Walt Disney Legacy Collection - True Life Adventures, Vol. 1: Wonders Of The World

I've read the criticisms of these sets, and agree that many scenes are probably staged, some to the detriment of the animals. However, the True Life adventures are well done and loved by children and adults. They are not preachy and they do not tell us of the evils of man. They simply encourage a love of nature and the wonderful world God has given us. Kids will hear about the way mankind has misused nature from other sources and because of the love of nature they developed, in part, from this series, perhaps they will be motivated to do something about it. I wish the execs at Disney would create more just like these.

Disney did a marvelous job on restoring these nature classics, I get transported back to my childhood everytime I watch them. They are far more interesting than todays so called wild life shows, as they concentrate on the wild life and not some self centered celebrity host (no offence to the memory of the late great Steve Irwin). Now to the "but..." part. Does anyone else but me find that Disney did a LOUSY job on the packaging? Cheap cardboard and plastic containers, that cannot be displayed properly on a bookshelf with the other Disney Treasures! What was wrong with the original clamshell cases? I was thoroughly p.o'd with the packaging, however the movies are excellent. 5 out of 5, Packaging 1 out of 5!!!!

Could you rate it a 10 or 100. Who couldn't love Disney's True Adventures. Yes, there is even a whole channel for animal adventures now, but they were the first--and they were the best. They are pack in a great package; durable and imaginative. The added interviews and backstage scenes are great. I can remember seeing them on their program (in black and white) when I was in first grade. They are wonderful. It was a treat to learn about the couple who filmed them too. Spending years and years filming things they thought was funny or interesting. Then bringing them back and someone putting them together into a story that is loved forever. I have all four of them. And we watch them over and over.

The photography and artwork in these films is magnificent -- they capture nature in all of their technicolor glory, unlike many newer documentaries.

Unfortunately, Winston Hibler and his higher-ups at Disney never miss a chance to point out the obvious, they never allow the drama of nature to unfold...naturally. Slide-whistles, piccoloes, and any other instruments cue exactly which emotion a viewer should feel at any given moment. It's a great way to get kids to keep watching, but it also robs the footage and the animals themselves of their true nature. For me, a 33 year old man, it's frustrating.

Disney could have gone a different route and chosen a less "cutesy" narrator and it would have worked out much better. As is, kids will be spoon-fed the Disney version of nature's mysteries.

Outstanding, brings back great memories from childhood and my kids love it.