Image Entertainment presents

Glacier National Park (1994)

Manufacturer: RGMCA
MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (nothing objectionable)
Run Time: 00h:57m:53s
Release Date: 2002-02-19
Genre: documentary

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
B+	B	B	B+	D-

 

DVD Review

Situated high in the Rocky Mountains on the Canada/US border in northern Montana, is Glacier National Park. Becoming the 10th in the country, 1.4 million acres were set aside as a national park in 1910. Split by the continental divide, and housing over 50 glaciers and 200 lakes and streams, the park was joined with Canada's Waterton Lakes National Park in 1932 to become the Waterton/Glacier International Peace Park, the first of its kind in the world, and in 1995 they became a World Heritage site. Highlighted by valleys sculpted by ancient glaciers out of sedimentary mountains formed 170 million years ago, the park features a diverse landscape. Soaring mountain outcroppings, hanging valleys, and lush alpine meadows and lakes all reside here, along with a wealth of wildlife. Our adventure begins at St. Mary's Lake, where spectacular sedimentary upcroppings reflect into her mirrored waters. Elsewhere, gentle waterfalls cascade over terraced rocks, and raging rivers course through narrow gorges lined with moss covered boulders. We visit Many Glacier Park on the Sherburne Reservoir, and Two Medicine Lake in East Glacier Park. Through aerial displays, and time lapse, we watch the changing character of different regions of the park, including much of the wide range of flora and fauna found herein. We'll see big horn sheep, mountain goats, black and brown bear cubs, moose, deer, elk and pocket gophers, beaver, marmots and a variety of ducks and insects along with orange hanging glacier lilies, lupine, Indian paintbrush, asters, and shooting stars.We also travel several hundred miles to the north, into the heart of Canada's Banff National Park, where we visit the glaciers of majestic Lake Louise, then move south into the Waterton National Park. Glacier also houses a National Historic Landmark in its Going-to-the-Sun Road, which cuts through Logan Pass, and took 11 years to construct. Featuring some of the most scenic views in North America, this road forever changed the way the park was experienced when it opened in 1932, and we see the sights as we journey along this stretch of park heritage. In Western Glacier Park, we experience Lake McDonald, both placid and rocked by howling winds and rain. We see the winter snows, and a hail storm in one of the valley forests. The visuals are accompanied by a mix of classical and contemporary soft pop, which is blended with the natural location sounds for a relaxing travelogue throughout this glacier-influenced landscape. Glacier National Park provides an interesting and varied look at the park and its inhabitants throughout the seasons, and makes a fine addition to the National Parks collection.

Rating for Style: B+
Rating for Substance: B

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.33:1 - Full Frame
Original Aspect Ratio	yes
Anamorphic	no

Image Transfer Review: The image here is quite good, given some limitations of the source. Colors are bright and vibrant, though do tend to bleed in places, and some of the whites are a little blown out. Blacks are well defined. There are areas that exhibit a fair amount of shimmer, and the occasional momentary dropout. Compression artifacts are limited and minor. Detail is quite good, save for a few select shots. On the whole this is an enjoyable transfer, comparable to the other shows in this series.

Image Transfer Grade: B
 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
DS 2.0	English	no

Audio Transfer Review: Stereo audio provides a nice mix of natural location recording and the musical score that accompanies it. Separation and definition are good, tonal balance even and frequency coverage lacking only extreme low end. Some of the fadeouts of the location audio seemed a bit abrupt, and these sources will exhibit more hiss and background noise appropriate for what they are. The musical segments are well produced, and the overall effect is pleasing.

Audio Transfer Grade: B+ 

Disc Extras

Static menu
Scene Access with 16 cues and remote access
Packaging: EastPack
Picture Disc
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: single

Extras Review: There are no additional features.

Extras Grade: D-
 

Final Comments

I'm quite enjoying the diverse range of scenery offered in Wilderness Video's National Parks collection, and here we have another nice addition. Highlighting the majestic, glacier-carved landscape of northern Montana's Rocky Mountains, Glacier National Park offers a scenic overview of this natural spectacle, and the forays into Canada's Lake Louise and Waterton National Parks display their common heritage.

Jeff Ulmer 2002-02-18