Posted: 11/14/2011

Coast

by Tim Martens

Available now on DVD from BFS Entertainment.

BBC Television created a documentary series in 2005 that has since become an annual series for the network. However, when hearing the premise and title, you wouldn’t think there would be enough information and stories to fill six seasons. “Coast” boasts itself as “a mesmerizing journey along Britain’s coastline and beyond.”

BFS Entertainment has released the fourth and fifth series of the show together in an 8 disc, 16 hour DVD set. Those who are skeptical about the entertainment of the pack may quickly become convinced only a few episodes into the series. “Coast” is not simply a geographical study of coastlines; the series is also a clever and entertaining look at history, industry, agriculture, wildlife, and entertainment of the British coast.

Host Neil Oliver and his team of historians, engineers, scientists, and many others work to dissect and uncover stories from the coast. The team gives the history of ships and ports, the fish and amphibian wildlife that follows the coast, the entertainment and fun activities found on beaches and boardwalks, and dozens of family stories and tales of cities and ports that have changed so much and still stayed the same for hundreds of years.

Being about the coast, there is a great deal of beautiful imagery as well. Much like “Planet Earth,” “Coast” is also a study of the geography of the British coastlines presented with brilliant high definition camerawork; aerial shots above endless beaches and cliffs, crisp and clear images deep beneath the surface of the water, and first person looks from beach level all give the full feel of these coasts. Some of the images are so fantastic and beautiful it is incredible to realize that they have not been green-screened or computer animated. Couple this with several generated images and graphics that recreate geography and engineering of old, and the series is a fantastic mesh of entertainment and factual knowledge that help give the history of the coasts and islands.

What is really neat about this series is that even though it is called “Coast,” the documentary is not limited to sand, stone, and water. The stories and tales give a history of not only coastlines, but Britain as a whole and its neighboring lands. The series covers engineering triumphs and inventions that assisted Britain in both entertainment aspects and defensive tactics; stories and history that includes transportation along coastlines, agriculture of plant and food near the shores, and even how the coasts became so essential for Britain when fighting wars.

The success of “Coast” is that it does not have many limitations on its subject matter when it seems like it would. Whether discovering and researching deep sea wildlife or just presenting the entertainment of Ferris wheels and miniature golf, “Coast” is able to encompass an immense amount of information and fact into a fun filled presentation. Each episode brings a fantastic amount of personal stories, a look into the past, and a realization of the present beauty of the British coastlines to the viewer. Even if you have never visited a British coast, or Britain itself for that matter, there is still plenty of fun and enjoyment that can be found from watching this gorgeous BBC series.

Tim Martens Tim Martens is a recent graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor’s degree in Cinema Studies. He wrote his senior thesis on the evolution of film criticism and a separate thesis on the two eras of Martin Scorsese. He resides in Chicago, IL, and his passion also includes acting and writing screenplays.

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