3 comments about Slovenia and Croatia.

1. This film looked horrible on my big screen TV. It looks as though it was filmed in the 1970s then transferred to VHS then re-transferred to DVD. It was so bad that I couldn't stand to watch it all. This one went straight into the garbage bin. Perhaps those with smaller TVs will find the poor image less distracting.
   
   I wish there were good quality travel shows about this beautiful area of the world. I guess I'll have to hope that the advent of high definition will encourage travel shows to get filming and transferring to hi-def DVD.
   
   For those who want to see great quality travel DVDs I recommend Acorn Media's 'Visions of' series. So far they cover a few European countries with beautiful flyover views mastered in high definition but made in regular DVD format. Hopefully the team that makes these DVDs will be releasing more soon. Also, Rick Steves Europe is excellent for the ground view of all the places in Europe one would like to visit.
   
   If anyone knows of good quality travel DVDs of Slovenia and Croatia, please add a comment below. Thanks.



2. Ok, I will agree somewhat with the previous reviewer. The picture is not quite as sharp as we've come to expect in this HiDefinition age. Though, given that I DO have a small TV, it was not particularly bothersome. (But no, except for a few brief bits which MAY have been older, it was all clearly filmed recently, NOT in 1970's.)
   
   The content, however was great. While the producers set themselves quite a challenge in trying to cover two countries in a little over an hour, they met the challenge admirably. The DVD offers far more depth than is typical of a travel program. Viewers get the chance to see the most famous highlights of each country (Bled, the Triple Bridge in Ljubliana, Plitivice Lakes, Dubrovnik, Diocletian's Palace etc.) and a few lesser known sites and cities (Idrija, Lipica, Pag). I was especially impressed that they did NOT shy away from talking about the darker aspects of the area's recent past. For example, enroute to the Croatian coast, we pass 'empty villages' that were once the home of Serbian residents.
   My only minor complaints about content are that they spent rather too much time on the Lipizzan horses, and on a particular restaurant on Hvar. Oh, and there are no subtitles or extras.



3. This was very helpful. I think it's a good idea to do some research before one goes off to new places. Since I'll be in Slovenia in October, I might even consider making a visit to Croatia.

3 comments about Globe Trekker - Australia (Double DVD).

1. a quite typical travel guide for the eurotrash tourist, pulls all the stops for parties, multicutural experiences, politically correct blabber, and little or no geology, science, history.



2. Feature Packed Double DVD contains 4 shows: Outback Australia, Queensland & the Great Barrier Reef, Southeast Australia and Southwest Australia. On these shows they cover Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Alice Springs, Perth, Darwin, and Canberra!!
   
   Unlike other Travel DVD's this is interesting, fast paced, sometimes funny, filled with up to date non-biased information and has some breath-taking visuals!! They always make a huge effort to get to know the people and the culture, provide a little bit of history and show fun things to do in the area for a younger crowd below 30. I would recommend this DVD to everyone interested in Australia! You will definite feel like you're right there as a couch-traveller!!



3. I guess I could not relate to this travel DVD. It offered little travel info. Most of the segments involved tourists and their relations in the cities. There was hardly any information given on huge cities like Sydney and Melbourne. The hotels and things that were shown looked great but did not give names or address. There were few benefits to this program.

No comments about Antarctic: An Adventure of a Different Nature.

1 comments about Fire Mountain: The Eruption and Rebirth of Mount St. Helens.

1. I bought this as I was teaching about volcanoes and Mt. St. Helen in particular. The footage was excellent and the information presented was as well. My only problem was that the scientists they interviewed were very monotone and difficult to listen to. I thought I would lose my fifth graders a time or two. They hung in there and learned a lot, but they did complain that the speakers were boring.
   
   If they ever decide to edit this film, my suggestion is for them to tell the presenters that volcanoes are things that kid's love. After all, they blow up!

5 comments about Globe Trekker: Peru.

1. Although this isn't the best work in the Globetrekker series, it still has that authentic tramping quality to it. I'll admit that it unfortunately ends on a downbeat note.
   
   But showing the economic condition of Lima is critically important ... the current government is one of the worst in the hemisphere, because they've caved completely into US demands to abuse its people & resources. This is arguably the most important thing a traveler should know about Peru, and especially about Lima: the poverty there is caused by the continuous, overt stealing of the country's wealth by private enterprise.
   
   To understand how this works, check out the superb documentary about Jamaica: "Life & Debt".
   
   Yes, Peru is one of the most amazing, diverse and beautiful places in the world. But reality is hard to argue with, and this DVD offers a good sanity check. Go to Peru, it will change your life .... if you don't hide in a tourist hotel.



2. Why would they like to concentrate on the bad side of a city that much? I almost think they purposely did it that way, maliciously, and it's a shame. Lima has so many beautiful places to visit, but this people went to Villa el Salvador instead. When they visit Brazil or New York, did they only showed the fabelas or the Bronx for instance? the answer is NO.
   YES what they show is reality but only in certain areas of Lima, come on all cities have their shady areas, Lima's bad neighborhood are not more dangerous that the Bronx in New York City for instance. The way they show it it's manipulated to make the viewer think that Lima has nothing else to show than poverty, which if you ever visit Lima, you'll see that it's far from true. For those ignorant people below who wrote that it is the reality of Peru I would tell to get an air ticket and fly to Peru first and then talk all they want about it, it's not enough to sit in front of a Newspaper or TV news to know the reality of a country. Poverty is in deed the reality of all Latin America, not only Peru, and Peru's economy has grown more rapidly that any country in Latin American, except for Chile, in the last few years, That has made of Lima in sort of like the economic center on the region, a modern, vibrant, cultural and dynamic city... why do these people don't show that. I'd like to figure that one out.



3. I am Peruvian American and saw this video on PBS. Although I see why it would offend most peruvians, it is the TRUTH of what a beautiful and culturally rich country has become. Those people that criticize this video should instead be urging their government officials to "clean up" their city and show a more presentable view to tourists throughout the world. I myself visited Peru back in 2003 and as a tourist was disgusted by how "unclean" Lima was. I felt ashamed that people living in the capital could let their city go to waste like this and all the blame goes to the President and the Mayor of Lima for not cleaning up their city. As soon as you step out of the airport you don't have to go very far to see that this video all is doing is showing how Lima really is(at least in most parts since the part where 'los blanquitos, pitucos' live, isn't like this at all and is where most tourists if not all go to stay.
   People say: "This not not the entire Peru". Yes indeed, but why would tourist be lied about, then be dissapointed once they see the sheer reality? Because they cannot purchase a ticket back home on their first day of travel so they have to stay the entire trip?
   All in all, I must say I enjoyed the video especially Iquitos and Cuzco. I can say that the provinces outside Lima are more attractive to go visit. Beautiful scenes!!! Someday I hope I have the privilige to explore Peru the way it is meant to be enjoyed.. Chauuuu



4. Not enough emphasis on the positive side of Peru. Macchu Picchu was about a one minute segment. Some shots were nice but not worth the money ! Sorry I wasted it on this DVD !



5. I have traveled to Peru and am very upset that I spent my money to watch someone criticize and make fun of the country. He pays to see a shaman then makes fun of him, calling it "Mambo Jambo". Instead of pointing out the various architectural styles (the Spanish and the Moorish), he just says something like "Here you see some Spanish architecture, but look at all the rubbish on the ground." There's so much to see and experience in Peru, but it's like all he wanted to do was pick places he could make malicious jokes about.
   
   I love watching the way Justine Shapiro shows a country, even when she sees things she does not like. I'm headed to buy some more that have her as the host and will never spend my money on any DVD with this Neil Gibson person again.

2 comments about Europe to the Max With Rudy Maxa - Molto Italiano.

1. In Molto Italiano, Rudy Maxa is the quintessentially perfect travel host and tour guide. He is a welcome face and familiar persona from National Public Radio and Public Television. If you've enjoyed his travel shows, you will definitely appreciate this 4 show, 113 minute DVD. You get your money's worth.
   
   Rudy takes us to four areas of Italy. He focuses on Rome, Naples and the Amalfi Coast, Sicily, and hill towns in Tuscany and Umbria. Rudy mixes culture, history, art, food and wine, and incredible Italian scenery to capture the very essence of Italian life. For the novice Italian vacationer, this DVD also contains maps and helpful travel hints. If you are planning your first or even a return trip to Italy, this DVD will be useful.
   
   The only shortfall of this DVD is that Rudy's coverage of Sicily does not include a stop at the hillside town of Taormino. Over the year's I have spent a lot of time in Sicily and Italy. So, I could not imagine traveling to the island without spending a day or two in this picturesque town overlooking the Mediterranean. In fact, I would recommend a visit to Taormino well above one to the Amalfi Coast. I am surprised he did not include it.



2. I can't figure out how Rudy has gotten the mileage he's gotten. I've watched many of his videos (heck, at some point, you've seen everything else), and I have found him to be consistently, extraordinarily, shallow in his research and understanding of his subject countries and locales. Please understand, I say that in the context of knowing many of his destinations, in some cases quite well.
   
   If you want a light, fluffy, skim of the region, Rudy is your man -- he never covers anything that you wouldn't know about if you gave nine minutes to absent-mindledly flipping through a competent guidebook... and in the same depth. Think of Rudy as a tour bus, passing through at twenty miles an hour, giving you a glimpse, but never quite stopping to let you smell the roses. Or the horse manure. Lite, cheerful, sanitized, smooth, and lo-cal.
   
   On a positive note, the pictures aren't ugly. If your library has nothing else, and if you've seen everything else on Netflix, you probably won't regret the money invested, unless you've already been to the destination, in which case you may well be asking, "Why, Rudy, why? It would have been so easy to do a much better job."

3 comments about Video Visits: Discovering Spain.

1. The images shown on this DVD are quite dated, and of a very poor quality. Many scenes are blurred with very questionable color. Often the DVD uses still photos, with the camera zooming or panning to provide 'movement'. If you are seeking a DVD on Spain, try the Rick Steves titles - the quality is far superior, the info better, and even Rick's older DVDs are more current.



2. This is the best way to plan a vacation. Good planning leads to good life long memories.



3. I am always searching for new videos to show in my junior high classroom. This video put me to sleep while previewing it to show to my class. I agree with the poster below: the images are outdated and poor quality. Save your money!

1 comments about London - City of Majesty.

1. The footage on this DVD is very dated, at least 20 years. The quality of the photography and the audio is extremely poor. The narration seems adequate and accurate, but I was detracted by the poor overall quality. This was a waste of money.

No comments about Great Hotels Season 1 - Episode 30: Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts - FL.

3 comments about Windham Hill - Autumn Portrait.

1. With todays graphics, video cards, cameras, DVD players, television sets etc., this release cannot hold up to the standards--the resulting resolution is fair at best (I can remember way back when I used the VHS rendition of this and the "Winter" release as video/audiophile standard test tapes).

   But the magic of this and the "Winter" release is the scenery and the interpolation of the music along with it.

   The new age music and the very beautiful scenery is just what is needed upon your laptop if you are on a long flight or if you live in a concrete and steel city (to remind you what trees and snow and peace is all about).




2. The picture was a bit too grainy and indistinct for full enjoyment (judged aagainst newer DVDs, please don't think that the quality is so "bad" as to be unwatchable, it just could be much better). The quality of the 10 year-old VHS that I borrowed from the library was hardly worse.

   The musical tracks are very good and the images of Vermont are wonderful. They deserve better treatment.

   Windham Hill, please digitally re-master this (preferably in 5.1) and I would be willing to plunk down the purchase price all over again.

   As it stands, buy it and enjoy it as unfortunately, this is the only way we can enjoy this wonderful collection (at least for now).




3. I enjoy watching all of the Windham Hill DVDs. I first purchased 4 of them as laserdiscs, which is how I was introduced to the Windham Hill music and videos. Now, I have the entire collection of DVDs. They are so beautifully done. Though there is no commentary, I believe they are some of the best nature films produced.
   
   Autumn Portrait is my favorite of the series mainly because fall is my favorite season. The colors are exquisite, adding tremendous warmth, and making this extremely 'feel-good' to watch. It is also a very romantic DVD, very good for getting into the mood, especially after a long day of screaming kids, when they are finally settled in bed. My husband and I both enjoy watching this and highly recommend it others.