Visions of Scotland (2005) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a beautiful flyover with good narration and a lovely score, so the missing star is for what's left out. Of course, no tour of Scotland could include everything (I spent two years of my life there, and there is much I missed), but I was so disappointed when it ended without a look at so many of Scotland's most famous places. Yes, Stirling and Edinburgh were there, and Loch Lomond, Loch Ness and a brief glimpse of Inverness... We see Bannockburn, but not Culloden. The Isle of Mull, but not Iona. Nothing of Glencoe. And nothing of the Isle of Skye, the most famous of all Scottish islands and arguably the most beautiful. Nor do we reach the far north, so there is nothing of Orkney or Shetland. Perhaps there were rules about flying over St. Andrews, so we see the cathedral ruins at one end and the golf course at the other, but absolutely nothing of the jewel of an ancient cathedral town that lies in between.... The other enormous omission is the lack of identification (on either credits or liner notes, which were absent altogether) of the many beautiful songs underlying the narrative. These were well-chosen, in a variety of styles, and remarkably un-cliched, so that we had choral works, folk songs, classical and contemporary, well representing the range of Scotland's culture, but I'd have loved to know the names, the artists and possibly what CDs might contain them. For a Scotophile and a music lover, this is a serious omission. I can only hope there is a Visions of Scotland, Part II, that lets us see the Scotland we missed - and maybe a companion CD, or at least a link to the artists whose music provided so much beauty and atmosphere.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Visions of Scotland (2005)

Spectacular views from bustling Edinburgh to the wild, windswept Highlands See bonny Scotland as you never could, even on the most lavish tour. Thanks to a high-definition, helicopter-mounted camera, you soar effortlessly over Scotland’s historic cities, tranquil villages, rugged highlands, and steel-blue lakes. See the country’s legendary landmarks-the dizzying heights of Edinburgh’s Castle Rock, immaculate greens of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, mysterious glacial waters of Loch Ness, and many more-from a unique aerial perspective. Chase wild deer across green hills splashed with yellow gorse. Swoop down on coastal villages so close that you can almost taste the sweet, smoky salmon. With a poetic narration and a soundtrack of authentic regional music, Visions of Scotland opens your eyes, ears, and heart to this legendary land.Includes bonus footage not seen on public television.

Get 10% OFF

Click here for more information about Visions of Scotland (2005)

Passport to Europe: England, Ireland and Scotland (2004) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have never been to England or Ireland, but this show has made that trip a priority on my list. The eps "English Countryside" and "Ireland Coast" are like magical fairy tales. I've seen probably every ep of Passport to Europe, and these British eps (along w/ Austria and Switzerland) are my favorites. Samantha as always is a charming host. Her sense of humor is great and these eps are particularly fun because there is no language barrier between her and the locals. Every interaction will make you smile and most will make you laugh. These episodes are whimsical, witty, wonderful...if you are armchair traveling, this is the trip you want to take.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Passport to Europe: England, Ireland and Scotland (2004)

Enthusiastic and adventurous, Samantha Brown is the perfect tour guide for the most exciting places in the world. Explore exotic locales up close and personal as you may never have seen them. Samantha interacts with the locals and discovers popular area landmarks many tourists miss. Plus, she discusses the culture and history of these intriguing areas and shares invaluable travel tips. FEATURING:English Countryside: It's the landscape of fairytales. Enjoy a medieval castle that welcomed King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, and visit the bucolic paradise that is the Cotswolds. Classic London: No tour of London is complete without a visit to Buckingham Palace for the "Changing of the Guard." Then it's on to Notting Hill, Harrods and Westminster Abbey. London Now: An eclectic mix of avant-garde and traditional, London is the ultimate cosmopolitan experience. This is an exciting tour of modern London's cuisine and attractions. Ireland Coast: Explore the gorgeous countryside of Cork and Kerry, and learn about the sometimes mysterious cuisine. But it's the warm and wonderful people you'll remember most. Dublin, Ireland: You'll experience both Dublin's rich Irish heritage and the city's modern charm. Samantha discovers an incredible hotel bargain and goes on a memorable pub crawl. Edinburgh, Scotland: Visit a city steeped in history with many famous medieval landmarks. And experience one of today's hippest festivals along the city's historic streets.

Get 10% OFF

Click here for more information about Passport to Europe: England, Ireland and Scotland (2004)

Vice Guide to Travel (2006) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Well... I'm never really let down with Vice, however this video left me with that feeling as though I was blue balled. Why? Well I thought it was going to be someone informative or show so actual stuff but the whole DVD came across as a fake. They get wasted and chat with people and nothing seems to add up. I mean getting drunk and going to places is fun and all but I felt this movie just didn't pack any punch.
vice... you have let me down with this one. Don't think I'll be purchasing another DVD from you in the near future but I will keep all your mags as they rule.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Vice Guide to Travel (2006)

WARNING! The VICE Guide To Travel contains nudity, guns, drugs, cussing, and assorted other heaviness. If you are easily offended, put this DVD down and walk away now.The VICE GUIDE TO TRAVEL is the first installment in our new DVD series. We'll be doing these four times each year according to a different theme. It's a lot like Vice Magazine, except it moves. For this first one we dispatched correspondents all over the world to vist the planet's weirdest and most dangerous places. We went to such farflung locales as the Pygmy villages in the Congo, the radioactive ruins of Chernobyl, and the illegal arms markets of Pakistan. We looked for mythical beasts, met the PLO boy scouts (suicide bombers of tomorrow), chatted with a man who sold black market nuclear warheads and hung out with Osama bin Laden, and got shot at in the slums of Rio. This is travel at its most bizarre, equal parts LSD and adrenaline, and sometimes we can't believe we made it back.

Get 10% OFF

Click here for more information about Vice Guide to Travel (2006)

Passport to Europe - France & Italy (2007) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love this series. Samantha Brown is the perfect travelling companion. Her energy, excitement, and joy never fail. The shows hit a perfect balance between tourist info and intimate charm. I know Paris very well, and I agree with her observations about Paris, which makes me trust her when she is traveling in other parts of the world that I do not know (like Italy). Highlights on this DVD include: the two Paris eps (of course), an achingly beautiful fairy-tale village and hotel featured in the Cote d'Azur episode, and the Florence ep. I also should note that Samantha Brown travels in style. This is not Europe on a shoestring. Personnally, I love living vicariously through her. The beautiful hotels make this show all the more fun.
I recommend it to all who love to travel and dream and laugh.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Passport to Europe - France & Italy (2007)

Enthusiastic and adventurous, Samantha Brown is the perfect tour guide for the most exciting places in the world. Explore exotic locales up close and personal as you may never have seen them when Samantha interacts with the locals and discovers popular area landmarks many tourists miss. Meanwhile, Samantha amuses and educates as she discusses the culture and history of these intriguing areas and shares invaluable travel tips. FEATURING:CANNES AND NICE, FRANCE (THE FRENCH RIVIERA): Experience Carnival in the glamorous south of France when the streets are filled with dancers, musicians, balloons and carnival floats.PARIS CULTURE: To really experience this most romantic of cities, you have to live like a Parisian, so Samantha gives it a whirl! SIMPLY PARIS: Stroll along the Champs-Elysees, satisfy a sweet tooth with French pastry, take a twilight river cruise along the Seine and much more.COTE D'AZUR (MONACO): This is where the outrageously wealthy live a lifestyle beyond imagination, and Samantha is anxious to get a glimpse of how the rich and famous do it up in style! AMALFI COAST, ITALY: Samantha explores the cities, towns and villages along the soaring cliffs of the Amalfi Coast in Southern Italy.FLORENCE, ITALY: Unlock the secrets to packing in all the must-see sights of Florence, get priceless shopping tips and discover the perfect spot to escape the crowds. NAPLES, ITALY: Samantha finds Naples to be a city full of contradictions, but always compelling. Explore this bustling, diverse city that combines the historic and the modern with vitality.ROME, ITALY: Feel the passionate heartbeat of the Eternal City. Find out how to streamline your tourist stops, and take in the 21st century ambiance of Rome's wild nightlife.

Get 27% OFF

Click here for more information about Passport to Europe - France & Italy (2007)

1,000 Places To See Before You Die: Collection 1 (2007) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Hi Folks,
The book is well worth the read and the series would have been worth your time as well... but... the problem is that they chose the worst possible people to view these places through the eyes of and it ruins the experience. These are perhaps the worst hosts ever for a travel series. They aren't appreciative of the journey and don't ask interesting questions or add anything of value to the show on any level. In fact, I'd buy this if they had a version that simply eliminated their words and ever showing their face and just included the raw footage of the places. It's really that bad. With a world of enthusiastic (and educated) tourists or guides to choose from who would have viewed this as the opportunity of a life time and demonstrated some respect for the places they were going by perhaps learning anything about them in advance to prepare themselves to show the world, why they chose these two mopes is beyond me. I found myself (and my wife as well) getting angry at the show each time we watched because these people were ruining it all. Save yourself the annoyance and buy other travel DVD's from the same places and you'll be much happier. Rick Steves has a wonderful box set of Europe where he educates and moves you over each place he sees. He has respect for both the places and the viewer. Samantha Brown, who is very different, also has some nice episodes. Rudy Maxa, who does his show on PBS is another wonderful option. Frankly, ANYTHING is better than this. (Heck, stare at some postcards and you'll get more out of it without the frustration). I also suggest going to Google Earth and looking at all the amazing photos that users have posted all around the world. There's so many better ways to experience the world, even if you can't travel there yourself. Don't waste the excitement of these fantastic's places on these unappreciative, misinformed and ignorant self absorbed people. Yuck.
Brian

Click Here to see more reviews about: 1,000 Places To See Before You Die: Collection 1 (2007)

Journey to the world's most unforgettable places in this dazzling series based on the bestselling book. As you venture through the vast beauty and diverse cultures of well-known tourist locales and destinations more off the beaten path, you will be forever transformed! Newlyweds Albin and Melanie Ulle soak up all the world has to offer on a dream honeymoon, experiencing everything from Brazil's pulsating nightlife to Australia's colorful Great Barrier Reef to the sensual feast that is Italy and much, much more. Includes: Alaska, Brazil, France, Italy, Australia, Hawaii

Get 37% OFF

Click here for more information about 1,000 Places To See Before You Die: Collection 1 (2007)

Samantha Brown's Passport to Great Weekends: Collection 1 (2008) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)She's back! The lovable, witty, and energetic Samantha Brown returns in a fun, adventurous trek around the world in "Season one: Passport to Great Weekends."
Brown's personality is nothing if not lovely and zany and out of control. Her zest for life and that smile! are what drive this collection of trips around the globe to the tip of the peak. In season one, the world's most favorite travel guide host invites us to beautiful locales that one cannot pass up--and you do not even have to leave your sofa. But these videos would not be as fun as they are without experiencing at least one of the cities recommended here.
Brown takes us to such places like Orlando, Florida, where the heat is not the only thing that sizzles in the air. Did you see that wine taster?
In San Francisco, Brown helps the viewer find inexpensive ways to enjoy the City by the Bay, and one of the most beautiful cities in the country.
In New Hampshire, Samantha returns home to dine, laugh, and have fun with family. She even goes to Maine! All in one trip!
Las Vegas, watch out! We see a different side of Ms. Brown here than we have in the past. Let's just say she will have you regaling with laughter when she serves drinks to the locals--the Samantha Brown way!
Whatever your penchant for travel, even in today's economic upheaval, Samantha Brown shows us ways in which we can get away, if only for the weekend, inexpensively, and live on the edge with a big, open smile.
Now let's hope season two of this fantastic series finds its way to DVD soon. And where in the world are the "Passport to Latin America" and "Great Hotels" DVD series? More adventures are on the way!


Click Here to see more reviews about: Samantha Brown's Passport to Great Weekends: Collection 1 (2008)

Samantha Brown is here to prove that all you need for a fantastic adventure is 48 hours and a taste for fun. With her eagerness to try anything, her sense of humor, and an insider's knowledge, Samantha is the perfect travel companion as she shares her favorite spots all around the world in these 18 great episodes. Orlando New Orleans Paris Tuscany London Miami Las Vegas Cabo New HampshireAustin Washington, D.C. Dude Ranch in Wyoming Myrtle Beach Santa Fe Brooklyn San Francisco Los Angeles Cape Cod

Get 12% OFF

Click here for more information about Samantha Brown's Passport to Great Weekends: Collection 1 (2008)