Discover the global event that promises to inspire viewers through captivating photography, the highest quality production values, the latest in high-definition technology and compelling stories that epitomize the heart of... more » a country and its people. 4-Disc Set Includes: China (CAT# DIS3866DVD; UPC: 014381386622) Join rice farmers tilling the land their ancestors have worked for 18 centuries and explore the countryside where monks teach their 500-year-old discipline. You'll share in the Olympic dreams of a 12-year-old gymnast and learn about Shanghai's key development tycoon while exploring the country where tradition is meeting modernity in life behind the Great Wall. Italy (CAT# DIS3883DVD; UPC: 014381388329) Witness six stories that weave the land of love, lineage, style and passion in the heart of Italy. From a jockey participating in the world's fastest horse race, to a former fisherman setting a free-diving record off Sicily's coast, to the Missoni family's fashion world and a Venetian gondolier's attempt to keep his family in his native city. Inhale and enjoy the spectacle and beauty that is Italy. Brazil (CAT# DIS3884DVD; UPC: 014381388428) Learn the roles that history, geography, culture, religion and the natural environment have played in shaping one of the most fascinating countries in the world. This documentary showcases one of the most ethnically diverse nations on earth, exploring stories from the Amazon to Sao Paulo's hair-raising helicopter commute. Australia (CAT# DIS3886DVD; UPC: 014381388626) One of earth's youngest nations with one of its oldest indigenous populations, Australia is a land of contrasts. Discover a country that is a captivating mix of desolation and riches, from the harsh life of the outback to the welcoming, fertile lands of its coastline.« less
Brazil - The two-day Carnival segment is the best of Brazil.
Italy - A visit to Italy. Excellent song and video with a solid narration.
Movie Reviews
Disappointed
Raymond A. Cronin | 01/02/2008
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I only wish that more time was devoted to the natural beauty of Italy and its cities,towns and natural coutryside, particulary in the north, as opposed to horse racing, auto racing etc."
Italy Revealed
Muru Khunti | Dinuba,CA USA | 07/04/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Excellent photography and subject selection.Even though the dvd is in 1080i--on my Sony 60inch 1080P SXRD the picture quality was absolutely outstanding.I have a PS3 with Blue Ray DVD connected via HDMI cable."
Beautiful movie.
John | Boise, ID | 01/27/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The video quality of this movie was very good. My wife and I have been to italy many times and enjoyed this film because it had many of the same places that we had been to. We have a movie similar to this one that is not blu-ray and it just doesn't hold up to the beauty of Italy. I would definitely recommend this movie to anyone interested and I would also recommend a blu-ray player so that you could watch this excellent movie in it's full quality."
Beautiful photography
Andrew Lynn | Upstate | 11/24/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is worth watching in HD for the stunning photography alone.
Contrary to some reviews, there is nothing wrong with the disc. Certain HD-DVD players have firmware bugs which have been fixed in newer versions, that keep them from showing several titles including this one. Connect your HD-DVD player to the internet and run the update utility under Settings."
A look at the lives of some interesting Italians
D. Marshall | Montreal, Canada Canada | 04/02/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Do not buy this video if you wish to be shown the Colesseum, etc. etc. - all of the tourist attractions, it is not that type of video. It is more about capturing the mood of the country, some of its background, and the prospects for the future.
You will meet a man purusing his dream of becoming a gondolier in Venice; a volunteer rescue worker in the Italian Alps; we follow a member of the Missoni family preparing for their new collection; a horse jockey who hopes to participate in Siena's palio (a 90 second horserace which brings the neighbourhoods of Siena to a fever-pitch); a young Roman girl who hopes to be the country's first femae race car driver; and a young Sicilian man who is a free diver, hoping to become professional. Along the way we are told about the state of the Catholic church in modern Italy, and other vignettes of information about the country that we learn while we look in on these people's lives. And of course, Isabella Rosselini's voice is wonderful, I love it.
So you will not be told where to go and what to see in this DVD. But you will have a better sense of the country and its people, what makes them tick, where they came from, where they are going. For me that was fascinating. I did find the scene of Siena's palio a bit upsetting actually (when they say it is a dangerous race they mean it). In my mind all I could think was 'is it really worth it to risk your life for a horse race?' but this is something that is obviously very important to them.
I did not make this purchase expecting to get a tourist's tour of Italy. I borrowed it from the library first. Then I bought it knowing what I was getting. It is a DVD that I will enjoy having in my collection."