sanctuary and forced to live away from the parrots? Packed with romance, comedy and a surprise ending that "makes you feel like you could fly out of the theater" (San Jose Mercury News), THE WILD PARROTS OF TELEGRAPH HILL shows just how wondrously similar the human and animal worlds really can be. DVD Features: Origins of the Flock; Urban Legends; Update: Mingus at the Oasis; Parrots Music Video; Mark Bittner's Home Movies; Flock Updates; Deleted Scenes; Theatrical Trailer; Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround; California Quail Bonus Short; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection
Customer Reviews:
This is wonderful film and will be known as an enduring classic........2007-09-03
Mark Bittner shares his unique world and bond with seemingly wild and xenophobic parrots in the middle of one of the most densely populated cities.
The whole film is an honest capture and telling of dichotomy's by Judy Irving.
Irving ignores any special effects or CGI because the subject matter, the parrots, are beautiful to behold in San Francisco or their native S. American countries.
A truly poignant (and not lightly used description) of a kind hearted man who befriends wild parrots at first to nurture them but discovers they've nurtured him in a spiritual way that no other person could.
The sharing of experiences, especially of Tupelo will move you to tears and joy, this is a film that will become a well worn classic in your collection.
Thank you Mark.
A Love Story.......2007-08-27
This story really touches the heart. The birds are personalized,
you become friends with them and fall in love with them just as the main
character does. Share their joys and sorrows.
I don't say this often about any movie..........2007-08-11
I'm often disappointed in watching movies, because many r predictable and lack meaning & sincerity. Because of this, I don't often BUY movies. This movie gave me FAR more than I expected it would...When I saw this film in the theatre, I went from laughing and Aaawwwe-ing, 2 hyperventaling thru my tears. This documentary has many of the best things of life wrapped up into the ~80 minutes but it also didn't spare the cruel truths of life either. There is a suprise twist 2 the plot (all of us in the the theatre crowd cheered out loud) which, especially 4 a documentary, wrapped it up quite nicely.
The main premise revolves around Mark, a peaceful dreamer who lives an alternative life style, a path less traveled. He decided as a "failed musician" he would not sell out 2 have just any career and so chose 2 work odd jobs, leaving him much time on his hands. He was on a spiritual quest 2 find his niche, which led him 2 want 2 get more connected with nature. As fate would have it, he noticed the resident Wild Parrots (cherry headed conures, blue crowned conure-who stole my heart-& some visiting parakeets)& took an interet in them. Before he knew it, his interest grew and so did his knowledge & research efforts on them. He even ended up fighting in the courts 4 the birds when their survival was threatened by us "wonderful" humans, trying 2 control things.
Mark's view on animals from this whole experience (& perhaps others), parallels mine; so it was very refreshing 2 see thru a kindred spirit's eyes. The respect he had 4 each individual is very tender and-I HOPE-thought provoking 4 those not able 2 SEE animals in the same light, at least as of yet. This film teaches of the interconnectedness of all living creatures and yet highlights and celecbrates the fact that we r all individuals.
In short: it will b educational 4 most, inspiring, emotional, meaningful, happy and sad. Get your tissues & heart ready. EASILY 1 of THE BEST MOVIES Out there. I bought it 2 treasure & support the cause. I hope it finds a larger audience as it's truly a rare gem.
Mark found his niche :O)
PS This DVD has an extra: an interesting interview w/ a woman who had contact w/ some of the birds as well, which gave more insite and background. 4 those further interested...The book also has muuch more detail of Mark's life w/ the birdies! Happy "bird" watching!
amazing and better than fiction.......2007-07-23
I rented this and I was so enchanted that I had to buy it to share with all my family and friends. Everything about it is so well done, the narration, photography and Charles Mingus is my new hero! It's so refreshing to watch a true story that has all the elements that make for a truly fascinating adventure. The extras were just as great too.
The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.......2007-07-16
This is probably the best "bird film" I've ever seen. Very engrossing and fascinating. The photography was lovely - the birds are quite spectacularly colored - and the story was a moving one.
Description
This outstanding collection of Baby Genius DVDs includes themes about playtime outings and little children interacting in the events and places around them. The focus is on entertainment and teaching children in an environment filled with fun and adventure. Animation is combined with children's songs and includes fun-loving Baby Genius characters like DJ the Dinosaur, Vinko the Dancing Bear and more.
Customer Reviews:
Not so genius.......2007-08-21
I am pretty disappointed with this DVD. I thought my daughter would enjoy watching it because she loves animals. I think that there was not a lot of consideration in picking the music that went with the different animal groups. The frames/views change very quickly throughout the whole video. Also, there was no reason to add in the baby genius cartoon characters into the animal scenes - it adds nothing to the viewing experience, is distracting, and feels like blatant marketing. Particularily, when the animal viewing is over, a "music video" with the baby genius characters plays which does not fit at all with the rest of the video and gives the very clear impression of brainwashing and product placement. No thank you baby genius. I'd rather have bought a national geographic film.
Boring .......2007-08-02
I dont think my 20 month old son liked this one too much. I thought it would have more sound and not be a silent film. He loves animals that is why i got it but i thought it would be more of singing songs also like favorit nursery ryhmes. When i was watching it with him I thought i was going to fall asleep.
Good for the Young Child.......2007-02-26
This is good but for the younger child maybe, they need to focus more on the interactive like Childrens favorite songs, and Childrens Nursery Rymes.
Okey Dokey-Not Great.......2007-02-11
My one-and-a-half year old daughter doesn't like this product very much. She finds it boring. The other two products, Baby genius Nursery Rhymes and Children's song are very good, and she likes it very much.
My child love it!.......2006-11-03
My child is 7 months old and he loved all the animals. I was worried he was too young for it, but after writing an email to the company and them sending one back telling me it was for his age and up did I want to buy it. I am very happy with this DVD.
Average customer rating:
- If you have cats...
- Beautifully done
- Winged Migration
- Awesome
- Share Their Flight
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Winged Migration
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Similar Items:
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March of the Penguins (Widescreen Edition)
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Microcosmos
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Baraka
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The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill
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March of the Penguins (Full Screen Edition)
ASIN: B0000CGNEH
Release Date: 2003-11-18 |
Amazon.com
For earthbound humans, Winged Migration is as close as any of us will get to sharing the sky with our fine feathered friends. It's as if French director Jacques Perrin and his international crew of dedicated filmmakers had been given a full-access pass by Mother Nature herself, with the complete "cooperation" of countless species of migrating birds, all answering to eons of migratory instinct. The film is utterly simple in purpose, with minimal narration and on-screen titles to identify the wondrous varieties of flying wildlife, but its visceral effect is humbling, awesome and magnificently profound. Technically, Perrin surpasses the achievement of his earlier film Microcosmos (which did for insects what this film does for birds), and apart from a few digital skyscapes for poetic effect, this astonishing film uses no special effects whatsoever, with soaring, seemingly miraculous camera work that blesses the viewer with, quite literally, a bird's-eye view. A brief but important hunting scene may upset sensitive viewers and children, but doesn't stop Winged Migration from being essential all-ages viewing. --Jeff Shannon
Description
This awe-inspiring, critically acclaimed documentary of migrating birds through 40 countries and every continent was captured using planes, gliders, helicopters and balloons, allowing the filmmakers a spectacularly intimate look at their subjects. From Academy Award-nominated Director Jacques Perrin (Z, Black and White in Color). 2002 Academy Award® Nominee for Best Documentary.
Customer Reviews:
If you have cats..........2007-09-17
you might wanna get this DVD. My cats love this movie! It keeps them entertained for over an hour! The scenery is beautiful and it's very relaxing. I highly recommend it!
Beautifully done.......2007-09-05
Watching the movie, I felt like I was flying with the birds. And I know so much more about them now. Hopefully any bird hunter who watched it will stop hunting.
Winged Migration.......2007-09-05
FABULOUS! This is absolutely the most amazing nature filming/cinematography I have ever seen. The opening sequence alone had my jaw dropping, you were flying up in the sky right next to the birds, YOU are flying. And it is not just about birds, the scenery is breathtaking. I have bought it for many gifts, it works for all ages.
Awesome.......2007-08-28
To escape from personal problems, the depressing national and international ills, returning to nature is the best cure and there is none better than "Winged Migration" to remind us of the marvels and mysteries of our universe. I can think of no better experience than this incredible film..for young and old alike and definitely for at least annual viewing.
Share Their Flight.......2007-08-27
Beautiful photography, gorgeous scenery. You learn so much about what
lengths birds fly to fufill their lives.
My parrot enjoys it, too (seriously) Great for birds and bird lovers.
Description
The DVD can be viewed on the living room TV or on personal computers as a 70-minute bird-filled documentary. It also serves as an audio/visual reference guide-- one can use the easy-to-use menus to quickly find a particular bird (it contains 218 species found in Midwest and Eastern North America). The DVD is full of extraordinary photography, bird songs and with video footage.
Some features unique to the DVD include a collection of 18 quizzes and a section for comparing similar-sounding birds (for example, melodic, buzzy or unmusical). The narration for each bird does not occur immediately, allowing the viewer to guess what bird she is hearing and seeing. This quiz format keeps the viewer in a state of wonder and makes learning to identify birds more engaging and fun.
The focus of the narration is bird song and bird song mnemonics (such as "Who's awake? Me too" of the Great Horned Owl, or "Quick, three beers!" of the Olive-sided Flycatcher). Also, a bonus "Soundscape" track is included without narration to simulate a field trip to different habitats such as marsh, grassland and forest. This creates a very relaxing natural background which, along with the bird photos, can keep bird-watchers of any level, kids, babies, and pets (especially cats) enthralled for hours.
Customer Reviews:
Useful tool for learning bird calls.......2007-02-11
I love the DVD, however I was surprised to find that there seems to be many more still photos than video clips included. I previewed this DVD very briefly in a store, and noticed only the video.
Bird songs galore.......2006-07-13
The DVD provided an image or images of the bird whose call we were hearing. Sometimes photos only, sometimes actual video of the bird. A woman described the call and imitated it, in human terms. She was excellent. First we just started the DVD and for an hour were treated to innumerable bird calls, from all over. Since we were trying to learn birdcalls, it was overwhelming. Then we discovered that there was an alphabetical index and we could choose which bird to hear.
I would have liked to see a better format where birds were grouped by family, perhaps, and a bit more information provided; like migration paths, mating habits and how the families developed and when the chicks went out on their own, for example. Perhaps there's another video that does just that.
But Birds Birds Birds is the first bird call DVD we ever heard or purchased. Holly/Brooklyn
Great for teaching high school ornithology.......2006-03-18
It's been great for teaching a high school level bird watching class in the middle of winter before the birds get to the North East. Great preparation.
Birds, Birds, Birds! An Indoor Birdwatching Field Trip.......2006-03-11
I was very disappointed in this DVD. It was a DVD for someone who wanted only the very basic information on birds. The DVD was very short and could have added a lot of expanded details. The ability to view details of color and details of wing, tail bands, etc would have offered a much better learning tool. It also could have had the bird call longer throughout a longer display of bird colorations.
This DVD looks great.......2005-09-20
This video looks great, but my comment is about ET Ashworth's irresponsible comment about the Audubon VideoGuide DVD's below. There was a production problem with a batch of DVDs and the publisher has worked tirelessly to make those affected satisfied customers. I don't know what Ashworth's problem is but if he had contacted the publisher at Mastervision he would not be sniping now. I know this because I have talked to many of the affected by phone, reviewed the problems (which were introduced during manufacturing of disk one), and made sure they either received chargebacks or good working disks.
I'm ordering Birds Birds Birds because it looks to me like it does something different than the Audubon Society VideoGuides, and I find that there is so much about birds to know that a lot of sources are not only helpful, but a necessity.
Description
WORLD OF RAPTORS is an intimate guide to American birds of prey that portrays the majestic power and beauty of North America's falcons, hawks and eagles in all their wild glory. Narrated by Academy Award winning actress, JOANNE WOODWARD, and filled with spectacular aerial photography, WORLD OF RAPTORS follows internationally renowned bird authority, MORLEY NELSON, on an odyssey of natural discovery that will educate, entertain, and inspire.
Color
55 minutes
2-Channel stereo
Customer Reviews:
Raptors.......2007-08-28
Well documented and informative,but could have been moreso.
Recommended viewing to anyone interested in basic info.
Interesting but very technical and has old film footage.......2006-06-18
The film quality is good for a home movie, but with a lot of old, grainy film footage of predatory birds from the movie projector days. It still is interesting. I found it a little too technical, with too few good sequences of bird flight and observance. More for a bird identification enthusiast. Doesn't come close to David Attenborough's 'Life of Birds'.
Not just shots from a migration site, either.......2006-06-06
I totally agree with the previous reviewers. Spectacular footage,
beautiful too. The commentary is marvellous and accessible to all
ages. And you can't beat the price either.
This is not a good video for identifying migrating raptors; it's
much more than that. For one thing, it has the best active hunting
shots I have seen.
Excellent field guide on DVD.......2005-04-15
Species by species footage and facts of raptors including owls. The footage is just incredible. Tips on finding birds and observing birds and you can't beat the price of the DVD.
pretty amazing stuff.......2004-03-04
This dvd is one of the best nature and bird watching dvds around. I have seen "Winged Migration" and this is just as good if not better. This one is good for the hardcore enthusiast but also a nice introduction for casual bird people, or even for kids that want to learn a new hobby.
Very exciting footage of some of the most unique creatures around. TWO THUMBS UP!!
Description
Of the millions of newcomers who flock to New York City, the astounding arrival in 1991 of a red-tailed hawk made history. No other red-tailed hawk had ever attempted to make Manhattan his territory. Affectionately dubbed Pale Male, he made an exclusive Fifth Avenue apartment building his home. Pale Male became an instant celebrity who made New Yorkers' hearts and imaginations soar. The destruction of his nest in December, 2004, became front page news. See Pale Male's remarkable story in this award-winning presentation of the Emmy-honored PBS series, NATURE narrated by Oscar-winner Joanne Woodward. Join the close-knit community of bird-watchers who faithfully gather daily to follow the progress of this exquisite, powerful bird of prey, as he hunts Central Park's wild creatures, courts his mate on Woody Allen's balcony, builds a penthouse nest, fiercely protects his family from attacking crows, and encourages his baby chicks to fly. Pale Male and his family become a magnificent obsession for the captivated crowds below. To the regulars on the beach, it's better than Broadway. And so is this very special program that the Audubon Society has proclaimed "a classic."
Customer Reviews:
what a great story!.......2007-06-27
I have watched it with my 70 year old parents and with kids. It's a lovely story for all ages!
Pale Male.......2004-06-08
This DVD is absolutely astounding.As a birder myself just the idea of a Red Tail taking up residence on 5th Ave. is great. He has had more than one mate. His first,First Love was rehabilitated at The Raptor Trust in New Jersey and released from there. His second mate was also a Raptor Trust rehabilitated hawk. My daughter worked at The Raptor Trust for 10 years. We are all very happy with the success of Pale Male's nesting. He is a magnificent bird.
Description
Birds of a Feather Are Flocking Together on This Double Program DVD - Program 1: Extraordinary Birds Stunning NATURE photgraphy takes flight to capture the wondrous behavior of the world's most extraordinary birds. Follow the warlike falcon hunting for prey, a storm of wild birds who bring a monsoon to an Indian reservation, the 5,000 mile commute of a tiny hummingbird, and more! Program 2: Parrots: Look Who's Talking This fun, visually rich program profiles a bird of magnificent color, both in plumage and in personaity. Adoring owners talk about their parrots, inclduing one who loves opera, and another who dunks cookies on demand!
Customer Reviews:
Nature explores the avian world.......2006-07-07
This DVD contains two great programs about birds from PBS' Nature series. "Parrots-- Look Who's Talking", narrated by George Page, explores the lives of parrots and their relationship to people. This is an older episode from the first few years of the series with beautiful photography and fine presentation. I wish that more of the older Nature programs were available since they are now seldom shown on television. "Extraordinary Birds" is another fine documentary about the contributions of birds to human lives and the natural world. Every bird lover should watch this DVD to enjoy the beauty of our feathered freinds.
Birds Impress in the Wild & Share Their Lives with Humans........2005-10-18
"Nature: Birds" includes 2 programs from PBS' "Nature" series, produced in 1982. The first program is "Extraordinary Birds" (53 minutes), narrated by Diana Cardéa. "Extraordinary Birds" focuses on birds' amazing physical abilities and their symbiotic relationships with humans. There are some interesting tidbits of information in this documentary, but not much depth, and the narration is bland. The program begins with a trip to a village in southern India that 10,000 birds visit each year, traveling on the winds of the monsoons and signaling the coming of rain. Then it's to Scotland to observe the art of falconry, in which humans, dogs, and falcons work in concert to hunt grouse. Researchers in Arizona, USA study the consequences and opportunities posed by the tiny body size of hummingbirds, who beat their wings up to 200 times per second and migrate as far as 5,000 miles each. In Colorado, the "Pigeon Express" provides courier pigeons to white water rafting companies that need to get their film processed before their clients finish their rafting trips. Farmers in southern Florida use barn owls to control the rat infestations in sugar cane fields. And bird trainer Steve Martin prepares a new African Grey parrot for his debut show in Disney's Animal Kingdom, while "The Feathered Friends" pet therapy organization provides parrot companionship to the residents of a retirement home.
The second program is "Parrots: Look Who's Talking" (53 minutes), narrated by George Page. This program discusses the behavior of parrots in the wild and life among humans for those in captivity. "Parrots: Look Who's Talking" has something for confirmed parrot lovers as well as viewers new to the birds. Those who already know how smart and talented these wonderful birds are will enjoy the plentiful footage of wild parrot flocks. At least a dozen species of parrot are shown in their natural environments in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, and Africa. Parrot owners talk about their avian companions, and we see some of the parrots' antics. There is a segment with the world's most famous African Grey, Alex, and Dr. Irene Pepperberg demonstrates and discusses Alex's computational abilities. Periodically the film cuts to a very funny and talented African Grey parrot who perfectly mimics comical phrases. This has great entertainment value throughout the film, but the parrot is unfortunately never identified. In any case, "Parrots: Look Who's Talking" is an entertaining introduction to parrots and includes some great footage of parrots in the wild. Parrots and humans coming into conflict over agriculture and hunting is mentioned, but the issue of habitat destruction is not addressed.
Fun and educational.......2005-08-09
Very entertaining. I showed the VHS version to my teenage biology students last year and they loved it. This DVD version will be even better.
Amazon.com
Breathtaking IMAX photography, fascinating animals, and knowledgeable commentary make Survival Island powerful and informative. The sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, also known as "Survival Island," is the only island suitable for breeding for thousands of miles in the Southern Ocean. Each spring, animals as disparate as the elephant and fur seals, king and macaroni penguins, albatross, and giant petrels visit the island to reproduce. Narrator David Attenborough details the cycle of life on the island by studying each species individually, then adopting a wider perspective that studies how such a fascinating array of life can coexist and thrive in such a cold, forbidding place. Humans' historical role as hunters on the island is briefly mentioned, as is our current role as statistical gatherer. A short behind-the-scenes featurette with producer Christopher Parsons and director David Douglas emphasizes the resilience of nature and gives a sense of the inspiration crew members experienced while filming on the island. (Ages 5 and older) --Tami Horiuchi
Description
Standing almost alone in the great Southern Ocean, South Georgia island plays host to some of the largest concentrations of animals anywhere on Earth during the spring and summer months. This is the story of these vast animal cities, and of the order that lies beneath their seeming chaos.
DVD Features:
Interactive Menus
Other:Soundtrack re-mastered in Dolby Digital 5.1
Customer Reviews:
Must have been great in IMAX, a little short for DVD.......2003-11-10
This is a fine documentary about the animal life of the sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia.
You see elephant seals, fur seals, at least two species of penguin and Wandering Albatross. The vast numbers of each of the species featured is impressive by themselves. Of course, you get interesting info on all these species. The male elephant seals fighting for the right to a harem until they are a bloody mess while disinterested penguins look on is particularly memorable.
Unfortunately, this is only 35 minutes long. As good as this documentary is, it could have been much better with additional analyses and commentary. The cost of a DVD will be too high for many to justify this short piece. However, this is a solid nature documentary and well worth watching. I certainly recommend it for libraries, etc., where frequent watching will justify the cost.
Description
Spanish Packaging (Spanish language track): This outstanding collection of Baby Genius DVDs includes themes about playtime outings and little children interacting in the events and places around them. The focus is on entertainment and teaching children in an environment filled with fun and adventure. Animation is combined with children's songs and includes fun-loving Baby Genius characters like DJ the Dinosaur, Vinko the Dancing Bear and more.
Customer Reviews:
don't spend your money on this video.......2007-09-07
I am pretty disappointed with this DVD. I thought my daughter would enjoy watching it because she loves animals and learn the names in spanish. they add in the baby genius cartoon characters into the animal scenes - it adds nothing to the viewing experience, is distracting, and feels like marketing strategy. I have the VHSBaby's First Impressions: Animals which is excellent (with that VHS my toddler learned all the animals in english) but they don't have it in spanish, so I though this DVD from Baby genius will teach my kids the name of animals in Spanish but I wasted my money. The video is boring, no interaction and it is not instructional. I could just use the Discovery Channel and a CD of classical music
DVD:
- WWII - The Ultimate Collection (30 Movie Pack)
- Year of the Bull
- You Know My Name
- A Decade Under the Influence
- A History of God (History Channel) (A&E DVD Archives)
- A Personal Journey With Martin Scorsese Through American Movies
- A Place Called Chiapas
- ABC News Presents The Kennedy Assassination - Beyond Conspiracy
- After Stonewall
- American Masters - Alfred Stieglitz: The Eloquent Eye
DVD
DVD
