Scenic National Parks Blu-ray

Originally issued in June on standard DVD as part of Treasure of America’s National Parks, this three-disc Blu-ray release surveys national parks and makes for some sweet geographic eye candy. Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and Yosemite are seen here at their richest and most expansive—Grand Canyon’s stair-step labyrinth of valleys appears so textured and deep that it feels like you could almost touch it (or maybe even ride a burro to the bottom!). Produced with a 16x9 aspect ratio so that virtually the whole screen is filled with a dazzling image, Scenic National Parks is a fine example of when 2.35:1 aspect ratio and its accompanying letterbox bars does not add to the overall experience.

Shelf Talk: Like MPI’s Baraka (reviewed last week), Scenic National Parks bounds across the map and delivers scene after scene of gorgeously photographed natural wonders. It’s a fine promotional piece for the high-definition format and a destination film of sorts for those older consumers (the target market for travelogue programs) who are on the fence about committing to a Blu-ray player.