Africa

National Geographic - Africa

From National Geographic Television and Thirteen/WNET New York AFRICA is a groundbreaking eight-hour series captured over two years of filming in 11 countries. This epic series presents Africa through the eyes of its people conveying the diversity and beauty of the land and the compelling personal stories of the people who shape its future. AFRICA contains 8 hours PLUS one-hour bonus program "The Making of AFRICA".System Requirements: Running Time 540 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DOCUMENTARIES/MISC. UPC: 727994760078

Mysteries of Egypt (Large Format)

Spectacular cinematography used in an innovative framework featuring noted actor and native Egyptian Omar Sharif provide a highly entertaining glimpse of ancient Egypt in this documentary from National Geographic. Sharif, playing a grandfather who is explaining the archeological wonders to his inquisitive granddaughter, does a fine job of explaining such puzzles as how the pyramids would have been built and what knowledge their builders must have possessed. The interludes between grandfather and granddaughter are handled well, but the star of the production is Egypt itself. Gorgeously composed shots linger over the pyramids, the Sphinx, and a plethora of temples, and a camera flown over the Nile provides stunning footage of the great river's meanderings. Reenactments of events, such as the building of the pyramids, the burial of King Tut, and the 1922 opening of his tomb, are presented intelligently. This production is sure to spark curiosity about ancient Egypt, and even without the careful handling of the history it would probably be worth watching just for the wondrous cinematography. A bonus at the end of the tape is a making-of documentary detailing how the film was shot on location. --Robert J. McNamara

Egypt - Beyond The Pyramids

The four programs from the History Channel in Egypt: Beyond the Pyramids showcase current archaeological work that is changing how historians think about life in ancient Egypt. Some of the greatest temples and tombs of Egypt are visited, and authorities explain the significance of particular aspects of their construction. Efforts to restore temples that had been lost under centuries of sand are shown, and one episode focuses on the discovery of a massive complex of tombs in the Valley of the Kings, which only began to be fully explored in the mid-1990s. The host of these programs, British actor Peter Woodward, presents the material skillfully, keeping the interviews with scholars informative as well as entertaining. An episode focusing on the daily life of ancient Egyptians even features Woodward putting on the sort of makeup that ordinary Egyptians are believed to have worn as both protection from the sun and a fashion statement. Visits to archaeological digs, including a recently discovered remote site that inexplicably contains hundreds of mummies, demonstrate how what we have known about Egypt may only be a fraction of what is still left to be discovered. These programs are intelligent and the beautiful photography makes them that much more enjoyable. --Robert J. McNamara

This brand new four part series takes the viewer into the heart of Egypt to sites never before seen on film. Included here are the first-ever-filmed looks at legendary sites such as the Tomb of Ramses II, the Abydos Boat Graves, and the skeletons at Mendes. State-of-the-art archaeological equipment and cutting-edge computer technology are employed to offer a deeper, fuller analysis of artifacts and sites, thereby creating a greater understanding of the lives and civilization of the Ancient Egyptians.

Video Visits: Discovering Egypt

Visit modern Egypt with its crowded bazaars in Cairo and Alexandria, the famous dam at Aswan, and the intriguing River Nile. At El Alamein, visualize one of the most important battles fought during World War II. Marvel at awesome pyramids, huge monuments, and dazzling tombs. Experience the incredible sights of treasures from King Tut's tomb, the Great Pyramids at Giza, and remnants from the ancient city of Thebes. Extra Features: Great Pyramids at Giza - Great Pyramids at Giza probably took a half-million men and 20 years to build. Learn how these great wonders of the world were constructed. See recreations of what they looked like 4,000 years ago. And explore the intricacies of their clverly designed corridors. Find out how mummies were made. Learn the names of important Egyptian Gods and the influence they had on everyday lives of ancient Egyptians. See the death mask of King Tutankamen and some of his tomb's incredible treasures. Ancient Egyptian Cities - Travel down the Nile and visit ancient temples, palaces and tombs in Memphis, Luxor, Abu Simbel and Alexandria - the last capital of ancient Egypt. Hear the story of Egypt's last ruler, Cleopatra, and how her romances with Roman generals Julius Caesar and Marc Antony spelled final doom for the Egyptian Empire.

Travel the World by Train: Africa

Africa is given a fascinating introduction in this volume of the Travel the World by Train series. The Morocco train departs from exotic Marrakesh, traverses endless plains of scorched earth, and stops at ancient Oujda, "The City of Fear," whose labyrinthine bazaars evoke the movie Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Carthaginian ruins enhance the journey through Tunisia, which ends at the azure Mediterranean resort of Djerba, refreshing travelers since the days of Homer's Odyssey. The Egypt excursion follows the Nile River to the ancient pyramids of Giza and Luxor's enigmatic City of the Dead.

Riders departing Nairobi, Kenya, pass vast expanses of savanna in Tsavo National Park, where elephants, zebras, and ostriches run free. In the middle of nowhere, this train picks up Masai tribesmen, in full regalia, en route to market. Outside looms 19,340-foot Mt. Kilimanjaro. On one train in Uganda, the leather seat upholstery has been ripped out, to be made into handbags. Another Ugandan passenger line is a former cattle car, with no seats at all. Then there's South Africa's luxurious Blue Train from Johannesburg to Cape Town, where pure gold coats the windows to filter out the ultraviolet rays, and wine is served in crystal goblets. The video prompts us to remember that this, after all, is Africa, continent of stark contrasts. --Laura Mirsky

Travel five continents in a 55 country rail trip in this ten part series. On this journey, we travel through the continent of Africa to Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Kenya and Uganda.

Rick Steves Best of Travels in Europe - Greece, Turkey, Israel & Egypt

Join popular PBS personality Rick Steves on a grand tour of the Greek Isles, and get a real feel for the people he meets. Find a true understanding of treasured local customs with visits to Athens and the Acropolis; The Peloponnese and the Mycenae Palace; The Greek Islands; Central Turkey, Ankara and Cappadocia; Turkish West Coast, Kusadasi and Ephesus; Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Kibbutz Ein Gedi; Cairo to Luxor; The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Extra Features: Gates of Jerusalem; Thessalonika and Greek Monasteries; Istanbul; and Rick's Back Door Travel Tips

Africa - The Serengeti (Large Format)

This spectacular IMAX documentary has been meticulously transferred to provide one of the most stunning DVDs available, with image quality so vivid that it seems almost three-dimensional. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the images themselves are amazing, consisting of some of the finest nature cinematography you're ever likely to see, following a year of seasonal change in the "circle of life" of East Africa's Serengeti plain. Photographed entirely on location in Kenya and Tanzania, the 40-minute film chronicles a natural phenomenon that few humans are privileged to witness in their lifetime: the annual great migration, during which over two million wildebeests, zebras, and antelope travel 500 miles across the plain to ensure their survival. It's an awesome display of natural wonders, and of course there's danger as well as beauty, with lions, crocodiles, and cheetahs among the predators of migrating wildlife. The images range from wondrous to horrifying to hilarious, forming a portrait of life and death that remains powerful even after repeated viewings. The DVD is truly intended for a global audience, with eight optional audio tracks in English (narrated by James Earl Jones), Bavarian, French, Castilian, Catalan, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin. --Jeff Shannon