"Galápagos" (2006) TV series 2006-

Writer:

Gail Willumsen

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

18 March 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary

Plot Keywords:

Religion | Religion Versus Science | Galapagos Islands | Nature | One Word Title

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Tilda Swinton	...	Narrator (3 episodes, 2006)
Richard Wollocombe	...	Charles Darwin (2 episodes, 2006)

Series Writing credits
Gail Willumsen		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Michael Gunton	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 2006)
Patrick Morris	....	series producer / producer (3 episodes, 2006)
Ashley Hoppin	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Jill Shinefield	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Gail Willumsen	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Paul Leonard-Morgan		(3 episodes, 2006)
Andrew Gross		(unknown episodes)
Gil Talmi		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Paul Stewart		(2 episodes, 2006)
Richard Wollocombe		(2 episodes, 2006)
Richard Brooks Burton		(unknown episodes)
Peter Scoones		(unknown episodes)
John Waters		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Nigel Buck		(1 episode, 2006)
Andrew Chastney		(1 episode, 2006)
Jill Garrett		(1 episode, 2006)
Felix Chamberlain		(unknown episodes)
Eric Wise		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Jesse Malone		(1 episode, 2006)

Series Production Management
Elizabeth Toogood	....	production manager (3 episodes, 2006)
Di Williams	....	production manager (3 episodes, 2006)
John B. Ford	....	executive in charge of production (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
David Corfield	....	graphic artist (1 episode, 2006)

Series Sound Department
Jane Hancock	....	dubbing mixer (3 episodes, 2006)
Chris Watson	....	sound recordist (3 episodes, 2006)
Kate Hopkins	....	dubbing editor (2 episodes, 2006)
Ben Thomas	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Luke Barnett	....	assistant camera (3 episodes, 2006)
Richard Brooks Burton	....	additional photography (3 episodes, 2006)
David Jimenez	....	assistant camera (3 episodes, 2006)
Jose Masaquisa	....	assistant camera (3 episodes, 2006)
Peter Scoones	....	additional photography (3 episodes, 2006)

Series Editorial Department
Jonathon Prosser	....	colorist (3 episodes, 2006)
Steve Olive	....	on-line editor (2 episodes, 2006)
Bill Beltran	....	on-line editor (unknown episodes)
Randy Magalski	....	on-line editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Paul Leonard-Morgan	....	music arranger (3 episodes, 2006)

Series Other crew
Jan Castle	....	scientific consultant (3 episodes, 2006)
Felipe Cruz	....	scientific consultant (3 episodes, 2006)
Greg Estes	....	scientific consultant (3 episodes, 2006)
Daniel Fitter	....	scientific consultant (3 episodes, 2006)
Julian Fitter	....	scientific consultant (3 episodes, 2006)
Thalia Grant	....	scientific consultant (3 episodes, 2006)
Anna Kington	....	production coordinator (3 episodes, 2006)
Joe Stevens	....	researcher (2 episodes, 2006)
Richard Wollocombe	....	location manager (2 episodes, 2006)
Michael Cascio	....	senior vice president (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Guillermo Bernal	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Victor Carrion	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Lenin Cruz	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Mathias Espinosa	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Godfrey Merlen	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Sixto Naranjo	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Fabian Obviedo	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Luis Onate	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Giok Ong	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Tom Poulson	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Biko Rosero	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Hugo Ruis	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Lorena Sanchez	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Monica Sanchez	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Maria Schumacher	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Sandra Serrano	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Washington Tapia	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Giancarlo Toti	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Simon Vilamar	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Josemar Yepez	....	BBC wishes to thank (3 episodes, 2006)
Brigitte Frank	....	BBC wishes to thank (2 episodes, 2006)
Raphael Gallardo	....	BBC wishes to thank (2 episodes, 2006)
Domingo Gonzalez	....	BBC wishes to thank (2 episodes, 2006)
Solon Idriovo	....	BBC wishes to thank (2 episodes, 2006)

Distributors

• Polyband (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

UK:180 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Universum: Galápagos - Die Schatzinsel des Charles Darwin" (2009)

The Galapagos on a "Planet Earth" Scale in a Visually Arresting Series

There are a number of related documentaries on the market, including a Kenneth Branagh-narrated IMAX film ("Galapagos (IMAX)") and a personal journey with Richard Dreyfuss ("In the Wild: The Galapagos Islands with Richard Dreyfuss"), both produced in 1999. However, if like me, you have been enamored with the BBC's extraordinary "Planet Earth" series designed for high definition (aired here on the Discovery Channel), then you will find yourself equally drawn to this 2007 DVD of a three-part 2006 BBC series on the mythologized Galapagos Islands. Even though the scope is not nearly as ambitious this time, the result is almost as enthralling given the plethora of exotic, endemic species surviving on this isolated archipelago of nineteen volcanic islands. I was fortunate enough to tour the Galapagos on a schooner several years ago, and I can assure you that the outstanding visual quality of these programs captures as much of the distinctive flora and fauna of the islands as possible on the DVD.

Aired stateside on the National Geographic Channel, the set consists of three fifty-minute programs. The first, "Born of Fire", provides a vivid archaeological history of the islands and shows how several of the most unusual species originated there and learned to co-habitate with each other. The second program, "Islands That Changed the World", looks at man's imprint on the islands, for better or worse, with an obvious emphasis on the work of Charles Darwin as he developed many of his theories about evolution based on his sightings here. It does take on the feel of a scholastic film with recreations of historical figures and events, but they do provide helpful context. The last is "Forces of Change", which forecasts the future with some coverage of the global warming issues but more of the focus on man's burgeoning presence on the islands and what is currently being done to maintain the natural environment.

Unlike Sigourney Weaver's overly controlled narration on the U.S.-released version of "Planet Earth", actress Tilda Swinton imbues a greater sense of genuine enthusiasm over the dramatic images in this version. What is inarguable is the stunning cinematography, whether it's the satellite photos of the islands or the near-poetic movements of the animals spotlighted, for example, the first flights of the baby albatrosses, the dexterous swimming of the flightless cormorants, the multitudes of marine iguanas randomly spewing sea water from their lungs, and the proud ballooning of the red-bellied frigate birds. There is a surprising lack of real scientific data which could have made the environmental reports that much more enlightening. You also have to tolerate some repetitiveness between the programs since they were aired at separate times. Regardless, this is nature programming at its finest, especially for those mesmerized by the particular idiosyncratic pleasures of the Galapagos.