Disasters of the Century

Most of the disasters in this series are Canada disasters, but a few USA disasters are also presented. Some are fairly interesting, some are kind of boring (e.g. tornado disasters). Often there is "padding" by introducing insignificant people, their lives, and their comments. I would rather the whole story be narrated without the boring part of people's live.

Whenever computer graphics are used, it is often amateurish by today's standard.

It is 4:3 screen format.

The most noticeable and worst part is the narration is often over powered by background sound effects to the point where the narrator cannot be heard.

I thought turning on the closed caption would help. Unfortunately, when I cannot hear the narrator, the closed caption reads "narration inaudible" (not exact words).

You would think this sound mixing problem would be fixed after one or two such episodes. But no. It is the hallmark of this series.

The events, interviews, and photographs/video are interesting, but each episode is too generic. The facts presented in each case amount to a short written paragraph. For example, the Cranbrook airport crash mentioned the open thrust reverser and the pilot not updating the ETA; however, there is no discussion on reporting requirements for arriving at uncontrolled airfields, who was supposed to update the driver on the runway, and what caused the thrust reverser to open.

This show is kind of entertaining. If you like watching disasters, but it is history, I suppose, so, OK. It has fairly good footage and

direction/concept. It involves interviews with locals from the actual

events and some OK, reenactments. It's a "history channel" kind of show. Pretty good really, except for the sound. Obviously, a million-dollar budget for the season or so. Either way, well done and expensive. But any untrained teenager used to mp3's could better sound..so.. soo. weird that the background sound effects (wind, waves, etc.) are way too loud.. very often you lose the narrator. Seems like if you spend all time and money to make a show, you'd watch one and make sure it works. I've tried adjusting the sound options on my cable box.. NO luck. Of course, I've never had to with any other show, PBS, primetime , or anything. So bizarre.. I wish they'd fix it, because every time I think I'll give it a try.. well, no go. As the last reviewer said.. "Why didn't they listen/watch the first episode or two and fix it?" An easy fix. so weird.