Plot: What’s it about?
Nostradamus lived centuries ago, but a good deal of people have come to believe his writings were bold predictions that have proven to be accurate. His writings have been explored and interpreted to no end, often put into fragments that do indeed seem to be looks into the future from an ancient world. Whether his predictions are just that, accurate visions of the future, or just words twisted to bolster a belief in psychic abilities, will never be agreed upon. But now a new book has been uncovered and some feel it is a lost book of predictions from Nostradamus. In this program, the book is revealed and its contents are probed, with expert opinions on the true history of this unearthed volume. Is this truly a lost book of Nostradamus and if so, what secrets about our future does it hold, if it is indeed a look into what lies ahead?
As someone who watches a lot of programs from The History Channel, I was quite disappointed with Lost Book of Nostradamus. The subject of Nostradamus and his predictions is ripe for such a program, in fact I have watched more than one effective, enjoyable documentary on the topic. But in Lost Book of Nostradamus, the tone is such a stark contrast from the channel usually presents, it is actually quite a shock. Instead of presenting the issue, then allowing experts on both sides to present their cases, this program gives us a narrow, one sided perspective. This includes glossing over obstacles, treating guesses as fact, and other problems that make this more propaganda than educated information. I just expect so much more from The History Channel, so this proved to be a let down. In the end, I cannot recommend Lost Book of Nostradamus, as it feels forced and incomplete, so let’s hope The History Channel doesn’t fall into this kind of trap again.
Video: How does it look?
Lost Book of Nostradamus is presented in 1.78:1 widescreen, which is not enhanced for widescreen televisions. This doesn’t all look that great, but on par with what you’d see when broadcast. I did see frequent jagged edges, but detail is reasonable and the image is passable. The visuals are on par with television broadcast, so not great, but decent enough. I found colors to be well presented and contrast is accurate, so no issues in those areas. So again, I would prefer anamorphic enhancement, but this looks on par with standard definition broadcast.
Audio: How does it sound?
I’d have to say this sounds just like it does when broadcast, but that isn’t bad at all. The audio is clear and error free, but don’t expect much in terms of depth or presence. This is a documentary, so the focus is on dialogue, whether via narration or interviews. The vocals are crystal clear too, so no insights are lost due to harshness or distortion. The rest of the sound effects are fine too, but as I said, this is a rather reserved soundtrack, as per the material.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes some additional scenes, but like the main feature, they have a heavy slant to one side.
