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  Specs
  • Widescreen 1.78:1
  • 16:9 Enhanced
  Languages
  • English: Dolby Digital Stereo
  Subtitles
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Getaway Volume 3 - Viva Italia
Sony Music Video/Sony BMG . R4 . COLOR . 83 mins . E . PAL

  Feature
Contract

Italy has long been the romantic Mecca for many couples who foolishly decide that they have found the one they want to share the rest of their lives with, and while there is a definite romantic edge to most of what Italy has to offer, there is something for everyone in this country that can lay claim to being the one time centre of the universe.

As with most of Channel Nine's Getaway program, Getaway - Viva Italia is a series of short presentations from the very north of Italy to the Mediterranean south, visiting cities and regions such as Rome, Naples, Florence, Tuscany, Perugia, Umbria, Siena, Turin, Calabria and Pisa. Strangely, the only major city overlooked is Venice.

The presenters give a fair balance of the good and bad, though there is very little bad. Everything is examined in honest detail from the scenery to the architecture, gastronomy, culture, tradition, local legends, and of course Italy's (Rome's) incredible history. There is input from several local guides and historians and this gives a more personal but sometimes biased view, but hey, that's patriotism, right?

Not a lot of prices are quoted, but as they change regularly, this is to be expected. Accommodation options are explored, as well as the things to see and do when you get there. There is even a quick visit to a gladiator school where tourists can enrol for the day and learn to fight and die like an ancient Roman slave.

Like most idealised holiday destinations, it's hard to imagine how fantastic a country must be until you can get there in person, but this 83-minute DVD (and not 96 minutes as boasted on the back cover) goes a way to showing just what is there, if you are adventurous, keen... and financial.

  Video
  Audio
  Extras
Contract

This collection of presentations is 16:9 enhanced, and while a few are in the aspect ratio of 1.78:1, many are from the pre-widescreen days and therefore appear cropped at the sides. If you have a standard television, then you are going to see "them black bars" all around.

Quality speaking, this is glorious, being recorded on good quality tape with quality equipment. Sharpness is superb and there is consistently good definition and clarity. Colours are bold and string and natural, showing off Italy's colourful and varying scenery. Black levels are wonderful and shadow detail is not an issue. There are no marks bar a few small, quick tape glitches and the mildest occurrence of shimmer once or twice. There is no layer change on this single layer disc.

There is a fine Dolby Digital stereo track on offer that does everything it needs to and does it well. Everything is audible, clear and clean. There are no synchronisation problems, and the groovy Italian music that is featured shows how good the audio is from the deep lows to the clear highs. This television presentation sounds as good as you would expect and should disappoint no one.

The very limited extras run a combined time of just over seven minutes and consist of an interview with Catriona Rowntree and bloopers that are mildly amusing. Nothing particularly earth shattering, but something is better than nothing, I guess.

Those who have been to Italy will tell you that, for a small country, it offers a wide variety of experiences. The north is quite different to the south, and everything in between has its own look, feel, or set of unique customs and beliefs. A trip to Europe would almost certainly have to include some time in Italy. Viva, Italia!


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  •   And I quote...
    "If your knowledge of Italy runs to pizza, Fiats and maybe wine, this DVD is sure to show you many new and wonderful things…"
    - Terry Kemp
      Review Equipment
    • DVD Player:
          Akai
    • TV:
          TEAC CT-F803 80cm Super Flat Screen
    • Receiver:
          Pioneer VSX-D409
    • Speakers:
          Wellings
    • Centre Speaker:
          Wellings
    • Surrounds:
          Wellings
    • Subwoofer:
          Sherwood SP 210W
    • Audio Cables:
          Standard RCA
    • Video Cables:
          standard s-video
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