The PBS Nova film, in three-episodes of one hour each, was hosted by Kirk Johnson (Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History); Peter Oxley directed the first episode while Gwyn Williams directed the second and third. The series describes the very beginnings and later developments of the North American continent: from the origin of planet Earth 4.54 billion years ago; to the various movements of tectonic plates and their effect on the sculpturing of the continent's land and mountains, including the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon; to the emergence of life on the continent and its later evolution; and, finally, to the more recent settlement of the land by humans. According to Johnson, "Most people will not have considered a time when there was no North America ... What was there before North America? How did it form? When did it start? How did it come together?"

With unprecedented access from the Natinal Park Service and with the help of the Trust for the National Mall, National Geographic-for the first time ever-tells the story of the evolution of the Mall from wilderness to the center of a grand capital. The National Mall: America's Front Yard is an inside look at an evolving treasure, revealing its secret places and the ways the Mall's story is also America's.

Hubble's Cosmic Journey, is a celebration of the Hubble Space Telescope's 25 years orbiting our planet. Narrated by reowned astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, this one-hour special is the story of one of the most remarkable advances in modern technology, as told by the people who designed, built, launched, operated and repaired the legendary observatory.

Music lovers will be astonished at the influence The Wrecking Crew wielded over rock and pop music in the 1960s and early 1970s. These unsung instrumentalists were the de-facto backing band on hit records by The Beach Boys, Phil Spector, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny & Cher, Elvis, The Monkees and many more. These dedicated musicians brought the flair and musicianship that made the American "West Coast Sound" a dominant cultural force around the world.

Big History is an emerging academic discipline which examines history from the Big Bang to the present.

There is no place like it on the planet. Commonly called the four corners region, it contains more National Parks and Monuments than anywhere else in the world.Go on a thrilling exploration that uncovers the geology of the Colorado Plateau and the forces that have shaped this marvelous landscape. Enjoy breath-taking aerial views as you soar over hundreds of acres of awe-inspiring beauty.

Apache 8, a documentary about an all-female Native American wildland fire crew, is making the rounds of film festivals and public television stations. So far it is scheduled to be shown on television stations in New Hampshire, Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada.

Cody Maverick is a penguin who has a passion for surfing. Hitching a ride to Pen Gu Island, Cody and his chicken friend, Joe attempt to participate in the Big Z Memorial Surf Off. This documentary tracks his steps from leaving his home, training with Big Z and attempting the big challenge.

Rang De Basanti is a film about a contemporary youth. The story tells about a group of young Indians and a British Girl. This film take a deep look into the Indian culture, traditional and its relevance in the contemporary times. As a DJ (Aamir Khan) and his friends work on Sue's (Alice) project on making documentary on the Indian Revolution, they begin to see themselves as the actual descendants of the great men who are the protogonists of Sue's movie.

The true story of the kids who created modern skateboard culture is recreated in this drama. In the early '70s, skateboards were seen as a fad of the 1960s that had all but died out, but in a rough-and-tumble Venice, CA community known as "Dogtown," that was about to change. Tony Alva (Victor Rasuk), Stacy Peralta (John Robinson), and Jay Adams (Emile Hirsch) were three guys who liked to surf the rugged beaches around Venice and hung out at the Zephyr Surf Shop, a store run by Skip Engblom (Heath Ledger) that stocked gear for adventurous surfers and skateboarders. With the advent of new urethane wheels that connected with concrete in a way old metal and rubber wheels could not, Tony, Stacy, and Jay began exploring ways to translate radical surf style to skateboarding, and the guys invented a new way to skate inside the smooth, round surfaces of empty pools, employing vertical moves and edge flips that added a new and dramatic spin to skating. It didn't take long for word to spread about the wild new style of the Z-Boys, and they quickly became local celebrities, and later nationwide skating stars, though sudden fame took its toll on these young men. The true story of Lords of Dogtown was previously the basis of the acclaimed documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys, directed by former Z-Boy Stacy Peralta, who like Tony Alva served as a consultant on this project

A semiserious, often rollicking, multigenerational insider's look at the origins of surfing, the colorful and subversive birth of surf culture, and the mythology and lure of the big wave. This passionate and fluid film is without question the first authentic history of surfing from its humble Hawaiian beginnings to the big business it became to the still-rebellious universe it inhabits today. Riding Giants is a study in individuality and freedom, the pursuit and techniques of pure kinetic pleasure, and the risk taking and attitudes that characterize its leading figures. For some viewers, this is perhaps more than they ever wanted to know. But Peralta's detailed knowledge of the surfing lifestyle, its icons and locations, its boom and exploitation by the media, and the fascination it has held for young men for more than five decades is unparalleled and fuels this expedition for the expert and initiate alike. Closely chronicling the sometimes-life-and-death drama that big-wave riding entails, Riding Giants is an often-mesmerizing visual thrill ride. But the most appealing aspect of this often revelatory documentary is the realization that the man versus nature dialectic never ends; the search for the ultimate wave and the spiritual pinnacle can only be pursued but never reached.

For Muslims everwhere, the ultimate goal is to make the Hajj at least once during their lifetime. This spiritual journey is the basic premise of an entire religion and sees improverished African Muslims mixing with their incredibly wealthy Western counterparts. This documentary follows some of the 20,000 Britons who make the journey to Mecca, unravelling the mysterious aura that surrounds this remarkable event, Combining the wondrous backdrop of Mecca with intriguing interviews that provide a previously undocumented view of Islam, Hajj will enchant both Muslims and Non-Muslims alike.

Ocean in every 100,000 births, parents and doctors are presented with one of natures greatest challenges. Twins are born, to joined together. What causes twins to be born this way? What can Doctors do to help them? And what are the prospects for spend their lives joined together? This documentary, filmed in the USA, South Africa, Russia and Poland, tells the story of some of the most dramatic recent separations of conjoined twin babies - and interviews adult twins who remained conjoined.

Disc 1: 1991 fully restored version ; audio commentaries by Kirk Douglas, Peter Ustinov, Howard Fast, Edward Lewis, Robert A. Harris, Saul Bass ; scene analysis by Dalton Trumbo ; aditional Alex North score compositions ; restoration demonstration -- Disc 2: Rare deleted scenes ; vintage newsreel footage ; 1960 promotional interviews with Jean Simmons, Peter Ustinov ; 1992 video interview with Peter Ustinov ; behind-the-scenes "gladiatorial school" footage ; the 1960 documentary The Hollywood ten, plus archival documents about the blacklist ; original storyboards by Saul Bass ; production stills ; sketches by director Stanley Kubrick ; original theatrical trailer. Summary Spartacus is the bold gladiator slave who leads a massive slave revolt against Imperial Rome in this epic true account of man's eternal struggle for freedom. Other Contributors Kubrick, Stanley

Disc 1: 1991 fully restored version ; audio commentaries by Kirk Douglas, Peter Ustinov, Howard Fast, Edward Lewis, Robert A. Harris, Saul Bass ; scene analysis by Dalton Trumbo ; aditional Alex North score compositions ; restoration demonstration -- Disc 2: Rare deleted scenes ; vintage newsreel footage ; 1960 promotional interviews with Jean Simmons, Peter Ustinov ; 1992 video interview with Peter Ustinov ; behind-the-scenes "gladiatorial school" footage ; the 1960 documentary The Hollywood ten, plus archival documents about the blacklist ; original storyboards by Saul Bass ; production stills ; sketches by director Stanley Kubrick ; original theatrical trailer. Summary Spartacus is the bold gladiator slave who leads a massive slave revolt against Imperial Rome in this epic true account of man's eternal struggle for freedom. Other Contributors Kubrick, Stanley

Experience life behind the scenes at one of America's most renowned zoos. From a desperately ill baby gorilla to two un-amorous pandas, these stories witness the drama of zoo veterinary medicine. Meet the people who keep these animals alive and healthy.