Search - Japanese Gardens - A Walk in Serenity on DVD

More like a screensaver than a video...

o-namae desu | From: the other side of forty | 04/20/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Let's just say, "This won't win any awards." Here's the target audience: not meditators, but real-estate agents! If you're a real-estate agent who wants to put something pleasant and innocuous on the home theater/TV during a showing, this title is for you. It's a collection of still photographs, in moderate resolution, with some new-agey synth/shakuhachi/piano music, and it auto-repeats. The photographs are panned-across, sort of like what a screen saver does, only slower. The occasional detail insert (kind of like PiP) and sepia-toning color shifts don't do much for me. Worse, the LCG branding "bug" in the lower right corner of the screen comes and goes, with a slow spinning crystal, which can be distracting. Although it's widescreen, it doesn't do justice to the DVD format. It'll look OK on an NTSC television, but on an HDTV the blurriness and contrast-y edges of re-scanned photos look lame. A screen saver of a PhotoCD of Japanese gardens has better resolution and many more photos. Play Tony Scott's "Music for Zen Meditation" in the background if you like. I dunno, maybe since you're supposed to be emptying your mind, perhaps meditating to this DVD would work after all... Oddly, the editorial reviews make mention of hospital settings: As a patient I don't think I'd want the meditation channel -- give me touch with the outside world!

My favorite Japanese garden film is The Smithsonian's "Dream Window: Reflections on the Japanese Garden" (1992). Alas, it's not out in DVD. But it had *real* music (composer: Toru Takemitsu) rather than so-so noodling. And despite an educational narration track, it was breathtaking (on a small scale), with camera pans around individual gardens, rather than faked movement on still photos. I really wish NHK or someone would do a *real* walk in some Japanese gardens today with true hi-def cameras on dollys... I'm ashamed to have spent full price on this, but I'll put it on the TV in the house I have for sale."

A gallery in your home

Ali Cat | Midwest, USA | 04/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Japanese Gardens - A Walk in Serenity
This is another addition to the idea of putting a photographic gallery in your home, and watching the natural world on your big beautiful screen instead of insipid tv shows or a black screen. Add some phenomenal music and you can't miss...I can't wait to see the newest title in this series...'Flowers'..."

LOVE IT LOVE IT

krty | 04/26/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this DVD. It's a lovely guilty pleasure to pop this in and watch after a long day. The photography is beautiful and really showcases how simplicity is such a huge factor in a japanese garden. It's not flashy and it's just the kind of relaxing imagery I need after my commute. I wish the soundtrack was available separately so I could listen on my way home from work. The music is beautiful and so complimentary to the images. Just what I need to "Zen" out!!"

Agree fully with the first review

Ken Fagan | 05/03/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"In addition to everything said by the first reviewer, I would add that they could have added nicer gardens.

Very disappointed."