Search - Living Landscapes: Earthscapes - California Redwoods [Blu-ray] on Blu-ray

Like being there only I can put it on anytime

Marcia S. Ludwig | Los Altos, CA USA | 02/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I love the redwoods in California. They are mystical and breathtaking. This blu-ray gets me the closest I can get to the real thing. The high definition brings me present with the clarity that I feel when I'm in the woods themselves.
My living room gets transformed when I put it on. The music is wonderful but I can turn it off too and just immerse myself in the beauty and quiet of the forest. Totally calming and serene - I get to just be in it and it changes my whole day.
This series isn't meant to educate - it's for 'experiencing' the majesty of places that calm us, inspire us and bring us joy. It's a virtual experience that's exquisite."

Virtual vacation with an optional music track!

Elizabeth A. Lykins | Indianapolis, IN United States | 02/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love watching movies like this in high def but I usually find the accompanying soundtracks to be shallow and tedious at best. Thankfully this disc has the option to watch the movie with the music or just the nature sounds! Perfect! I have not watched it with the music on (which I might, just to see what it is like) but I think if you are really into New Age soundscapes you might like it... But if not you can opt out of the music and let your mind wander to the sounds of birds and rain.

Of course, if you are expecting a travelogue or informative documentary with this title you will be disappointed. This is just video and audio of the ambient environment of the redwood forest (with music if you want.) There is no dialogue or text, just the scenery. You can think of it as a cheap and easy virtual vacation. I wouldn't say videos like these are intended for "party" watching, but for individual exploration or relaxation you can't beat it unless you get off the couch and actually go to the forest!"

I like the absence of narrators and historical photos. It's

H. Ma | Alhambra, CA USA | 10/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Some of the still scenes last too long. There are too many close-ups such as a stone in a streams or a cluster of pine leaves."

Different kind of video

William C. Mead | Los Alamos, NM USA | 02/16/2010

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Whether you like this video or not will depend on your tastes, desires, and past experiences. This review is mainly based on my personal viewpoint, however I'll start by mentioning a couple of other possible views. As a vehicle for certain kinds of meditation, this video might be quite satisfactory. Or, if you want a taste of a redwood forest, and have no opportunity for a direct experience, this video is a good starting place. For these purposes, I'd offer a four-star rating. (If those goals match your intentions, you might want to stop reading here, and shift to one of the 4- or 5-star reviews already available!)

The "Digital Environments" or "Earthscapes" designation is a good description of the main goal of this video. It is an attempt to allow you to experience a redwood forest. The DVD offers the choice of a natural soundtrack or one that includes both natural sounds and music. The technical quality is excellent, presenting some of the sights and sounds you would encounter among the redwoods.

Now, to my personal evaluation. This video is "narrow": mostly a beautiful, but slow-paced and monotonous slide show. The videography is unimaginative and includes only a fraction of the visual experiences of an actual visit to a redwood forest. The mood of the video is resolutely contemplative: any spontaneity or eagerness to view a new environment have been carefully excluded. After watching half the video, one begins to find it exciting when a bug momentarily flies through the scene. The time lapse sequences of fog provide (only) a too-short interval of contrasting scenes, while not offering much relief to the slow pace of the video. Unless you are meditating, skip the music: it is eminently forgettable, and serves only to provide a continuous input for your auditory sense, in case you can't stand a relatively quiet environment, or your viewing area has distracting sounds that need to be masked.

My wife and I lived in California and found the Redwood forests fascinating. We visited 4 different parks, 1-3 times each over a 10 year period. For us, this video fails to recreate much of the experience. This video is a nice view of the redwoods, but it's not a replacement for a visit to a redwood forest, nor is it a stimulating revelation of the environment.
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