Conquest
Of America (History Channel)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C Episodes: B
Just when you think the educational might drag out and be
boring, The History Channel pulls through with another winning DVD set. Conquest Of America is from 2005, though it
is not a digital High Definition production.
Nevertheless, it is an amusing, informative four-parter about the rush
to the North American continent after Columbus and the many countries and the
ego of their rulers and fighters in trying to split up everything.
Southwest, Southeast, Northwest, and Northeast are the
four installments, running from the 1550s to 1750s. At a time when Spain was a world power competing with French and
British empires for the new land, the 45-minute installments are always
entertaining and the reenactments are not bad either. Of course, the mistakes each party makes is amazing and often
profound, while the producers fit a great amount of information into each show.
The 1.33 X 1 image is produced on professional analog NTSC
videotape equipment and is among the last such productions the cable network is
likely to mount. With that in mind, the
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is not as rich or thick as usual, with limited Pro
Logic surrounds if that. Each disc has
a making of its installments as an extra, but that is all. All in all, a good set.
- Nicholas Sheffo
