Hurricane! Katrina, Gilbert & Camille (Nova)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C- Documentaries: B
In the last few years, a disturbing, sudden and odd thing
has happened in the media concerning natural disasters. For one, they have been reported more as
stories of terror than in the context of the science that makes them happen so
people can grasp them better. Instead
of such responsible journalism, we get angry, hateful stories that look like
bad “reality TV” that seems to celebrate the destruction and is almost rooting
for people to die and property to be destroyed. The WGBH/PBS series Nova has not lowered itself to that
pathetic level and the new Hurricane!
Katrina, Gilbert & Camille set shows it.
Instead of taking what often amounts to the “Biblical
punishment” approach more than just a particular 24 hour news network seems to
support, Nova digs into the science, facts and does the total opposite
of such stupid mystifying hocus pocus.
We previously looked at the amazing Katrina DVD and will get back
to that in a minute. To their credit,
the people at Nova did the amazing Hurricane! installment back in
1989 in conjunction with the BBC and it is one of their most riveting. Using Hurricanes Gilbert and Camille, it is
very through about the science and impact of such storms, including using what
was research that was even coming from outer space and The Space Shuttle.
It reminds us that the technology to detect and deal with
such natural occurrences is there more than ever, so when combined with the Katrina
DVD, one realizes that what happened in New Orleans was very intentional and if
it were not a liberal and multi-racial area, the government would not have
allowed what happened to happen.
Furthermore, the abandonment of science for pseudo-Christian dogma is
the worst thing to happen to this country and has been taking a huge toll since
2000 in profound ways. Fortunately,
shows like this are on DVD and should be seen by more and more people, especially
at a time when not enough younger Americans are learning enough about science
in a way that threatens the infrastructure of the country. This excellent set could not be timelier.
The 1.33 X 1 image on the Hurricane! DVD is not
bad, playing about as well as the 1.78 X 1 on the Katrina DVD simply
because WGBH does not believe in anamorphic enhancement. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo here does not
have the surrounds that the Katrina DVD has, but it is still good for a
production from a few years before, including in its sound editing. The usual limited extras, including video
descriptive services, DVD-ROM printable educational materials and a weblink are
included. You can read more about the Katrina
DVD at the following link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/3412/Hurricane+Katrina+–+The+Storm
Both are available separately, but are strongly
recommended as a set if you do not have either.
- Nicholas Sheffo
