Review of Portrait of England

Introduction

From the DVD case :-

"Set to the incomparable music of classical /jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, this combined spectacle of sight and sound makes for an exceptional video experience."

A very bold statement I`m sure you will agree. So how does this disc measure up?

Video

Standard 4:3 here. It was shot in 1989 but it doesn`t look too bad for its age. I would not describe it as "an exceptional video experience" though.

There are some nice shots of English countryside here, including plenty of clichéd "flying through the clouds" shots, and "patchwork field" shots.

Audio

"The incomparable music of classical /jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis" eh ? Sounds just like a standard collection of classical pieces to me (and one or two of those a little stereotyped too).

No sound effects, no speech, no DTS, this is just a 2 channel stereo music track. It sounds fine, and that`s all there is to say about it !

Features

Nothing, nada, zip. The menu is very uninspiring too.

Conclusion

So what is the point of this disc ? It is the DVD equivalent of the Landscape channel. For those of you that don`t know this remarkably dull channel, it consists of nice pictures of waterfalls, streams, mountains, lambs bouncing through fields etc. etc. all set to various classical pieces. Not exciting as you can see.

This DVD is supposed to showcase lovely English countryside. Which up to a point it does. But there`s no commentary, just music. So you can`t easily work out what bit of nice countryside you`re looking at.

If you`re lucky enough to live here and to have visited some of the places seen on the disc then you will recognise them, otherwise you`re stuck ! This seems a bit crazy to me.

This seems like an ancient tourist board video that`s had the commentary track removed, but they`ve left the music on.

There really is no point in purchasing this disc at all. Buy a book of postcards and a classical CD instead - the effect will be much the same.