Subgenre Sampler

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Oppenheimer (2023): Dir. Christopher Nolan
Feat. Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon…; Christopher Nolan's grand biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), the American Physicist credited with being the "father of the atomic…
A Perfect Planet (TV Series) (2021): David Attenborough narrates this five–part series demonstrating how the forces of nature – volcanoes, the sun, the weather, the oceans,…
Perfect Planet, A (TV Mini-Series) (2021): Feat. David Attenborough; More of the same globespanning wildlife wonder from the nonagenarian Attenborough featuring the most state–of–the–art digital…
Cosmos: Possible Worlds (TV Series) (2020): Dir. Ann Druyan, Brannon Braga; Sequel to the landmark documentary series COSMOS, which in turn updated the original series presented by Carl Sagan in 1980. Astrophysicist Neil…
Apollo 11 (2019): Dir. Todd Douglas Miller; A handsomely mounted, meticulously conceived documentary presenting the events of the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon, led by commander Neil…
Earth From Space (TV Mini-Series) (2019): Feat. Chiwetel Ejiofor; Captivating documentary miniseries presenting earth from never–seen–before perspectives, and exploring how fast our planet is changing.…
Oliver Sacks: His Own Life (2019): Dir. Ric Burns; A documentary exploring the life and work of the legendary neurologist and storyteller who was famously portrayed by Robin Williams in AWAKENINGS…
Radioactive (2019): Dir. Marjane Satrapi
Feat. Rosamund Pike, Sam Riley, Aneurin Barnard…; Biopic about Marie Curie, with Rosamund Pike playing the nobel–prize winning French physicist and chemist who pioneered research into…
Science Fair (2018): Dir. Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster; A Sundance–winning documentary produced by National Geographic that follows nine high school students from around the globe as they navigate…
Blue Planet II (TV Series) (2017): Technically advanced sequel to the 2001 BBC nature documentary series narrated and presented by Sir David Attenborough. Filming took place over a…
Farthest, The (2017): Dir. Emer Reynolds; The incredible journey of the Voyager spaceship is retraced by the people who worked on the ground–breaking NASA mission in this exhilarating…
Planet Earth II (TV Series) (2017): Feat. David Attenborough; Follow–up to the landmark 2006 BBC series, once again presented and narrated by the unbeatable Sir David Attenborough, and produced in…
Before the Flood (2016): Dir. Fisher Stevens; Nearly ten years after THE 11TH HOUR, Leonardo DiCaprio presents an update on his clarion call to address global climate change, travelling to five…
Lo And Behold: Reveries of the Connected World (2016): Dir. Werner Herzog; Acclaimed Documentarian Werner Herzog approaches the internet as a curious outsider on an exotic vacation. Meeting the digital natives, getting…
Minute Bodies (The Intimate World of F. Percy) (2016): Dir. Stuart A. Staples, David Reeve; A meditative, immersive film from David Reeve and 'Tindersticks' frontman Stuart A. Staples that tributes the astonishing work of naturalist,…
Why Am I?: The Science of Us (2016): An internationally lauded four part series that details the findings of a 40–year study by the Otago School of Medicine that follows every baby…
David Attenborough's Conquest of the Skies (2015): Landmark series from Sir David Attenborough tells the story of the intricate engineering behind nature's greatest aeronauts, featuring gliding…
Dawn of Humanity (2015): National Geographic documentary focusing on a 2013 fossil discovery and the 2–year excavation process that followed, with insights into how…
Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough (TV Mini-Series) (2015): David Attenborough revisits the Great Barrier Reef after nearly 60 years. His visit takes him from the most exposed part of the reef as well as down…
Hunt, The (TV Series) (2015): From the producers of PLANET EARTH come this spectacular nature documentary narrated by David Attenborough that looks at the contest between predator…
Cosmos (TV Series) (Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey) (2014): Feat. Neil deGrasse Tyson; National Geographic presents this superb 21st century update of Carl Sagan's influential book and TV series of the 1970's. Using breathtaking…
Hidden Kingdoms (TV Series) (2014): Feat. Stephen Fry; This six part BBC nature series uses camera wizardry to contrive high–stakes animal adventures. While seasoned Attenborough viewers may be put…
Human Universe (TV Mini-Series) (2014): Feat. Professor Brian Cox; Professor and "Rock star Physicist" Brian Cox travels the globe to investigate the origin of the human species. Through interviews with historians,…
Life on Us (TV Series) (2014): A detailed look at the human body as a walking ecosystem, teeming with a wide variety of life forms and microbes in their trillions.
Theory of Everything, The (2014): Dir. James Marsh
Feat. Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, David Thewlis…; Acclaimed look at the relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife as he struggles with the onset of motor neuron disease.…
Trust Me I'm a Doctor (2014): Michael Mosley heads a team of four Doctors in this BBC TV show investigating the reliability of common health claims such as "can pollution give you…
Antarctica - A Year on Ice (2013): Dir. Anthony Powell; A superb, multi–faceted insider's chronicle of life on the Earth's formidable southern pole that masterfully captures both the environmental…
Inside the Human Body (2013): The BBC update Dr. Robert Winston's landmark documentary series on the human body by taking us on a fantastic voyage through our inner universe with…
Michael Mosley's Science of You (2013): The mysterious worlds of biology and medicine are explored by physician Michael Mosley in this insightful dissection of the human body.
Particle Fever (2013): Dir. Mark Levinson; Exhilarating doco that tracks the first round of experiments at the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland. The film follows the experimental…
Rise of the Continents (2013): Geologist Iain Stewart hones in on the earth's iconic landmasses to hypothesize the rise of a new supercontinent in 250 million years. Four episodes.
Tim's Vermeer (2013): Dir. Teller
Feat. Penn Jillette; Science and art coalesce in this extraordinary story of Texan tech pioneer and obsessive polymath Tim Jenison's attempt to perfectly reproduce a…
Wonders of Life (TV Series) (2013): Feat. Professor Brian Cox; This third installment in physicist Brian Cox's exposition of the origins of the universe focuses on the fundamental principles that enabled life to…
Chasing Ice (2012): Dir. Jeff Orlowski; National Geographic photographer James Balog’s Extreme Ice Survey project, which sees him capture time–lapse photographs of numerous glaciers…
Great Barrier Reef (2012): Three–part series narrated by Monty Halls offering a definitive guide to the secrets of what is the largest living structure on the planet…
Kingdom of Plants (TV Series) (2012): Feat. David Attenborough; David Attenborough updates his previous botany series, THE PRIVATE LIFE OF PLANTS, with the help of new technology to gain further insight into the…
Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey (2012): The planet's wild and varied weather is studied in relation to the earth's orbit in this spectacular BBC nature series.
Survivors: Nature's Indestructible Creatures (2012): Professor Richard Fortey conducts this fascinating search across the globe for life forms which have survived the three biggest mass extinctions in…
Chelsea Flower Show, The (2011): Feat. Carol Klein; Superb highlights from the Royal Horticultural Society's Chelsea Flower Show from 2006 to 2010. Spread across 5 discs, divided by year, this covers…
Fabric of the Cosmos, The (2011): Author of 'The Elegant Universe', physicist Brian Greene, seeks to charge our perceptions and conventional wisdom around the nature of the universe…
Frozen Planet (TV Series) (2011): Another spectacular, seen–to–be–believed documentary from the BBC's natural history unit, this time focusing on life in the Arctic…
How Earth Made Us (2011): Epic series that reveals how the tumultuous forces of the planet have powerfully influenced mankind, and shaped in someway every aspect of our…
Human Planet (TV Series) (2011): A massive new undertaking by the BBC, this natural history series focuses on the human species in the relation to the natural world, and how humans…
Museum of Life (TV Series) (2011): This six–part BBC mini–series gives a behind the scenes look at the Natural History Museum in London. An Engineer, a Doctor, an…
Origins of Us (2011): A fascinating anatomical insight into human evolution, particularly through our ancestors, and the edge they gained to survive over a 6 million year…
Planet Dinosaur (TV Series) (2011): The BBC return to the prehistoric ground first trodden with WALKING WITH DINOSAURS, here employing new state–of–the–art CGI to…
Primeval New Zealand (TV Series) (2011): Excellent Kiwi–spun series adopts the WALKING WITH DINOSAURS model of prehistoric life reanimated with CGI effects to illuminate us on New…
Richard Hammond's Journey to the Centre of the Planet (2011): Feat. Richard Hammond; Top Gear's Richard Hammond goes to the centre of the planet to find out how the Earth works, peeling back the layers to show where volcanoes come…
Test Your Brain (TV Series) (2011): From National Geographic, this interactive series reveals how our brains create the illusion of a seamless reality, and offers a challenge to viewers…
Wonders of the Universe (TV Series) (2011): Feat. Professor Brian Cox; Dense, but invigorating spin around the universe, with physicist Brian Cox explaining the fundamental principles governing the laws of nature and…
Birding (TV Series) (2010): Ornitholigists rejoice! The eccentric bird expert Dave Gosney takes the viewer along for the ride as he traverse the globe looking for rare and…
Earth - The Power of the Planet (2010): Prof. Iain Stewart presents this five–part BBC series that traverses the globe in search of the incredible or catastrophic natural forces that…
Ecopolis (2010): Nobel Prize winner Professor Dan Kammen gives us a troubling glimpse of the city of 2050 – a place afflicted by famine, pollution, extreme…
First Life (TV Series) (2010): David Attenborough's latest natural wonder turns back the clock to the dawn of life, investigating the very first animals to roam the planet earth.
Genius of Britain (TV Series) (2010): Fantastic science series that has, among others, Richard Dawkins, Stephen Hawking and David Attenborough, celebrating Britain's great inventors and…
How to Build a Human (2010): Remarkable series that explores how humans are made and the ways we are shaped by our genes and hormones from cradle to grave. From human cloning to…
Human Instinct (2010): Another gem from the makers of THE HUMAN BODY, this time explaining those overwhelming drives within us, like love at first sight – and why we…
National Geographic - Great Migrations (2010): This National Geographic series collates years of scientific field work and high–definition photography into an awe–inspiring study of…
Richard Hammond's Invisible Worlds (2010): Feat. Richard Hammond; State–of–the–art technology is put to good use to examine three distinct invisible realms that lie beyond the limits of human…
Story of Science, The (2010): Passionate overview of the forces that came together to create scientific knowledge. Revealing how scientific ideas have shaped the modern world this…
Wallace and Gromit's World of Invention (TV Series) (2010): Dir. Nick Park; Clay mates Wallace and Gromit expand into the realm of science, hosting this delightful look at inventions, man–made or otherwise. Series…
Wonders of the Solar System (TV Series) (2010): Feat. Professor Brian Cox; Extraordinary 5–part BBC series that takes the latest images beamed back from the fleet of probes, rovers and telescopes currently circulating…
Around the World in 90 Minutes (2009): Feat. David Mitchell; Narrated by David Mitchell, this documentary goes on a unique journey 200 miles above the earth, to show what happens below, in the time it takes to…
Becoming Human (2009): In–depth three–part doco investigates the origins of human beings from an evolutionary perspective while speculating on our primitive…
Code, The (2009): Professor Marcus du Sautoy attempts to codify the numbers, shapes, and patterns that govern the world around us in this engrossing mathematical…
Creation (2009): Dir. Jon Amiel
Feat. Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, Jeremy Northam…; Paul Bettany adds another fine role to his resume in this big screen interpretation of the challenges faced by Charles Darwin as he struggles to…
Fractals - Hunting the Hidden Dimension (2009): Fascinating documentary in which a group of pioneering mathematicians seek to decipher the rules governing fractals – those irregular,…
James May on the Moon (2009): Feat. James May; Presenter James May commemorates the 40th anniversary of the Apollo moon landings by meeting three of the men who walked on the moon, and flying to…
Life (TV Series) (2009): Feat. David Attenborough; Extraordinary and stunningly filmed even by usual BBC nature–doc standards, this truly epic journey to the frontiers of the natural world is…
Music of the Brain (2009): Dir. Fiona Cochrane; A brief, but insightful investigation into the role music plays in human development, from the womb to the grave.
Something Unknown (Something Unknown Is Doing We Don't Know What) (2009): Dir. Renee Scheltema; Dutch documentarian Renee Scheltema investigates the 'science' behind various psychic phenomena (telepathy, clairvoyancy, healing) after experiencing…
What Darwin Never Knew - The Science Behind Evolution (2009): Dir. John Rubin; Documentary exploring breakthroughs in "evo devo" – a new science claiming to explain exactly how Darwin's theory works by linking the enigmas…
Wild Caribbean (TV Mini-series) (2009): Picturesque doco that looks beyond the Carribean's friendly, sun–soaked surface to the more hostile features rarely portrayed on postcards,…
Wild Russia (2009): Russia's expansive, unseen wilderness is spectacularly documented in this nature series with a particular focus on the natural wonders and flora and…
Yellowstone (2009): Filmed over the course of a year in Yellowstone, this documentary tracks the area's wildlife as they grapple with life and death within one of…
Allan Wilson - Evolutionary (2008): Dir. George Andrews; Pithy and practical documentary on Kiwi ‘evolutionary’ Allan Wilson, whose humble, can–do–anything beginnings thrust him from…
BBC Natural World, The - Collection (TV Series) (2008): Feat. David Attenborough; 2–disc collection including six episodes from the award–winning nature series 'The Natural World' originally conceived by Attenborough in…
Between the Folds (2008): Dir. Vanessa Gould; Charming (and potentially inspiring) doco from America's PBS channel exploring the ancient but perennially fascinating subject of…
Engineering Connections (TV Series) (Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections) (2008): Feat. Richard Hammond; TOP GEAR pin–up boy Richard Hammond presents this series in which he looks at the engineering connections behind the world's most impressive…
Eyewitness (TV Series) (2008): Comprehensive Emmy Award winning nature and science series, based on the book series, that educates and entertains with its investigations of…
Hobbit Enigma, The (2008): Dir. Annamaria Talas; In 2003 scientists uncovered the tiny, human–like skeleton of a strange creature, on the Indonesian island of Flores. Since the discovery was…
Humpbacks: From Fire to Ice (2008): Feat. David Attenborough; David Attenborough narrates this up close and personal journey following the first year of a humpback whale calf's life as she journeys with her…
James May's Big Ideas (TV Series) (2008): Feat. James May; The most cerebral of TOP GEAR's presenters, James May, wraps his head around sci–fi concepts in today's modern world, including new frontiers…
Life After People (TV Series) (2008): Dir. David de Vries; Thought–provoking doco focused on the hypothetical state of the planet were humans to be wiped out. This treads the line between intelligent…
Richard Dawkins Presents - The Genius of Charles Darwin (TV Series) (2008): Dir. Russell Barnes; Richard Dawkins finally gets to wax lyrical for a few hours about the love of his life – Charles Darwin in this one–sided documentary…
Rodney's Robot Revolution (2008): Dir. Andrea Ulbrick; Wondrous journey inside one of the world's greatest minds, that of Australian–born scientist Rodney Brooks. A pioneer in the field of…
Super Comet, The (Super Comet: After the Impact) (2008): Dir. Stefan Schneider; This Discovery Channel special uses plenty of amazing FX and the helter–skelter tropes of docu–drama to explore the likely…
Wild China (TV Mini-Series) (2008): Mesmerising travel doco series that takes you on a splendid wander through the often veiled and overlooked countryside of China by way of striking…
Arctic Tale (2007): Dir. Adam Ravetch, Sarah Robertson
Feat. Queen Latifah; Something of a cross between AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH for kids and MARCH OF THE PENGUINS, this heartwarming, educational documentary spins a similarly…
Autopsy - Life and Death (2007): An advanced course in human schematics sees anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens and pathologist Prof. John Lee make further bodily incisions to…
Earth (2007): Dir. Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield; Impressive feature–length spin–off of the PLANET EARTH series largely follows the migration of three different species – the polar…
Equator (Power of the Sun, Challenge of the Cold) (2007): Stunning NHNZ production exploring six areas of the planet that exist along the equator and the effect this location has on the flora and fauna of…
Galapagos - The Islands That Changed The World (TV Series) (2007): Feat. Tilda Swinton; Grand nature series, narrated by actress Tilda Swinton, revealing the unique fauna, flora and history of the fragile eco–system of the…
How the Earth Was Made (2007): Epic History Channel series charting the geological making of our planet through various, often violent natural phenomena. Season One: 13 episodes…
Humanimal (2007): Thorough, five part science documentary examining the ever–eroding line between animals and human beings, with special consideration given to…
Last Continent, The (2007): Dir. Jean Lemire; Troubling companion piece to THE WHITE PLANET follows a cadre of scientists as they sail the Antarctic waters evaluating the damage to the…
My Brilliant Brain (TV Series) (2007): First–rate National Geographic series exploring the inner workings of the human brain, and in particular the origins of genius, questioning…
Night (2007): Dir. Lawrence Johnston; Thought–provoking cine–visual essay about how humans perceive night–time through striking cinematography of Australian city and…
Besieged Fortress (2006): Dir. Phillipe Calderon; French–produced documentary examines the struggle for survival of a colony of African termites threatened by a massive storm and marauding…
Flock of Dodos (2006): Dir. Randy Olson; A humourous take on the great American evolution vs 'intelligent design' debate, this doco pits talking heads from both sides against each other to…
Gunther's ER (2006): A follow on from the best–selling biology docos AUTOPSY: LIFE AND DEATH and ANATOMY FOR BEGINNERS. This time round Dr. Gunther von Hagens, made…
Perfect Disaster (TV Series) (2006): SFX–heavy mini–series that looks at what would happen if a natural disaster – under 'perfect' conditions – were to hit…
Planet Earth (TV Series) (2006): Feat. David Attenborough; One of the most expensive and ambitious nature documentary series ever attempted, the reliable grave tones of Sir David Attenborough guide this…
Prehistoric Park (TV Series) (2006): Interesting documentary speculation pitched to children has naturalist Nigel Marvin 'rescue' dinosaurs and prehistoric animals, hypothetically…
Sharkwater (2006): Dir. Rob Stewart; Worthwhile documentary filmed in the shark rich waters of the world that aims to dispel human's inherent fear of sharks and demonstrate the important…
White Planet, The (2006): Dir. Jean Lemire; Stunning, big–screen nature treatise turns its attention to the inhospitable glaciers of the Artic, where polar bears and other unique fauna…
Aerosol Crimes (Chemtrails) (2005): Dir. Clifford Carnicom; Interesting account of the possible conspiracies lurking behind the increasing presence of 'chemtrails' in our skies. These are the polluting trails…
Aliens of the Deep (2005): Dir. James Cameron; The dir. of TITANIC and THE ABYSS renews his fascination with the mysteries of the deep ocean, choreographing the crews of various submersibles for a…
Anatomy for Beginners (2005): Grotesque but rather fascinating documentary series in which anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens and pathologist Prof. John Lee systematically dissect…
Egypt - Rediscovering a Lost World (2005): Unique, edifying six–part BBC series dramatizing the discovery and archeology of Egypt's ancient history.
Emperor's Journey, The (March of the Penguins) (2005): Dir. Luc Jacquet; This original French language version of MARCH OF THE PENGUINS is ostensibly the same film in appearance, but forgoes the paternal narration of…
How William Shatner Changed the World (2005): Dir. Julian Jones
Feat. William Shatner; In his goofy middle age, William Shatner hosts this irreverent yet informational documentary on the continuing influence of STAR TREK’s fictional…
Life in the Undergrowth (TV Series) (2005): Feat. David Attenborough; The indefatigable David Attenborough here brings a fresh universe of ecology to our attention, the lives of the invertebrates: insects, spiders...…
March of the Penguins (2005): Dir. Luc Jacquet; An engrossing and naturally spectacular documentary epic, which 'dramatises' the perils and hardship of the Emperor Penguin's annual migration…
Space Race - Superpowers, Secrets And Soaring Ambition (2005): A compelling, if slightly undercut chronicle of the exhilarating Cold War Space Race between Russia and America that captured the imagination of…
Story of 1, The (The Story of One) (2005): Dir. Nick Murphy
Feat. Terry Jones; Truly fascinating BBC documentary that sees Ex–Python Terry Jones traverse the globe in search of the history of numbers, and in particular,…
Deep Blue (2004): A luminous feature documentary from the makers of THE BLUE PLANET series, that utilises ground–breaking technology to explore and photograph…
Earth From Above (Terre vue du ciel, La) (2004): Dir. Renaud Delourme; Awe–inspiring documentary of French photographer Yann Arthus–Bertrand’s ‘Earth From Above’ series – exhibited in New Zealand as…
Genesis (2004): Dir. Claude Nuridsany, Marie Perrenou; A meticulous nature–documentary, complete with venerably–scientific narration, which scrutinises some of the more unusual, compelling and…
Hawking (2004): Dir. Philip Martin
Feat. Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Firth; BBC Miniseries interposes the fictionalised story of Stephen Hawking's overcoming motor neuron disease with a 1978 interview with Nobel Prize winning…
Seconds From Disaster (TV Series) (2004): Compellingly constructed doco series covering some of the most devastating disasters of modern history, each episode opening with a dramatic…
Seven Wonders of the Industrial World (2004): Using the propulsive docu–drama style of the BEYOND IMAGINATION series, this illuminates the stories behind seven great achievements of the…
Something The Lord Made (2004): Dir. Joseph Sargent
Feat. Alan Rickman, Mos Def, Mary Stuart Masterson…; Superior telemovie observes the pioneering medical teamship in the 1940s between a gifted black lab technician (Mos Def) and a surgeon (Rickman), who…
Backyard Science (2003): A likeable demonstration of the basic principles of science, with four Australian kids finding all they need in the kitchen, garage, and the garden…
Ghosts of the Abyss (2003): Dir. James Cameron
Feat. Bill Paxton; Armed with IMAX cameras, dir. James Cameron dives deep to the mid–Atlantic wreck of the 'Titanic' to take a leisurely float through the…
Journey to Planet Earth - A Delicate Balance (TV Series) (2003): Feat. Matt Damon, Kelly McGillis; Matt–Damon–hosted global eco series divided into four episodes; 'On the Brink' investigates links between environmental issues and…
Life of Mammals, The (TV Series) (2003): David Attenborough coordinates another mammoth natural history series, here focusing on the mammal life of the planet (that includes us…
QI (TV Series) (Quite Interesting) (2003-2012): Feat. Stephen Fry, Alan Davies, Rob Brydon…; Stephen Fry hosts this high and low–brow quiz show where celebrity panellists earn points for knowledge and invention and are penalised for…
Walking With Cavemen (2003): Dir. Richard Dale; Continues the series of BBC documentaries begun by WALKING WITH THE DINOSAURS into the era of early mankind. Uses dramatisations and CGI to…
Wild Weather (TV Series) (2003): Dir. John Maguire, Ben Fox; Intrepid presenter Donal MacIntyre braves the most extreme elements on planet Earth, by travelling to corners of the planet where it doesn’t get…
Edge of the Universe (2002): Feat. John Hurt; Sequel to the TV series' THE PLANETS and UNIVERSE, which goes beyond the 'known universe' to outline the attempts and successes of astrophysicists to…
Manapouri - The Toughest Tunnel (2002): New Zealand's specialist documentarians 'Natural History NZ' tell the heroic story of how a team of a thousand men laboured in the 1960s to complete…
Spy in the... Collection, The (TV Series) (2002-2004): Feat. David Attenborough; Overtly sneaky wildlife doco series where cameras are hidden in the environments of a den of lions, a herd of elephants, a clan of bears and a pride…
Travelling Birds (Winged Migration) (2002): Dir. Jacques Perrin, Michel Debats, Jacques Cluzaud; Anyone with an appreciation of natural beauty will be transfixed, and possibly transported, by this superlative documentary from the makers of…
Walking with Beasts (2002): Further CGI–enhanced recreations of the prehistoric era, here the post–dinosaur age of sabre–toothed tigers, mastadons and woolly…
Blue Planet, The (TV Series) (2001): Dir. Alastair Fothergill; Breathtaking footage of our planet’s largest feature – the ocean – reveals wondrous worlds within this still almost completely unexplored…
Brain Story (TV Series) (2001): Professor Susan Greenfield presents this six–part documentary series concerning that curious organ, the brain, using CGI illustrations,…
Evolution (TV Series) (2001): Thorough and rigorous seven–part PBS series extols – and not without wading into the science vs. religion debate – the virtues of Charles…
Human Face, The (2001): Dir. James Erskine
Feat. John Cleese, Elizabeth Hurley; BBC series studying the science and mystery of human faces, with John Cleese and Elizabeth Hurley providing an entertaining double–act as…
Savage Planet (2001): Dir. Chris Malone, Emma Hawley, Tony Coldwell; Various extreme ‘acts of God’ are showcased in this visually compelling nature odyssey. Stray asteroids, storms, volcanos, avalanches, baking…
Dish, The (2000): Dir. Rob Sitch
Feat. Sam Neill, Patrick Warburton, Kevin Harrington…; Another endearing tale from the creators of much–adored THE CASTLE, based on real events that involved small–town Aussies in the…
Natural History of the Chicken (2000): Dir. Mark Lewis; The dir. of CANE TOADS here uses the odd behaviour of the humble chook as a wryly comic springboard for examining the equally odd behaviour of their…
Space (TV Series) (2000): Feat. Sam Neill; Sam Neill conducts a tour of Outer Space and some of the phenomenon of this vast (indeed possibly infinite) region. Broadly examines galactic and…
State of the Planet (TV Mini Series) (2000): A three–part series in which BBC documentarian David Attenborough investigates the various environmental crises besetting Earth at the present…
Superhuman (2000): The makers of THE HUMAN BODY plumb the latest developments in bodily research and medical development, again utilising their cogent,…
Universe (TV Series) (2000): Dir. Mark Everest; Channel 4's acclaimed sequel to THE PLANETS, moves out of the solar system to investigate what else is going on in the cosmos. Again distinguished by…
October Sky (1999): Dir. Joe Johnston
Feat. Homer H Hickam Jnr, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern…; Based on the memoirs of former NASA rocket–scientist Homer H. Hickam Jnr, who had the ambition to flourish beyond his roots in West Virginia…
Planets, The (1999): Suitably ambitious 8–part TV series on the planets and other aspects of our solar system, including its history, space explorations and the sun…
To The Moon (1999): A 30th anniversary documentary to mark the 1969 Apollo moon landing, this two–hour special reminiscences with the astronauts, and more…
Walking with Dinosaurs (TV Series) (1999): Dir. Tim Haines
Feat. Kenneth Branagh; In tracing the 160 million year history of the big lizards, this comprehensive BBC doco slavishly recreates the flora, fauna and geography of the age…
From the Earth to the Moon (TV Series) (1998): Feat. Dylan Baker, Adam Baldwin, Gary Cole…; Truly epic dramatisation of the Apollo space programme – produced by Tom Hanks after the success of APOLLO 13 – which looks at the entire…
Human Body, The (TV Series) (1998): Extraordinary, unique overview of human physiology from conception to death. Scrupulously researched and entertainingly presented by the slightly…
Life of Birds, The (TV Mini Series) (1998): Feat. David Attenborough; Naturalist Sir David Attenborough presents this 10–part series looking at all aspects of the winged creatures of Earth. As would be expected…
Scrapheap Challenge (TV Series) (1998-2008): This bizarre game show sends rival teams of mechanics and engineers into a sprawling junkyard. Each week, the teams set out against the clock and one…
Stephen Hawkings' Universe (1998): The various theories of the wheelchair–confined English cosmologist are explained by other researchers in this in–depth BBC TV series.…
Microcosmos (1997): Dir. Claude Nuridsany; All the dramas of human life play out in a secret kingdom contained in a French meadow, and brought into extreme close–up by superlative…
Alien Empire (1996): Dir. Steve Nicholls; Utilising miniature cameras and endoscopes to peer into the 'microcosmos' of various insect species, this BBC series endeavours to vividly reveal…
Human Mind, The (TV Series) (1996): Further explorations of the human body, with Dr. Robert Winston helming this phenomenal journey deep into the recesses of the brain. Once again…
Sun and the Moon, The (1996): A revealing documentary elaborating on Earth’s two most important neighbours: the moon, with its gravity properties and continued role in space…
Apollo 13 (1995): Dir. Ron Howard
Feat. Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon…; An All–American true story in which Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon are astronauts aboard the ill–fated mission to the moon, while…
Private Life of Plants, The (1995): Feat. David Attenborough; Typically comprehensive and fascinating look at the plant–life of planet Earth from the husky–voiced David Attenborough. Judicious use of…
Human Animal, The (1994): Famed zoologist Desmond Morris' personal assessment of the human being spans the cultural globe to understand behavioural peculiarities that we daily…
Time Team (TV Series) (1994): Feat. Tony Robinson; Stimulating television series featuring a group of enthusiastic archaeologists unearthing the secrets of British history from overlooked areas of…
Brief History of Time (1991): Dir. Errol Morris; A fitting tribute to the life and work of Stephen Hawking, who has continued his breakthrough studies in the physical sciences despite suffering from…
Richard Dawkins: Growing up in the Universe (1991): An educational series of lectures by Professor Richard Dawkins (ENEMIES OF REASON) on mankind's purpose and place within the universe. Through the…
Trials of Life (TV Series) (1990): Feat. David Attenborough; The definitive natural history of animal behaviour sees David Attenborough trek through inland empires and coastal fortresses in this most…
For All Mankind (1989): Dir. Al Reinert; A rousing, near avant–garde meditation on the story of the first lunar landing and the 24 men who traveled to the moon and back. Edited…
Lost Worlds - Vanished Lives (1989): Famed nature–boffin David Attenborough here delves into the subject of prehistoric fossils, speculating in typically comprehensive fashion as…
Shadow Makers (Fat Man and Little Boy) (1989): Dir. Roland Joffe
Feat. Paul Newman, Dwight Schultz, Bonnie Bedelia…; An informative (if only really adequate) dramatisation of the Manhattan Project, which produced the A–Bomb in the New Mexico desert during WW2.…
Cane Toads (An Unnatural History) (1988): Dir. Mark Lewis; Since 1935 these noxious green freaks have been multiplying rapidly throughout Australia. Lewis tackles them and their absurd human foes head on in…
Chaos (1988): CHAOS is a mathematical theory which attempts to address, and possibly predict, social and natural phenomena. This video describes its constituent…
Day the Universe Changed, The (TV Series) (1985): Feat. James Burke; Science historian James Burke's classic 10–part series for the BBC exploring key moments in Western History where new knowledge in science…
Journeys Across 45 Degrees Latitude South (1985): Unique documentary series tracing Peter Hayden's journey from the east of the South Island to the rugged west coast. Made by the same creative team…
Living Planet, The (TV Series) (1983): Feat. David Attenborough; The inimitable Sir David Attenborough presents his followup to the "Life on Earth" series, with a glimpse into the varied ecosystems of our planet.…
Right Stuff, The (1983): Dir. Philip Kaufman
Feat. Dennis Quaid, Ed Harris, Fred Ward; A richly detailed, down–to–earth account of the lives of the first Americans to travel into space. Top ensemble cast.
Cosmos (Carl Sagan's Cosmos) (1980): Using a combination of special effects and Sagan’s enthusiastic narration, Cosmos covers a range of awe inspiring topics including the origins of…
Space Movie, The (1980): Dir. Tony Palmer; Documentary produced by the great Tony Palmer, at the request of NASA, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Taking the…
Hound of the Baskervilles, The (1978): Dir. Paul Morrissey
Feat. Dudley Moore, Peter Cook, Spike Milligan…; Comedy spoof of the book by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, featuring a generous spread of British comedy talent. Peter Cook plays Sherlock Holmes, who is…
Life on Earth (TV Series) (1978): Feat. David Attenborough; David Attenborough's groundbreaking epic of evolutionary study traces chronologically the development of the fauna, the fish, insects and animals we…
Inner Space (TV Series) (1973): Feat. Ron Taylor, Valerie Taylor, William Shatner; Ron and Valerie Taylor, who sit comfortably alongside Jacques Cousteau in the aquatic exploration stakes, fronted this classic nature series on the…
Wild South (TV Series) (1972-1982): Acclaimed nature series from renowned wildlife documentary makers NHNZ. Includes the best episodes from the series covering the lives of a range of…
Maori - Culture, Traditions and History: Historical doco presented by NZ historian Don Stafford tracing the history of Maori from their arrival on the fair shores of Aotearoa to traditional…

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