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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
High quality but rushed coverage of SA trains, September 25, 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Travel the World by Train: South America (DVD)
In typical TWBT format, covers trains in six countries, approx. 10 minutes each. Time for a few quick glimpses of the depot, the train itself, some passengers, and a few scenic views; then on to the next country. Excellent video and audio quality, including many overhead helicopter shots. Starts in Ecuador, then to Brazil and south, including Macchu Picchu. Ends with the "Patagonia Express," a steam train publicized by Paul Theroux; typically, the DVD shows this train arriving at its destination at night missing all the scenery in the area. Really a "sampler" of the subjects covered, providing only tantalizing glimpses of several potentially fascinating rail trips.
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1.0 out of 5 stars
Not for railfans or anyone who likes trains even a little bit., December 26, 2011
This review is from: Travel the World by Train: South America (DVD)
The producers of this film anchored a travelogue around several South American train trips. But the producers seem to have no interest whatsoever in trains. There's nothing about the original railroad goals, the construction, the equipment, or the operations. In the Ecuadorean segment there is a view of part of a switchback and the narrator seems to be launching something big. That's not the case. We see the switchback for a few seconds, then cut to food vendors in the next town in a longer sequence. The people who made this film are far more interested in describing the dishes of the food vendors than they are the railroad. The only references to equipment mention that a steam locomotive was manufactired in the US in 1922 and that another locomotive uses logs and branches for fuel. That's it. It's not even a good travelogue. To call it superficial would be to give it an undeserved compliment. An outstanding example of the slovenliness of the production occurs when the narrator mentions that Sao Paulo is the largest city in South America but fails to give the population,something he does for all of the other large cities. I am truly glad that I rented this and it is no longer in my home.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice ride on a train., December 12, 2011
This review is from: Travel the World by Train: South America (DVD)
you feel like you are riding on a train through the countryside of the different parts of south america. this video is better than "travel to south america by cruise" which is not exactly sailing on a cruise ship. the only problem with this train video is that it only gives you a view of one segment of society and that however gives an impression that only poor people ride trains.
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