Smithsonian Channel Aerial America: Southwest Collection takes five of the programs that aired on the Smithsonian Channel and puts them on Blu-ray. Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado are featured in this DVD. It is presented in full widescreen with an aspect ratio of 16 x 9 and 5.1 digital surround sound. I’m no audiophile, but all that adds up to a gorgeous picture and immersive sound.
This is the kind of DVD that Blu-ray screams for. It also made us want a much bigger television, but we got by with the 42” that our wall allows.
Every program is an in-depth look at the state’s history and rich landscape. My oldest son started to kick and scream when I put the DVD on. Rather than going to play he opted to watch it with me and was instantly hooked. He now wants to visit the Arizona State Fair and keeps asking when we can go there.
The Arizona program is more than the state fair. They show you the mysterious obelisk in the dessert that buries the man who founded Tombstone after looking for silver. How does a dessert state get their water? The channel that cuts through the state is given good time for explanation also.
What surprised me was how entertaining all of this education was. The visuals are really pretty and are all chamber of commerce type images. When I was watching Aerial America I wanted them to do a program on this state or that region, just to be an armchair tourist.
Aerial America: Southwest Collection is rated G and runs just under four hours. As it’s a documentary about a place there is nothing objectionable for children and it’ll certainly stoke their wanderlust and desire to travel.
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