7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Other | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Music: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Music: LPCM 2.0
Music: Dolby Digital 2.0
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
You’ve no doubt seen Topics titles if you browse the budget Blu aisles of your local Best Buy or Wal-mart. This niche label which operates out of Washington state has assembled some really interesting product over the past few years, including the Over aerial travelogue series which you might catch on your local PBS station (especially during pledge week), and a lot of more “ambient television” (in my own coinage, for which I think I deserve to be awarded a trademark) titles that often fall under the heading of HD Moods. While these HD Moods offerings are never less than inviting, with some sumptuous imagery if sometimes less than appealing soundtracks, nothing previously released (including such titles as Trains and Aquarium) really prepared me for the gorgeous imagery and excellent music choices of Rise, a new HD Moods offering which also is simultaneously branded with the acronym AMOS, for “A Matter of Substance”. (What is it with these manifold names for these digital wallpaper releases, anyway? I also review the Living Landscapes releases, which are often saddled with a whole subset of alternative brands, including Digital Environments and Earthscapes). Rise has a very specific aim in mind, something a bit different than a lot of other ambient television releases which tend to focus on one item, or genre of imagery. Instead Rise is more of a visual (and aural) “mix tape” which presents several short segments which are there to help you get up and at ‘em each morning. While that’s the ostensible raison d’etre for Rise, what you may find yourself doing is actually sitting back and watching and listening to this video, something kind of ironic given this idiom’s penchant for being something akin to background noise.
A water droplet graces a flower.
This is easily one of the strongest releases yet from Topics in terms of image quality. Indeed, there are many breathtaking moments throughout this AVC encoded 1080i presentation (in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio). From the first moments of the time lapse photography, we're greeted by a startlingly sharp and gorgeously well saturated image, with some truly impressive detail. Some of the flowers in fact seem almost sewn together, so clear is their organic make-up. Depth of field on the scenic environment segments is excellent, and contrast and black levels are both top notch. There is occasional shimmer, which is most likely attributable to the interlaced video, but that is the only artifacting which is noticeable, and it's relatively minor. For a video which is probably meant to be paid attention to only in passing, you may find yourself stopping for more than a brief moment or two in front of your flatscreen to stare in awe at the gorgeous imagery Rise provides.
Topics also steps up to the high-def plate, at least partially, with two (count 'em) lossless options, albeit "mere" stereo, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track and an uncompressed LPCM 2.0 stereo option. Also on board is a standard Dolby Digital 2.0 track. These are robust and supercharged sonic offerings which are abundantly clear and well realized throughout. In fact, the Mozart which kicks off this outing is surprisingly full on the low end, so much so that I actually turned by receiver down a bit when the video started. There's a really appealing mix of music on Rise (strangely, Herb Alpert's iconic hit of the same name isn't included, probably for licensing reasons), and it is all presented with excellent clarity and brilliant dynamic range. Persnickety listeners are no doubt going to complain about the lack of a surround track, but what's here is robust and extremely enjoyable.
No supplements are featured on this budget priced disc.
Well, well, well, who woulda thunk that a niche market like "ambient television" could come up with something this involving and fun to watch and listen to? Kudos to Topics and their producing partners for offering one of the strongest releases in this fledgling idiom. If you've wondered what all the fuss about digital wallpaper is all about, I can't think of a better way to find out than Rise, which comes highly recommended.
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