Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

National Parks Exploration Series - Yellowstone: The World's First National Park Blu-ray Movie Review

Another fine "National Parks" release from Mill Creek.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman September 23, 2012

Yellowstone is in many ways a holy place for those whose temples are the mountains and the wilderness.

The United States is home to climates and natural wonders within its varied regions that rival the breathtaking splendor of any other location on Earth. Whether the desert Southwest, the picturesque Northeast, the frigid upper midwest, the rainy northwest, Florida's tropical climate, the extremes of Alaska and Hawaii, or lengthy coasts along two of the world's oceans, there's nary a corner of the country that's not host to some sort of visual treat, a prime example of mother nature at her best. Yet there's one place in the United States that is home a diverse ecosystem in one condensed area, and that area is Yellowstone. A spectacular treat for sightseers, naturalists, geologists, and zoologists, Yellowstone is perhaps America's greatest natural asset and owns the distinction of being the country's first National Park. It's as uniquely American and iconic as any natural or manmade attraction in the country, ranking alongside the Statue of Liberty, Niagara Falls, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Mississippi River, and Mount Rushmore as the nation's top attractions and most important geographic and historic features.

Welcome.

On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed into existence the world's first National Park: Yellowstone. The Park comprises 2.2 million acres of diverse land, wildlife, and natural wonders. It was designated as a public park or "pleasuring ground" "for the benefit and enjoyment of the people." Yellowstone contains half of the world's hydro-thermal features and his home to the largest collection of natural hot waters on earth, including over 300 geysers, one of which is "Old Faithful." Yellowstone has been called the "American equivalent of the African plains" while also home to snow-capped mountains, forests, and a diverse selection of wildlife. Yellowstone is home to Grand Teton National Park. This film examines the area's natural history, its ecosystem, wildlife, geology, and human appeal.

As with previous National Parks videos, Yellowstone offers a fine combination of quality photography, expert narration, and educational insight. The series elevates above the dryness and general lethargy of the worst types of Documentary. It's also no Planet Earth, but the series -- Yellowstone included -- finds and toes that fine line between tedium and entertainment, informative and educational, dry and exhilarating. It falls on the "plus" side of all of those elements without a gargantuan budget. It succeeds through its sincerity and simplicity. The material defines the program, not vice versa. The supportive elements are of a good quality, and the series offers welcoming and effortless tales of natural splendor in highly accessible fashion. It's of a quality fit for the classroom or the armchair enthusiast, bringing the world to the sofa or the desk perhaps not with the precision of the finest such presentations but with a know-how that accomplishes series goals frugally yet thoroughly.

In a more focused context, National Parks Exploration Series - Yellowstone: The World's First National Park is a great success. It's a bit more scientifically oriented than, say, the Smoky Mountains video. It's more than a series of images and insights, additionally offering a fairly in-depth -- but still accessible -- scientific discussion of all the natural wonders that fall under the Yellowstone umbrella. Fortunately, much of the hard science is made understandable, not always presented in raw layman's terms but the presenters do a good job of getting to the core of the matter and explaining complex science that some people spend a lifetime studying in ways that the average viewer can at least appreciate the complexity of the park's many delights. The program is varied but not lengthy. It incorporates a lot of sights and facts and figures and commentary into a runtime that only extends a few brief minutes over one hour. It's not the most comprehensive Yellowstone tour, but audiences will be hard-pressed to find a better overview piece than this.

National Parks Exploration Series - Yellowstone: The World's First National Park Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

National Parks Exploration Series - Yellowstone: The World's First National Park arrives on Blu-ray with a generally satisfying but never perfect high definition transfer. The HD vide source is rather low grade compared to big Hollywood productions using the latest in HD video technology. Still, Mill Creek's transfer presents the program with a detailed, clear, and colorful image. Details on close-ups of various natural elements around the park range from shaky and soft to striking and sharp. Colors are generally bright and bold, whether lush natural greens, gray rocks, green park ranger fleece jackets, or the colors of the hot springs. Skies often appear blown out, and heavy blockiness occasionally makes an appearance. This is a straightforward and simple high definition image. Enthusiasts may scoff, but it should satisfy most considering the source material and price.

National Parks Exploration Series - Yellowstone: The World's First National Park Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

National Parks Exploration Series - Yellowstone: The World's First National Park arrives on Blu-ray with a bland but baseline effective Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack. Narration and interview dialogue both come across as clear and clean, focused in the middle section of the soundstage and never garbled or forced to compete with surrounding elements. Light music plays off to the sides at times, offering satisfactory spacing and clarity. Listeners will note a few atmospheric effects in support of various park shots. Some listeners will lament the absence of surround channels and wish for a fuller presentation, but what's included does manage to add some variety, spice, and realism, even if only at a very simple level. Audiophiles won't be turning to this disc to show off their sound systems, but it works well enough for light viewing or classroom duty.

National Parks Exploration Series - Yellowstone: The World's First National Park Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of National Parks Exploration Series - Yellowstone: The World's First National Park contains no supplemental content.

National Parks Exploration Series - Yellowstone: The World's First National Park Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

National Parks Exploration Series - Yellowstone: The World's First National Park is a quality program that lacks the high dollar polish of bigger but not always better natural Documentary productions. It nicely captures the essence of Yellowstone from a natural history perspective and presents a clear case as to why it's such an important landmark and a must-see for all nature lovers. It is simply but effectively photographed and beautifully narrated. Mill Creek's Blu-ray release of National Parks Exploration Series - Yellowstone: The World's First National Park offers video and audio presentations suitable for this type of release. No extras are included. Recommended along with the entire National Parks Exploration Series considering the quality content and low asking price (the entire collection can also be purchased here at a discount).