Official Synopsis:
This documentary series focuses on important environmental topics and features interviews with forward-thinking designers discussing alternative ideas that could save the planet.
  
Our Take:
Our environment is a hot topic these days and not just because Earth Day was recently.  The Sundance Channel has put their two cents in with Big Ideas for a Small Planet: Season One.  Now, I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest environmentalist, although I do bring my soda cans back to the store for the 5 cent refund, I’d love an alternative to putting gasoline in my car because it’s killing my bank account, and I really do care about the plight of the polar bears.

Big Ideas for a Small Planet lives up to its name.  Many of the ideas shared are grandiose in spirit and cost. Some are still a bit far-fetched, though; I’m not sure I’m ready to go to my local McDonald’s and collect the vegetable oil they use to cook my French fries just to fuel my car, nor do I plan on growing my own pod-like home to live in.

Happily, not all of their ideas are this extreme and often they do address the pros and cons of each proposed change.  Sometimes these changes require a large sum of money or a large number of people in order to be successful.   However, the show does suggest that even the smallest changes can help our environment, such as walking to work and buying Energy Star-rated appliances, or even just changing the light bulbs you buy or bringing your own reusable bag to the grocery store.

The twenty-five minute episodes are presented in a lively, artistic manner.  This is not a dry lecture, hoping to shame you into doing your share, but stories of people who live to make change for the betterment of the planet.  They believe in what they are doing and want to share their knowledge in hopes of inspiring others to make changes as well.

Watching the various episodes, I found my reactions ran the spectrum from the incredulous to the impressed to the inspired.  I walked away from this show feeling I had learned something and with a few ideas of how I can help from my small corner of the world without putting myself in debt.

In addition to the episodes, the DVD also includes 2 – 3 minute Webisodes for each episode that offers a little more information, but they’re not too exciting.

Big Ideas for a Small Planet: Season One is a great series for anyone interested in saving the planet or that is deeply concerned by global warming.  It is both educational and thought-provoking with a dash of hope for good measure.

Overall Picture:
Show: B
DVD: B-

- Marcia Keefe
Staff Writer