Customer Reviews

Fireplace DVD Video - Virtual Flames

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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

I enjoy this DVD and I'm glad to add this to my collection. Here is what to expect:

The Colonial Fireplace is good for a nighttime effect. The background of the fireplace is dark and romantic with nice "wood looking" gas logs. The flames are good gas log flames with proper centering and size with no distracting mantles or screens so your TV looks like a "real" fireplace. To make things better they could have added a scene choice for a daytime effect with a lighter scene.

The two outdoor fire scenes were good and enjoyable. I liked the dancing variety of the flames of a wood fire and outdoor breeze, but keep in mind that the backgrounds ruin the effect of trying to make your TV look like a "real" fireplace (if that is your intent).

I like the natural sounds from all three scenes. The visuals and sounds have good quality. The natural sounds and looks of the fire are uninterrupted; there is no music, narratives, or any other type of distraction.

the logs are fake and don't actually burn. the flames flicker too quickly to look believable. either the gas pressure is too high, or the video is sped up for some reason. no burning coals, smoke, or embers at all, so the sound (although good) is also fake.

the campfire scene is more of the same, except from a wider, outdoor shot, but the only thing that burns is the gas.

the beach "bonfire" is pitiful. bonfires are supposed to be big. but since they're using gas, i guess small was safer. the waves in the background are on crack. again, they sped up the video for some reason. and it's clearly a cut and paste job. the sound (although nice, again) doesn't actually match the waves and fire.

the good: scenes are stationary, sound is nice and makes the scenes believable. fireplace can be left on for long periods of time without getting annoying.

the bad: it's not a real fireplace, so if that's what you want (like i did) don't get this one.

The "Video Fireplace" presents two natural settings for campfires and a Colonial Fireplace. The indoor fire has lovely crackling sounds (although the image is rather dark) and the Rustic Campfire is in a lovely lush grassy setting with trees in the background. The Beach Bonfire is intriguing with waves rolling in to the shore and the sun setting in the distance.

In all the fireplaces, the heat is very realistic with heat waves rising from the burning wood and the wind at the beach whipping the flames around at will. I think the natural settings enhance the mystery of fire and these are lovely to view or to have on in the background when you are reading, cooking or just spending time relaxing.

Unlike many fireplace DVDs, this one is almost interesting enough to keep watching without doing much of anything else. The Beach Bonfire is especially relaxing while reading a book. You can look at the ocean waves for a few minutes and then go back to reading.

Advantages of this DVD include:

Natural settings

No frames around the picture

Focus is entirely on the fireplace and the

picture is stable, no zooming in and out

The only thing I guess I'm looking for is this quality with a fireplace that instead of playing continuously, gives me the option to watch a fire from start to finish, complete with burning embers at the end. I will say, however, that the Beach Bonfire is a true find. So, I think of all the fireplace DVDs I've been viewing lately, this is one of my favorites.

~The Rebecca Review

i really like this dvd. the sound of the ocean and birds on the 3rd fire/beach scene is wonderful. sometimes you can't always get away for vacation and this just helped me get through a tough day. it's awesome.

This was a gas fireplace with fake logs. The logs never burn down like a real fireplace. Plus, I expected a roaring fireplace, not this trickle. I don't know how they did it, but even the beach fire looked fake. No logs burned down and crumbled as a real fire would. When burnt logs burn, they crumble and emit lots of embers and sparks. This lacked all of that.

This is by far the best fireplace dvd on Amazon or the web!! There are three different scenes and each one is great. Yeah, I think that there are some gas logs, but there are also quite a few real logs and they are both mixed together well so that there is not much variation on the fire. It's great. It will "Burn" for hours and remain constant. I've tried three of the other fireplaces for dvd and they just don't do the job. This is the way to go!!! Believe me, you will NOT be disappointed. Everything is top notch, from the packaging, to the dvd disc, to the image on your screen.

Great...Turned my big screen into a fireplace with realistic sounds. Good Buy. Like a screen saver for my T.V. with 3 different fireplace settings.