Product Details

• Actors: Virtual Flames
• Directors: West Coast MEDiA, Inc.
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: West Coast MEDiA Inc.
• DVD Release Date: October 11, 2002
• Run Time: 900 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00007EEGR
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #95,513 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 123 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A True video Fireplace, March 27, 2003

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fireplace DVD Video - Virtual Flames (DVD)

I researched the reviews from the other video fireplace DVDs and decided to take a chance on this DVD that was not reviewed at the time. My gamble payed off and here are the features of this DVD:

There are 3 chapters that are 30 min each: colonial fireplace, campfire, and beach bonfire. When you play a chapter, it's automatically set to repeat.

All fires start off fully lit; there are no "striking matches" scenes and there is no fire buildup or watching the fire go out. This is literally the case of someone building a fire, letting it build up, and then filming the fire for 30 minutes.

There is no panning or zooming! The camera stays focused on the fire and nothing else. In the Colonial Fireplace, the camera is focused on what is inside the firebox. There are no mantle details shown.

There is no music whatsoever - the only sounds come from the popping embers (except for the beach bonfire in which you can also hear the ocean).

The video is not of hollywood quality, but it's good video. The DVD says it used "broadcast quality" video equipment. I guess so. It's watchable, clear, no bleeding colors, and the flames are detailed - they're not bled out and fuzzy.

I give only 4 stars because it would be nice to toggle on/off some ambient music, but as far as video fireplaces - this DVD is exactly as advertised: a video fireplace.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Progressive Scan DVD Player + Big screen HDTV = Perfect Fire, February 10, 2004

By 

Scott Canoni "Tech Guru" (Ossining, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fireplace DVD Video - Virtual Flames (DVD)

I have a 51 inch rear projection HDTV with a progressive scan DVD player using component wires. The picture quality could not be any better. I researched all of the Fireplace DVDs available and I took a chance with this one. I am extremely pleased with the quality and choice of scenes. When I throw a party, I find that being able to shuffle between 3 different fire scenes is much better than glancing over and seeing a huge blank screen. If you're looking for something to throw on the TV while you have people over, then pick up this DVD, you won't be disappointed.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I should have bought photographs of fires, December 17, 2005

By 

John Richard Oliver - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fireplace DVD Video - Virtual Flames (DVD)

I just sent this E-mail to West Coast Media:

Merry Christmas,

When I read about Colonial Fireplace, Rustic Campfire, and Beach Bonfire, I naturally think of WOOD BURNING. You know, kindling flashing, hotspots flaring on the logs, flames slowly emerging from the crevices, full-blown firestorm, blue flames spewing from cracks, white ash forming at the cut edges, red glow below the ash, collapse of smaller logs on the bottom, slow disintegration of the large primary logs to a red glowing charcoal until all that is left is a fine white ash at the bottom of your fire pit. That is exactly what happens every time I build a fire in either of our two fireplaces. I have never timed them but I suspect the lifecycle of my fires is about 90 to 150 minutes. With the proper kindling and log set, I seldom need to use a fire poker to keep the logs burning as the larger logs falling into the charcoal of the lower logs usually reinvigorates the flames beautifully. That is the sights and sounds I expected from your video.

I was astonished to see that Virtual Flames used plaster logs and gas to present a plastic fire. I watched the Colonial Fireplace for 20 minutes before I fast-forwarded to the end to see that nothing had changed. I thought that by some stupid oversight, someone had selected a fireplace equipped with plaster logs and natural gas flames. I was disappointed but went on to review Rustic Campfire and Beach Bonfire. When I saw plaster logs and gas flames in the woods and on the beach. I was amazed to realize that some poor production crew had to haul plaster logs and a gas tank to places where none can naturally be found.

Living in San Diego, my wife seldom lets me build a fire as she claims I make the house too hot. I usually have to open windows and doors to compensate even in winter. Having recently added a large screen TV to our family room, I was hoping for a fill the large black maw on our wall while accommodating my wife's sensitivities. A video fire with soundtrack was going to be a Christmas present for her. I am so pleased that I decided to review it before wrapping it. I am disgusted with your product and I will return it promptly.


Jack Oliver