7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Other | 100% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The forms and cycles of nature have provided inspiration for countless artists in all media from time immemorial. Whether we think of relatively realistic interpretations like various painters’ still lifes or nature scenes to more abstract impressions such as some composers’ tone paintings “describing” the natural world, Man seems preprogrammed to try to understand the world in which he finds himself by creating something akin to nature with his own hands. That predilection comes round robin in a rather stupendous manner with the incredibly lush, organic glasswork of Dale Chihuly, the visionary Pacific Northwest artist who has become a legend in glass blowing circles, despite the fact that he rarely if ever blows his own glass creations anymore, the result of both a debilitating eye injury (leading to blindness in one eye) and, later, a shoulder mishap. For those interested in seeing something of Chihuly’s technique, as well as his background, I highly recommend Chihuly in the Hotshop, another Topics title I recently reviewed for Blu-ray.com here. For a somewhat more experiential hour, Chihuly in Nature provides one of the better outings in Topics’ HD Moods series, one which focuses on an artist’s creations as much as it does nature itself, blending the two together in often very pleasing ways.
Some stunning Chihuly glasswork.
Despite having an interlaced source video, this VC-1 encoded offering is artifact free, and provides some of the most gorgeously saturated colors imaginable. Chihuly is not afraid to exploit the boldest of palettes, and that tendency shines through this video, with absolutely resplendent blues, reds, purples and greens. The subtle gradations of hue are ably demonstrated here, and you can see some of that aspect in the screencaptures here. Deepest cobalt blue will just slightly shift toward the purple end of the spectrum in some "leaf" forms, and the Blu-ray reveals those minute changes effortlessly. Though we're dealing with glass here, that doesn't mean there's a lack of surface detail. In fact Chihuly varies his effects so widely that you'll delight in both the expected smooth surfaces of some of the work, as well as the more unusual pock marked or bumpy surfaces which are also on display. The actual, real life natural world which surrounds these works of art also look great for the most part, though the relatively pale blue of the real sky seems somewhat blanched when compared to the robust blue of some of the glass seen just below.
You may want to choose your own soundtrack for the images and turn your surround system down while you watch Chihuly in Nature. An uncompressed PCM 2.0 track is offered, but it features a sort of Philip Glass- or John Adams-lite minimalist music track with annoyingly repetitive triadic structures on piano and with an unneeded and intrusive snare drum to boot. There's nothing egregiously horrible about the music, but it's bland and detrimental where the image content is strong and vibrant. The track itself sound fine, albeit obviously of limited spatial range. The music is reproduced with accurate, if uninspiring, fidelity. Because of the minimalist nature of the music, there's little to no dynamic range to speak of.
No extras are offered on this budget priced Blu-ray release.
If you've been loathe to experience one of these "ambient television" outings, you may want to tip your toes through the glass tulips of Dale Chihuly in Chihuly in Nature. Though the soundtrack is lamentable, the images here are glorious, a wonderful mirroring of nature's wonders as seen through the eyes of one of the most visionary artists of our time.
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