Originally served to the masses on IMAX theaters, Blue Planet is huge in both size and scope. Much like most IMAX films, the documentary doesn't clock in with a long running time, or even a big name actor to help sell the product. What Blue Planet has is magnificent landscapes, sweeping imagery, and a fanscinating look at our home planet. However, when one compares this High-Definition visual-fest to the new BBC documentary series Planet Earth, Blue Planet comes up short in scope, in relevance, and impact.

The sleek presentation of the the planet is the best selling point of the HD-DVD. Things look amazing, crisp, clear and good enough to fully utilize your $3000 entertainment system. And, it comes with a whole other IMAX film about space shuttles. Doublely cool!

Originally released 17 years ago, the doc shows its age. All of the new cinematography techniques, all the advancement in technology, the conversations of global warming and climate change - none of these even come close to playing out in Blue Planet. It might have been impressive to audiences in the 1980s as the times rolled into the 90s, but in 2007, it just doesn't play.

If you've just picked up your brand new Hi-Def TV and a not-so-pricy HD-DVD player, you'll probably want to see what your new system can do. Blue Planet is fun to watch, and the visuals are great, but maybe this 17-year-old IMAX film isn't the best way to test out your home theater's performance, but it's definitely worth a look.