Search - Scenic National Parks: Glacier Banff & Jasper [Blu-ray] on Blu-ray

Great Souvenir Of Fantastic Places

G. Pearson | Auckland, New Zealand | 01/15/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The two programmes (Glacier and Banff & Jasper) play for 100 mins and follow a similar structure. They both show a little history, briefly interview some influential or knowledgable people from the area, show us inside some of the classy hotels and lodges, demonstrate a number of activities tourists can partake in and most importantly show us the beautiful mountain scenery and wildlife these areas have. Some of the aerial shots are terrific.
Some hiking trails are mentioned and show people on the trail and at some of the backcountry cabins. Most places are filmed on nice days so you get to see how beautiful they really are.

I would personally like to have seen more on the hiking trails and scenery and maybe a bit more on backcountry places most tourists won't ever get to see. The majority of places and activities shown are what most tourists passing through in a few days will see.

I have been to these three areas many years ago and this is a nice souvenir."

Worth Seeing Again

Garry McGonigle | Ottawa, KS USA | 10/07/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The programs on the Blu-ray have been on Hi-Def TV already but the images and narration make it a worthwhile purchase. If you've never had the chance to visit Glacier NP or Banff, Lake Louise, Yoho, or Jasper in the Canadien NP system, this will probably compel you to do it."

Subpar nature video, largely history and ads

David Diez | Boston, MA | 08/07/2010

(2 out of 5 stars)

"In the product description: "Blu-ray captures like no other format the sweeping beauty and extraordinary natural wonders of America's premier national parks. Filmed and mastered in High Definition, Scenic National Parks takes you off the beaten path to discover untamed places, unique wildlife, and invigorating activities. ..."

Based on this description, I expected shots focused in the backcountry and also some excellent animal shots. However, the film is generally more about history, what people do in the park, and then basically runs a number of advertisements for hotels and restaurants. The film crew focused almost entirely on the most accessible locations, and the only fantastic shots are those made from a helicopter (these are also perhaps the only 1080p-definition shots). The animal sections have an urban feel and appear limited to animals that have made their way to people, either near the road, in a golf course, or near buildings... not exactly mind-blowing work.

I was disappointed to see so many people, lodges, and restaurants in a video purported to be featuring the "natural wonders" of the national parks. I expected to see the best locations and most interesting animals in the parks. However, I would estimate that 70% of the film revolves specifically around history and things to do (e.g. interviews with folks, outlines of specific tours, visiting a particular hotel/restaurant, etc.). When there was a nice shot, it was typically short lived.

The only purpose I see this video serving is as a brief introduction to someone planning a trip to one of these parks and who does not want to go into the backcountry via longish day trips or backpacking. This works alright for Banff, which is already rather developed. Jasper is less touched, and its gems are in the backcountry. Hence, this film is not great for Jasper planning; the amazing Athabasca and Skyline Trails are completely omitted. I'm generally unfamiliar with Glacier, and so I cannot say whether this video would be helpful prior to a trip there."

Good stuff

Brad Vanek | Rainier, OR United States | 11/09/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A very good hd documentary...covers some other retreats in and around these parks...good hd filming...with some breathtaking scenery...."