The Smithsonian Network's four part mini-series 'Sky View" is an odd mix of familiar territory. It is equal parts travelogue, history lesson, and visual treat, as each 25-minute episode focuses on a portion of a major European nation. The gimmick however, is the footage of these countries is all aerial and while that may not seem impressive, it quickly becomes apparent, why the creators chose to employ this method of filming.

As the camera soars above the cities, towns and landscapes that make each of these places unique in their own rights, the viewer begins to get a sense of how amazing many of these places are. For instance, in the episode on Britain, the material covered has been done at least a thousand times. We get a brief history lesson of how London came to be and then see major landmarks. However, by never dropping down to a street level (or even river level) camera angle, the expansive nature of the city starts to pop out. When the journey takes us similar areas on the French Riviera, the contrast between centuries old architecture and modern convenience is indescribable.

The series as a whole though is rather hit-or-miss. The episodes in Britain and Italy are watchable, but only due to the aerial footage; the information provided is for the most part old and tired. The other two episodes covering the French Riviera and Ireland are quite illuminating. I didn't know about the fortresses built high atop the peaks of France by the Cathars, nor did I realize that the town of Carcassone was restored in the late 1800s with the wrong types of roofs. It is during these moments that I wished there were a few more episodes on the disc that focused on the surrounding areas of well-known cities.

The 1.85:1 non-anamorphic widescreen presentation, is an unsurprising disappointment. Despite the proud title card of this being a Smithsonian HD production, the end result is a crushing blow to the effectiveness of the program. The transfer is very soft and lacking in detail, which for a program touting stunning aerial footage is unacceptable. I have no doubt that source footage looks great, but for reasons unknown Smithsonian doesn't ensure their DVD transfers are up to modern standards.

The Audio

The Dolby Digital English audio is nothing spectacular, consisting of clearly reproduced narration, with non-intrusive background music rounding out things. It's adequate for the needs of the program.

The Extras

None.
Final Thoughts

"Sky View" is a nice afternoon diversion, but by no means an appropriate substitution for a good travel program (Rick Steves' Europe gets my ringing endorsement) or history lesson. I'd be more inclined to give this disc a stronger recommendation, had Smithsonian chosen to treat the technical presentation with more care. Rent It.