6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 2.7 |
Come fly with us Over Alaska as we take off on a breathtaking tour of our 49th state. Soar over Mt. McKinley and through the craggy crevasses of electric blue glaciers.
Documentary | 100% |
Nature | 83% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 2.0 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
The timing of this review could not have been better, since I just returned from a trip through several towns in Alaska. If I came back with one memory of Alaska, it would be of the unspoiled nature of the land, and the difficult solitude that many Alaska residents endure. I personally would never want to live in a place that’s so utterly cut off from the luxuries and vices of modern society, but I also appreciate the desire to enjoy the beauty and simplicity of nature. I’ll refrain from any discussion of global warming or population expansion, but I will say it’s a rare treat to see several of the magnificent glaciers that flow through the landscape of Alaska, and I hope this wasn’t my last opportunity to view the vast ice walls and crystal spires of these natural wonders.
What I wouldn't give to have that guy's job.....
Presented in 1080i utilizing the AVC codec (at an average bitrate of 32Mbps), Over Alaska's visual presentation is a little underwhelming at times, but still a positive experience. Most of the aerial footage displays a nice level of detail and provides enough texture in the landscape of the mountains or glaciers to please any nature-lover. Unfortunately, the transfer doesn't fair nearly as well in several close-up shots of the wildlife that populates Alaska. During several of the grounded sequences, the fur or feathers on the animals have a tendency to become muddled and hazy. There's still some decent filmwork completed on the ground, such as the Iditarod sequence, or an extended scene of a group of bears fishing, but there were far too many non-distinct shots to warrant a higher rating for video quality. Another disappointing aspect of the transfer was the occasional line jitter and stair-stepping on diagonal straight lines in the aerial footage. It wasn't overly distracting, but will be noticeable to those with larger displays. Aside from those deficiencies, the color spectrum is nicely rendered with natural tones in the scenery, and black levels were appropriately deep even in low-light scenes. The film contains plenty of glacier or mountainous shots with snow covering almost every inch of the frame, but contrast levels never wavered and helped reveal every nook and crack in the glacier surface.
The audio track is the stand-out disappointment on the disc. Presented in Dolby Digital 2.0, the English track is exactly what you'd expect from a stereo mix. I suppose I can't complain too much, since the only audio elements are the narration by Ken Boynton, and a combination of flute and/or synthesizer music that's meant to convey a subtle Native American sound; but I still felt we were missing half of the Blu-ray experience by not including a heavy use of nature sounds. On the positive side, volume levels were well-balanced (narration with music in the background) and the dialogue had sufficient clarity for a lossy track.
One last thing to report from an audio standpoint, is a brief blip at the 21:54 minute mark of the feature. The narrator is in the middle of a sentence, and when he says "Mt. McKinley", the complete audio track cuts out for a split second. It's easy to notice when it occurs, and I played the same section twice to confirm the timing of the blip.
Nothing to report here.
I'd hate to deter anyone from purchasing this budget-priced release on the sole basis of it's superficial content, but those interested in the title should be aware of what their getting into. From a technical standpoint, the visuals are competent, but the audio quality is subpar in comparison with other documentaries on the market. If your capable of being captivated by visuals alone, this is a highly-recommended purchase. For anyone else, I'd recommend it as a rental, since you won't likely watch the film on a regular basis.
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