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Fearless Planet

(Rated TV-G, Educational, Starring Will Gadd, Where to watch: Discovery Channel)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 4, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Impressive nature docu is fun and educational.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Scientific concepts like geology and plate tectonics are explained and illustrated for viewers, who learn how some of the earth's most impressive natural wonders were formed and continue to change.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Computer-generated images depict large-scale disasters like volcanoes and tsunamis burying towns and cities. There's some discussion of the dangers that scientists and the show's guest sportsman face in their studies. (In one scene, for instance, a man walks along the ridge of an active volcano while the narrator reminds viewers that one false step could send him plummeting through the newly formed rock into hot lava.)

  • Sexy stuff:

    Not an issue.

  • Language:

    Not an issue.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Fearless Planet

Parents need to know that this fascinating documentary series examines the geological creation of some of the world's unique features, including the Alaskan glaciers, the sprawling Sahara, and the volcanic Hawaiian islands. Scientists explain the subjects' origins and try to predict what the future holds for these natural wonders (using stunningly realistic computer-generated images to illustrate their ideas). This educational series is perfect for families with grade-schoolers who've started to study related topics, but it may bore younger kids, for whom such scientific concepts are still out of reach.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how scientists hypothesize about the past and future. What kinds of data do experts collect to study natural history? How do they use that data to find answers to their questions? How does a landscape tell the story of its past? What is the landscape like where you live? What can you tell about your area's past based on what you see outside? How do humans affect natural history? How can we help protect our natural resources?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    monk888
    Lives in Nevada
    I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it 3.0

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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