DVD International // 2006 // 50 Minutes // Not Rated
Reviewed by Judge David Johnson // June 6th, 2007
Them pictures sure are purty!
It's $5. It's high-definition. There is four minutes worth of penguins. That might be enough for some folks newly ensconced in the world of HD-DVD. The HDScape Sampler is nothing more than a collection of trailers for other, full-length HD-DVD features. The clips run about four minutes each, and as a bonus you get a couple of throw-away "digital essentials" bits that offer some options for audio and video tuning. In total, you're looking at about45 minutes worth of stuff on this disc.
Here's a rundown of the clips:
"Antarctica Dreaming"
See penguins, seals, glaciers and
water that looks, really, really, really, really, really cold.
"Exotic Saltwater Aquarium"
Fish of all flavors swim around
an enclosed area, as if you're looking at a real aquarium. Even better: no green
grime obstructing your view.
"Fireplace: Visions of Tranquility"
Pretty much exactly what
you expect: a pile of burning logs.
"HD Window: Hawaii"
Soak up the sun and waves as the HD
cameras pan over Hawaii. So clear you can see Tiki dolls buried in the sand.
"HD Window: The great Southwest"
Same thing as Hawaii, just
with more sand and less ocean.
"Serenity: Southern Seas"
Water, water everywhere.
"Stargaze II"
Dive headlong into HD visions of nebulas and
black holes and, um, blastulas? Is that right? Either way, it's colorful and
pretty to look at.
"Visions of the Sea: Exploration"
Take a trip underwater.
Features more acreage than the Exotic Saltwater Aquarium.
There's nothing much to say about this disc. The clips are short, but all look great and could prove to be a handy show-off disc for visitors (there's a standard DVD version on the flipside, but who cares?). The landscapes are all stunning -- with the exception of "Fireplace" -- and footage is supplemented by calming, New Agey music, suitable to get your yoga groove on to. Really though, it could just as easily be included in your HD-DVD purchase, or even sent away for free. Even at less than $10, you're essentially getting a disc full of advertisements.
Review content copyright © 2007 David Johnson; Site layout and review format copyright © 1998 - 2008 HipClick Designs LLC
Scales of Justice
Judgment: 70
Perp Profile
Studio: DVD International
Video Formats:
* 1.78:1 Non-Anamorphic
Audio Formats:
* PCM 5.1 EX (English)
Subtitles:
* None
Running Time: 50 Minutes
Release Year: 2006
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Distinguishing Marks
* Bonus Footage
Accomplices
* Official Site
http://www.dvdinternational.com/