1 comments about Global Treasures COPENHAGEN Kobenhavn Denmark.

1. This DVD is a huge disappointment. It is only 10 minutes long and is only about the castles in Copenhagen. I had hoped to see more of this beautiful city and to remind us of our trip. The video was grainy and I found myself bored only after a few minutes of this very short DVD!

1 comments about Rick Steves Best of Travels in Europe - France.

1. Rick Steves always makes his commentary seem like he's speaking directly to YOU, the viewer. As he describes the highlights of France, it's as though he is holding your hand through the adventure. Rick also wants you to enjoy the same things as much as he, and only chooses the cream off-the-top for future travelers. In his tour of Paris he highlights the best, but not necessarily the most popular or most traveled places. In doing so, he wants you to have a more intimate experience, and have less fear of trotting around Paris on your own.
   
   One important hint Rick Steves tossed out to the viewers in his DVD, was to "be polite", say "hello" when entering someone's shop (which usually double as their home). Rick also cautions NOT to try to fumble with the names of monuments and places in "correct" French etc. Just be a nice American, not too bold or loud and say "Merci". It's doesn't hurt to try to learn a little French before your trip. My husband and I found this very helpful and were pleasantly surpised to find the locals really opened-up when we practiced our limited French, and had some good laughs trying to chat-it-up.
   
   If you haven't travelled to Europe before I would highly recommend reading Rick Steves' travel books along with Fodor's. A little preparation and you won't be sorry. Rick Steves' DVDs can only wet your appetite for more!

3 comments about Portrait of Africa.

1. First of all, the picture quality is very poor and grainy and the sound is weak. The photography is just plain and not very exciting. You can hear some music of Vangelis but be warned that no "Chariots of Fire" was included here. I prefer the music of Mr. Mambazo to that of Vangelis.

   I would recommend you to buy "True North" or "Africa: the serengeti" instead of this inferior DVD.




2. This is a wonderful mood piece. To see action packed lion kills, you're better off going to National Geaographic. For a peaceful reminder of the feeling of traveling Africa, this is it. This is one of the few videos that recognizes that much of the magic of Africa lives in people and places, not only the wildlife. This is a visual sampling of all the wonder of the Dark Continent, without distracting narration.



3. Just wanted to agree with the other reviewer about the overall quality of this DVD.

   The video looks like it was pulled off of an old VHS tape. Lots of grain and shimmering.

   Sound was OK I guess, but wasn't what one would expect off a newly released DVD, particulary when you know how much better it could have been if someone had wanted it to be.

   To sum it up, somewhere someone took the easy road in putting this DVD together as it is both disappointing in video and sound.

   Almost forgot, there are no extras on the disc.

No comments about ESOVISION Relaxation OUT OF AFRICA.

1 comments about Sequoia & Kings Canyon.

1. This is a very nice overview of the featured national parks, highlighting what to see, where to go, giving you a historical background (with old pictures and documents as well as commentaries), geological and biological information on the natural wonders in the parks. Definitely a good resource to prepare your visit to one of America's most beautiful parks...

No comments about Rick Steves' Best of Travels in Europe: Spain.

No comments about Nature Wonders YEHLIU Taiwan.

5 comments about Above All Else - The Everest Dream.

1. Jamie Clarke and Alan Hobson are two canadians who organized an Everest Expedition in 1997 totally funded by Sponsor's( Lotus, Colliers, etc), that would attempt to summit the mountain by the south face just one year after the worst season in Everest history (1996 - 15 deaths).They attempted the summit two times before, both times by the north face, both times without any sucess on the summit.
   
   The film has some great scenes about the "entire" climbing, from Base Camp to Camp 4 , being the most notorious the ones in ; the Khumbu Icefalls, the Lotse Face(Camp3), the South Col(camp 4), the Hillary Steps, the South Ridge and of course the summit.

   Both guys actually make comments about the summit day and also of other difficult moments(Alan at the Icefalls). Jamie did pretty well on the summit day(proving to be a strong climber), but Alan had some serious trouble on the way back after almost giving up on the way up because of problems with oxygen and cold(very resilient).This is a good film about climbing everest with a great message in it.

   Note: the climber that appears hanging dead on the Hillary Steps is a british climber named Bruce Herrod. Before commiting his body to the mountain, a camera was found and the film in it was still intact.The camera was delivered to his former girlfriend, and the film in it revealed later that he actually summited but unfortunately died on the way back at the Hillary Steps. The picture of Bruce Herrod on the summit can be found in the last chapter of David Breashears book (High Exposure).He was the last person to summit in the 1996 season.




2. I have seen 5 of the 7 Everest DVD's I own and this one was the most 'human' in terms of feeling real and emotionally moving. So many of the others are more like generic documentaries on Everest and its climbing legends. This DVD was just what I wanted. No fancy camera shots or special effects, just plain and simple the realites of a challenge and how it affected those on the expedition. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who just want to see it from a more simplistic and real angle. I would also like to see the unedited version.



3. Read everyone else's review then come back to mine...This DVD is Awesome!! ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!



4. This is a hard earned success adventure that shows both the joy and the sacrifice of great achievement in the face of great challenges. Well filmed and presented, it will lift your spirits and your steps



5. This documentary recounts how Canadian climbers Jamie Clarke and Alan Hobson made 3 attempts on the summit of Everest over the span of 10 years.
   
   Jamie seems to be a passionate climber. Alan appears more like a person who is just curious. On their first attempt in 1991, they tackled Everest from the more challenging north face. 500m short of the summit, gale-force winds put an end to the expedition.
   
   On their second attempt in 1994, they took the northern route again. And again, the weather was punishing. 200m from the summit, the lead climber was down with HAPE. The team abandoned the summit bid to rescue him.
   
   On the 3rd attempt, the new team abandoned the north face (which they didn't really explain why) and headed to Nepal for another attempt on an easier route. This time, we get great views of the Khumbu Icefall. There is a great amount of excellent footage on this section of the climb.
   
   Alan and Jamie battle with illness as the window of clear weather begin to close. Quality of the footage deteriorates higher up, which is understandable. Everybody is tired to the marrow. From Camp 4, they used oxygen. The summit bid started in darkness. Alan fell behind and almost wanted to give up, but his Sherpa urged him on.
   
   They both made it. It was an emotional moment for Alan. His voice cracked when he reported from the summit. Jamie seems a lot more philosophical about their success. Alan seeemed forgotten when he struggled down to Camp 4 but both men descended safely. A Sherpa fell into a crevasse in the icefall, but was rescued.
   
   It's truly an inspiring video. You can feel the joy of their successful summit. However, these men are not professional mountaineers. It would have been more interesting if they had tackled the north face and succeeded on their 3rd attempt. Still an amazing feat. The moral of the story - don't give up and try an easier route.

1 comments about New Zealand From Coast to Coast.

1. Since I'd visited New Zealand, I thought this DVD would be a good reminder of the places I'd been. Instead it showed me dozens of places I want to see. Such a gorgeous country deserves a great video like this.
   
   The DVD is set up to run as one long travelog, or you can hone in on the region you're interested in. Keep clicking and you'll see web sites, email addresses and phone numbers for specific attractions (although this is pretty unobtrusive -- I was most of the way through before I noticed this option.)
   
   A couple things not to miss in this DVD: the rugby match in Wellington, the albatrosses near Canterbury on the South Island, bungee jumping off the Sky Tower in Auckland.

1 comments about Post-Soviet Siberia DVD.

1. The tape is no good. It does not function shortly into the film.
   
   Melita Thorpe