Can't get to France or Italy? Don't have enough money? Can't stand the invasive airport security measures? Don't speak the language? Been there,
done that? Whatever the reason may be, travel abroad isn't exactly an easy -- or cheap -- thing, even now in the 21st century technological age of
rapid mass
transport. But the 21st century has also given rise to the mass infusion of high definition home video, a medium through which a decent television
and a
good disc can practically transport audiences to anywhere in the world for a incredibly low cost. Of course the right film must be chosen; there are the
really involved and well-prduced discs, the throwaway moneymakers, and a whole bunch that fall somewhere in between. Beautiful Planet - France
& Italy is one of those "tweeners," with a noticeable lean towards the bottom-end. Taking audiences to exotic and interesting locations but
playing with robotic narration and rather unimpressive
video quality, this film isn't much of an escape, let alone a substitute for the real thing. But it covers places and histories that aren't usually hit on the
more generic "hot spot" videos. No Paris, no Venice, no Rome, this video focuses on smaller areas with richer histories and incredible stories to tell. If
only those stories weren't told so dryly.
Built to last.
Beautiful Planet - France & Italy covers seven cities across two countries. Beginning in France, the first stop is the historic city of Orange,
home
to breathtaking architecture, including the awe-inspiring Orange theater. The segment examines the city's history along with its structures, dating
back to invasions by Roman and Germanic armies. The city of Avignon is also home to impressive architecture. The piece focuses heavily on the
construction
and
mythology surrounding a bridge dating back to the 1100s, part of which still stands today. The city is also home to exquisite cathedrals and a Papal
residence. The third stop in France is Bordeaux, a UNSECO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage site.
Within the city is impressive architecture and evidence of painstaking restoration work. Also mentioned is the city's wine industry and the historic
St. Andrews
Cathedral. Lastly, the film takes viewers to Lyon, a city with a history ranging from the Roman era to the Resistance. This segment examines the
city's classic architecture and the influence of its selection of the Virgin Mary as its Patron Saint. The trio of Italian segments begin with Alberobello.
This piece looks closely at the Trullo architecture and influences of the area's unique structures. The film then takes viewers to Five Islands and
Porto
Venere for a look at that area's history which dates back to the 2nd Century BC, its classic Gothic architecture, wartime influences, and cuisine.
Lastly, the film
examines in some detail Scari Monti and its religiously-inspired architecture.
To be sure, there are some fascinating places to see and histories to learn through the course of Beautiful Planet - France & Italy. The
problem is that the film doesn't do a very good job of sharing that information. The photography is of the bland point-and-shoot variety, with only
some light -- and usually blurry -- panning adding any spice to what is little more than a collection of moving photographs. Indeed, almost the
entirety of the film looks like
a collection of tourist photos, only here with motion and the added "benefit" of narration sharing what's on the screen and why it is historically or
culturally important. Sadly, that narration is easily the worst aspect of Beautiful Planet - France & Italy. It's dry and forced. It's never
cheery and often sounds almost robotic. For as wonderful as some of the visuals may be, the narration nearly destroys the film. This one is
definitely
more of a looker than it is speaker.
The monotone, computerized, uninteresting narration clashes so badly with the scenery that some audiences might not want to watch. That's a
shame, because there's no denying the beauty of each location, and better, there's no denying that taking a look at some of the lesser-known areas
of France and Italy is preferable to the overkill that is Paris and Rome and wherever else the typical travelogue video usually goes. Yet the narration
kills the momentum and results in a program that crawls, unlike another recent Mill Creek release, Up From Slavery, which runs longer but also faster thanks to a
gripping structure and absolute command of its material. Just as frustrating, this program plays with a rather cheesy 80s-inspired musical
accompaniment which, if nothing else, might leave viewers dancing in their seats to the silly beat. As a classroom tool, this might be an effective
time-killer, but note to teachers: please don't quiz the students on this one. Chances are even the teacher's pet -- not to mention the teacher -- will
wake up to a puddle of drool.
Beautiful Planet - France & Italy features a passable but hardly visually arresting Blu-ray transfer. Much of the image appears soft and flat, and
it often fails to capture more than cursory details of even the roughest stone and brick architectural marvels. Surrounding vegetation -- generally
clumps of leaves -- also appear mushy and undefined. But as the movie plays along, it sometimes finds sharper, more complex imagery away from the
hazy, flat, and lifeless video that generally defines the presentation. Additionally, close-up static shots tend to hold up better than panning close,
medium, or distance shots. Colors are neither flat nor vibrant, appearing rather uninspiring but steady. Skies often appear washed out, and the image
suffers from evident, but not overwhelming, banding, blocking, aliasing, and edge enhancement. It's very hit-or-miss, with emphasis on the latter, but
this is a serviceable presentation for educational purposes.
Beautiful Planet - France & Italy features a serviceable Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtrack. The uninspiring narration doesn't sound any better than it
flows. It often plays with something of a sharp edge to it. Music remains largely focused straight up the middle of the soundstage, playing with
adequate clarity and probably engineered with lower-grade equipment or even built-in television speakers in mind, considering that this disc will probably
see quite a bit of service in educational circles and classroom settings. Music picks up a bit and even plays with a decent low end sensation in the
Bordeaux segment, and to be sure, there are some lively stretches throughout, though nothing approaching a good, satisfying musical presentation.
This one's not going to impress audiophiles, but it gets the job done for the intended purpose.
Beautiful Planet - France & Italy has plenty of interesting places to "show," but the "tell" part of the program is liable to lull viewers into a deep
sleep. The narration is forced, bland, and lifeless. It really ruins an otherwise good program. Also disappointing is that Mil Creek's Blu-ray features
mediocre video and audio, and no extras are included. For general classroom time killing or dedicated fans of overseas travel, this video isn't
terrible, but beware the narration.
All countries
