Product Description

Discover the global event that promises to inspire viewers through captivating photography, the highest quality production values, the latest in high-definition technology and compelling stories that epitomize the heart of a country and its people.

China:Join rice farmers tilling the land their ancestors have worked for 18 centuries and explore the countryside where monks teach their 500-year-old discipline. You'll share in the Olympic dreams of a 12-year-old gymnast and learn about Shanghai's key development tycoon while exploring the country where tradition is meeting modernity in life behind the Great Wall.

Italy: Witness six stories that weave the land of love, lineage, style and passion in the heart of Italy. From a jockey participating in the world's fastest horse race, to a former fisherman setting a free-diving record off Sicily's coast, to the Missoni family's fashion world and a Venetian gondolier's attempt to keep his family in his native city. Inhale and enjoy the spectacle and beauty that is Italy.

Brazil: Learn the roles that history, geography, culture, religion and the natural environment have played in shaping one of the most fascinating countries in the world. This documentary showcases one of the most ethnically diverse nations on earth, exploring stories from the Amazon to Sao Paulo's hair-raising helicopter commute.

Australia: One of earth's youngest nations with one of its oldest indigenous populations, Australia is a land of contrasts. Discover a country that is a captivating mix of desolation and riches, from the harsh life of the outback to the welcoming, fertile lands of its coastline.

South Africa: Explore the new democracy of South Africa--the Rainbow Nation--through the eyes of its people. Each and every citizen works to make this new country succeed and carry the hopes of future generations.

France: France - a country where life itself is an art form. Food, drink, history and tradition are taken seriously. An explosives expert, a radical chef and a man who scales skyscrapers are among the people who share their country and what it means to be French.

Japan: Both the modern and ancient are embraced in the glorious Land of the Rising Sun. An apprentice geisha, tuna fisherman, tattoo artist, and robot designers are among the characters that show the Japanese to be masters of the future and guardians of the past.

Mexico: From the famous single cry, 'Viva Mexico!' that sweeps the country every Independence Day, to the spectacle and pageantry summoned by reverence for the Virgin of Guadalupe, Atlas Mexico Revealed is a journey into the heart of this amazing country.

Egypt: Viewers will take an epic journey across the centuries, from the land of the Pharaohs, into the living soul of modern Egypt. From the rugged beauty of the Sahara desert to the languid waters of the Nile, explore the Islamic heart of a nation where the roots of Christianity still run deep.

Russia: From the pomp and splendor of imperial St Petersburg to the ancient nomadic lifestyle of Siberian reindeer herders; from the unique beauty of Lake Baikal to the majestic volcanic ranges of the far east; from the peaceful banks of the river Don to the thriving nightlife of Moscow, we will experience and gauge the desires and aspirations of the inhabitants of this young democracy.

India: Discovery India: One of the world's rising superpowers. A vast population and landmass, a weight of history and culture that stretches back for millennia. Meet the people that make this great nation."

Stills from Discovery Atlas (Click for larger image)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8171 in DVD
• Brand: Image Entertainment
• Released on: 2009-11-10
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 556 minutes

Customer Reviews

Episodes are cut
I'm a big fan of this series, and I own the previous Blu-ray releases of the first 4 episodes. While this is called "The Complete Collection," it's far from it. The original discs I have are all around 100 mins, while the episodes on this set are all 43:35. More than half the original episodes are gone in these new trimmed versions (please note that some of these episodes were originally 2 hours, and some were 1 hour, so not all are drastically trimmed). I'm so disappointed in Discovery.

NOT The Complete Collection!
I agree with others. This is NOT the complete collection. Certain episodes have been trimmed dramatically in length. The standalone episodes that were released were much more involving and had way more material! Buyers BEWARE!!! Shame on you Discovery Channel!! Shame!!

Discovery Atlas Redux
I agree with most of reviews here that these shows are heavily edited. I saw the Brazil Atlas and it was 2 hr on discovery channel with commerical. and if you look at the Brazil Atlas Blu-ray you'll see that it has the running time of 94 minutes too. i really like how the show look at different people of each country so that not only you learn about the country, but its people, culture, and ways of life.

I like this show very much- i only got to see Brazil on TV so I dont know what else i miss with the rest of the shows.

if you never seen this show, then you'll be amazed and love this series- especially in hi-def, but if you bought it before you saw them before- you'll be very disappointed... you're missing more than half of the original show!