Video Visits: Discovering Greece

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Starring: Discovering Greece
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Type: DVD
Studio: Questar
Release Date: 2001-02-27
Running Time: 120 minutes
Walk along paths at the Acropolis that were once trod by Socrates and other great philosophers. Explore the isle of Santorini with its famed Aegean architecture, and visit the picturesque windmills of Myconos. In Crete, examine the ruins of Knossos, where the legendary King Minos lived. And in Delphi, learn of the oracles who foretold the future. Extra Features: Ancient Athens and Corinth - These two famous cities of the ancient world come alive in re-creations of their monuments and buildings. Athens - the home of philosophers and artists. And Corinth - the strategic gateway to Greece. Temples of Zeus and Poseidon - Zeus, the greatest god on Mount Olympus, and Poseidon, powerful god of the sea, were honored by these two gigantic tributes in stone. Not only are they re-created for us, but we learn how the giant statues were built. Delphi Revisited - In this intriguing feature, the great city of Delphi is revisited - home of the famous and influential oracles who saw into the future. We see Delphi as it must have looked to the ancient Greeks who lived there, with its splendid temples and monuments.

Don't bother
We purchased this DVD based on the above two positive reviews. We are planning a trip to Greece in several months. We found this DVD to be so tedious and boring that we almost wish we weren't going. It goes out of its way to show badly videographed scenes of tourist sites way too crowded with cheeseball tourists and ancient monuments covered in scaffolding. Interspersed are interviews with native Greeks who share insights like, "Athens is one of the most beautiful capitals, because it is beautiful and has beautiful buildings." Or "I ride a motorcycle because it is very crowded and smoggy and I think the only way to get around is a motorcycle because I like motorcycles." I am grateful we bought this DVD used and didn't bother to watch the whole thing. Thank God we're going to the islands. Maybe there will be fewer scaffolds and fewer irritating people.

Beautifully done
I thoroughly enjoyed this DVD. It was well written, the photography was top-notch, and the balance between historical and present day Greece was well done. I would recommend this DVD as a must-see before going to Greece or to remind you of the wonderful time you had there. Definitely a professional product with a voice over by someone whose voice is pleasing to listen to (not always the case with documentaries). You truly get a taste of Greece by viewing this DVD.

Get to know Greece
Greece's rich history and dynamic cultures are explored in this video, another well-produced entry in Questar's "Discovering" series. The video covers the major cities and islands, revealing the history, geography, culture, and people of Greece. Accompanying the visuals is a nice soundtrack by popular Greek New Age musician Chris Spheeris. All of the major landmarks, the touchstones of much of Western culture, are given attention, with appropriate amounts of history and mythology interspersed for relevance. Especially noteworthy are:

--Famed sites such as the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Olympia, Delphi, Mycenae, the Sanctuary of Apollo, and the Convent of Laherna

--The beautiful harbors of Skiathos, and the island of Santorini

--The island of Crete, significant to many cultures over the centuries, and home to the ancient Minoans, early seafarers and one of the oldest cultures of the region

--The unusual architecture and windmills of Mykonos

--The island of Corfu, a convergence of Greek, British, French, and especially Italian cultures that retains both mainland European and Greek sensibilities

Since the main video feature tries to touch on as many aspects of Greek history and society as possible, the major sites only get a few minutes worth of attention. However, the DVD features three nice bonus features that reveal more detail and history about ancient Athens and Corinth, the Temples of Zeus and Poseidon, and the sprawling complex of Delphi.

One minor criticism I will offer is that Greece's many famous sites are given much attention at the expense of learning more about the Greek people. The famed Greek cuisine is given some attention, but much of Greek culture--such as dance, language, and music--are given brief mention, if mentioned at all. That's perhaps the video's biggest drawback, but it does cover most other aspects of Greecian culture and history pretty well. If you're planning a trip to Greece or just want to learn more about it, this is a good place to start. Follow this up with the excellent books "Fodor's Greece," along with "Fodor's Exploring the Greek Islands."

I hope this review was helpful.

--Christian Wheeler