Fireplace: Visions Of Tranquility + Visions
Of The Sea (HD Scape; HD-DVD/DVD Combo Format)
Picture:
B/C+ Sound: B- Extras: C-
Main Programs: B
More fun
scenery and mood discs have hit HD-DVD and once again, one is underwater and
other is of a fireplace. This time, HD
Scape issued the titles in Fireplace:
Visions Of Tranquility and Visions
Of The Sea. It seems odd to cover
such material, which we consider special interest, but they are always about
issues of fidelity and performance is especially what HD-DVD is supposed to be
about.
As
compared to the Koch/DHX Fireplace
Impressions, Fireplace: Visions Of
Tranquility seems a little bit clearer, but I though the DHX disc had more
reds and allowed the fireplace to do more of the work in the lighting
department. Obviously, you can get crazy
and have both fireplace discs, but the DHX was a tad crisper in the way the
wood burned, believe it or not. That
leaves the music, where HD Scape has a slight edge and while both offer the
sound of the wood burning and different classical pieces, but this HD Scape
adds an alternate romantic classical set and Christmas music.
Visions Of The Sea is on location as compared to Aquarium Expressions, which is
obviously restricted. Both are beautiful
shoots, but the locations here on Sea
remind one more of Planet Earth than
the competing HD-DVD release. Though I
liked the BBC production more, it still had its limits, even in both HD-DVD and
Blu-ray, as reviewed elsewhere on this site.
Two different exotic-type soundtracks are offered, but only one is
multi-channel.
The 1080i
1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image on both discs is very nice, colorful,
nicely shot and look good for relatively recent HD shoots, even if they are not
so clean and clear that you think you are looking through a window or at the
real thing. Nevertheless, they do not
disappoint and look especially good as compared to the anamorphically enhanced
standard DVD sides, which look duller than expected in both cases. The Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes have good
soundfields, though they are the same on both sides with the HD side having
hardly any aural edge. The Dolby 2.0 alternate
track on Sea is a plus and was worth
including despite no 5.1 version, while the fire crackling on Fireplace here is Dolby 2.0 only.
Extras are
few, including very brief (under two minutes) behind the scenes footage on Sea and previews for three other titles
in the HD series. All Fireplace offers is a poem. For more on the DHX HD-DVDs, try this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6665/Aquarium+Impressions/Fireplace
For more
on the HD Scape, try this link for their Sampler
HD-DVD and enjoyable Antarctica
release:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5311/HD+Scape+–+Antarctica:+Dreaming
- Nicholas Sheffo
