Scenic National Parks (Blu-ray)

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The aerial shots are steady, not shaky, though the lighting is a little tricky. There isn't as much in the way of full-sun shots that capture the majesty of all that red rock as you might expect, and though this was shot with a digital camera there are spots where the picture looks a little "soft." So if you're looking to gasp, this might not have the impact you want. Overall, you get a pretty fluid and full sense of the place, though by no means is it an exhaustive or in-depth look at the natural landmark. We're told, for example, that there are more than 100 named peaks and rock formations, but only a handful are pointed out on-camera. And the history never gets too deep into the park's founding or a sense of who might have explored the park before us. It's what I'd call a scenic travelogue, geared toward people who think they might like to experience the park for themselves. In this, I think it does a pretty good job. There's a little of this and a little of that: a little flora, a little fauna, a little human activity, a little history, and a lot of scenery.

Video:
In 1080p "Grand Canyon" looks very good, but I wouldn't say that the Blu-ray quality prompts me to say it's stunning. The scenery is stunning, but the picture quality is, as I've said, a little "soft," especially in the long shots. There's also a little "noise" in a number of frames--again, mostly the exteriors with harsh lighting. Where you notice the High Definition is in the quieter moments or the close-ups involving people or animals, of which there are a few thrown in for good measure. "Grand Canyon" is presented in 1.66:1 aspect ratio.

Audio:
The audio is a simple Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, which, I suspect, might even be the same track (or edited) from the DVD. Given the fact that it's mostly narration with some talking heads, the visuals really dominate. But there's no grand, sweeping audio to drive the video, and mostly the sound emanates from the center speaker. It's a tight sound, too, which doesn't seem to resonate.

Extras:
The bonus program, "National Parks of the Southwest," is just as well done as the feature, because, of course, they're from the same series. It's just a packaging decision that relegates one to the lesser spot, or maybe it's stretching Utah to be part of the Southwest. In any event, this program probably concentrates more on the history of the geological formations and development of the areas than "Grand Canyon," though in all other aspects it's pretty much the same. You'll visit Canyonlands in Utah, where you'll see hikers check out the impressive sandstone cliff art dating back to 400 A.D. and earlier, you'll see pupfish in Badwater Basin (which is 280' below sea level) and learn how a $2 million ranch was built in the middle of nowhere. At arches you'll get the dope on how those formations occur, while in the most interesting segment at Saguaro National Park in Arizona you'll get some history of how Hollywood discovered the area and used it to recreate Old Tucson. Then it's off to Death Valley, and the tour ends with more shots of "rugged beauty" and ghost towns . . . one of them Rhyolite, a town of formerly 8000 residents that survives now because the buildings were made of concrete. You'll get the skydiver's perspective, the horseback perspective, and the dirt bike perspective.

Bottom Line:
A pleasant narrative, fluid editing, and a combination of scenic travelogue and experiential documentary make "Scenic National Parks: Grand Canyon" enjoyable and enriching. While it may not have the breathtaking clarity and drama of the "Planet Earth" or Imax shows, you really get an up-close-and-personal sense of what the parks are like in these Travel Channel shows.

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