Over America [Blu-ray]

Over America [Blu-ray] Review

I've seen several of these "armchair tourism" Blu-rays now (like Living Landscapes HD Hawaii [Blu-ray]). Most are little more than screensavers, so I had low expectations for Over America. Unlike some of the other reviewers, based on previous experience with such titles, I wasn't expecting a history lesson, comprehensive survey of American geography or cities, or a documentary of important American places. I took the title at face value and simply wanted to enjoy seeing America in a way that I knew I would probably never be able to -- short of spending my life savings. On that point, Over America delivers and is pleasantly good. There are some aerial fantastic shots that I would never be able to otherwise experience.

You can think of it as a glorified 55-minute sampler of American life, narrated by Tom Skerritt. The video moves from east to west, starting in NYC, going to PA, then DC, Chicago, moving across the heartland, out to CA, then ending in Alaska and Hawaii. There are maybe 15-20 cities/regions profiled. The music selection can seem a bit cliche and dated. I heard cool jazz on at least 3 cities (Chicago, LA, and NY, with the requisite "New York, New York"). I suppose it's appropriate for the region portrayed, as Texas has honky tonk and New Mexico has Spanish guitar. Other parts have more mellow orchestrated music, or simply pianos. The narration isn't particularly exciting or informative though, sounding a bit like a tourist bureau infomercial or a pre-recorded guided tour like you might find in a government visitor information center like the Smithsonian or Ellis Island.

Video quality is inconsistent, with some very good shots of golden canyons and verdant cropfields and some bad hazy shots, especially during low light situations like early morning, and many instances of lens flare and a strange moiring effect from buildings windows, crops, and crowds. New York, for example, has a sort of dreary look to the daytime shots and the autumn foliage of Central Park looks rather dull. Night scenes are most problematic, with severe grain and noise in many shots. On the upside, I really loved the flyovers of the American Heartland and the endless expanses of farmland as well as the canyons.

At the current low price, this is a pretty good bargain if you just want eye candy. All the places shown are subtitled with the name of the location so you can google them later or research further. I think the price is right, and I give it credit for that. This disc is probably best for people who don't have the budget, time, or inclination to travel across this huge country, or to introduce people to the majesty of some of America's places. It's good for footage shot 20 years ago, but not a great example of the Blu-ray format.

Over America [Blu-ray] Overview

Get rare views of some of America s most beloved landmarks, from the Statue of Liberty to the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. See the Twin Towers in all their glory before Sept. 11. Over America lets you experience the country like never before. Take a tour of some of the most exciting cities in the nation, from San Francisco to New York and Washington, D.C. Get up close and personal with Alaska s spectacular snow-capped mountains, fly over Chicago s downtown and then travel to Los Angeles for amazing night views of the glittering city. Catch a flight to Hawaii and experience Oahu from above. Then, make your way to the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Plus, see stunning film of Texas, Baltimore, Philadelphia and the Pacific Northwest. Let Over America s breathtaking cinematography and original music score help you get away from it all.

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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Jun 25, 2010 22:56:08

Recommend : Sword Steel