Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		2.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.5

National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras Blu-ray Movie Review

School's out for the summer, but not on Blu-ray.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 28, 2012

The birthplace of America's National Park system.

For readers familiar with the natural wonders Documentaries released through Mill Creek Home Entertainment, skip on to the "Final Words" section below. National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras is more of the same, this release capturing the familiar rhythm and even dealing in several of the same natural American national treasures that have already been explored in previous entries. With the same narrator, the same narrative flow, the same quality insight into the nation's finest natural locations, audiences who have seen any of the other releases know the drill and know what to expect: a quality educational video with serviceable video and audio presentations at a rock-bottom, must-buy price point. But for newcomers, or viewers whose only experience in Mill Creek Documentaries are the abysmal Beautiful Planet titles, fear not: this is a quality program, fit for duty in history, geography, and even science classrooms, educational and informative films that provide a well-rounded overview of the subject matter, in this case California's High Sierras.

"Because it's there."

The Sierra Nevada Mountains, or The High Sierras, is one of the country's great mountain ranges located along a lengthy swath of upper-central California. The High Sierras are home to the highest point in the continental forty-eight United States, Mt. Whitney. The snowy peaks supply water for both the Los Angeles and Bay area megalopolises, allowing life to flourish from life. National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras examines the area's natural wonders, rock formations, tourism, history, and rock climbing opportunities. The film is divided into several sections, each focusing on various elements critical in gaining a complete overview knowledge of the area. Included are glimpses into the area's natural beauty, its geology, the area's ecosystem, its natural and human history -- including the contributions of America's Founding Father of conservationism, John Muir -- and the National Parks situated within the High Sierras.

Generally speaking, there are two elements that construct the bulk of National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras: informative narration coupled with video images of the area, and specifics as shared by park rangers, authors, historians, and naturalists. Largely, this is a moving coffee table book of natural wonders captured on video and reproduced on disc. The HD video doesn't really do the places justice -- there's no smell, no fresh air, no real sense of scale or scope or texture or awe -- but this is a reasonable recreation of the area for those not fortunate enough to visit in person. Still, audiences will enjoy some up-close and wide shots alike of the most majestic mountains, towering trees, tiniest flowers, and diverse wildlife that call the area "home." The video showcases tourists in action and the natural splendors at rest. Even purchased merely to play in silence on a background television, this disc proves as relaxing as it is informative.

But the program will be best housed and utilized in the classroom. National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras provides a solid, teachable overview of the area, suitable for the science, history, geography, and geology learning environments. Viewers will learn details of the history and current state of the area, hear readings from acclaimed texts inspired by the area's natural beauty, and listen as various individuals share their passion for the region. The narration is evenly and smartly delivered, and it's sourced form an equally well-written script that simultaneously engages and educates. This film does recycle some information -- in some cases in a more general sense, in others word-for-word and shot-for-shot -- from previous Mill Creek Documentary releases. For instance, both Soda Springs and Devils Postpile have been previously covered in America's National Treasures. That's not a deal breaker; there's enough new information here to warrant a purchase, but beware that this isn't 100% fresh material.

National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras arrives on Blu-ray with a basic, no-frills, flat and glossy 1080i HD video-captured, 1.78:1-framed high definition transfer. The image serviceably shows the material. It's probably best enjoyed in a classroom setting where picture quality is trumped by content. The HD video material appears flat and lifeless, generally. Details range from suitably sharp to soft and unimpressive. Extreme close-ups of rock faces and natural vegetation impress, but distant shots appear clumpy and smooth. Colors are fairly brilliant, whether bright greens, sunlight bouncing off surfaces, or even rock and rough terrains that show shades of gray and brown. There's some light buzzing noise, and a few of the older graphics show some blockiness and jagged edges. This is a highly watchable image; it doesn't capture the natural beauty as can and do the best Blu-ray nature documentaries, but for classroom duty and light educational or background home viewing, it's just fine.

National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As with most of the Mill Creek natural documentary Blu-ray releases, National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras features a Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack. Though just about the most basic track available, this is a film with fairly basic needs, and the 2.0 presentation -- lossy, even -- handles it well enough. Narration and park ranger/historian dialogue is mostly smooth and plays with adequate volume. However, there's a slight booming sensation behind many of the spoken words. Wind noise randomly gushes around the front with no clarity or realism, just bumping and crashing up against the microphone. What music there is can be slightly rumbly and rattly, but basic clarity is sufficient. There's a nearly constant underlying hiss. This is a very basic, no-frills sort of presentation, which defines not only the Blu-ray soundtrack but the source material as well. This one's best enjoyed in the classroom, where it will serve its purpose admirably.

National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

This Blu-ray release of National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras contains no supplemental content.

National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Don't allow the deceptively low overall score dampen the prospects of a purchase of National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras. That low score is a cumulative account for the absence of extras and the mediocre technical presentation, but the program works well as intended. This is a tool more so than it is a film. it's great for the classroom or armchair naturalists in search of information, not necessarily entertainment. And considering the low, low price point, even Blu-ray collectors shouldn't shy away from adding yet another low-cost Mill Creek title to the collection. For educators, casual fans of natural beauties on home video, or Blu-ray completists, National Parks Exploration Series: Yosemite - The High Sierras comes recommended.