St Barthelemy: the Magic Island; Swiss Rail Journeys

Remember sets? Elementary math? Ok, let's say that one circle represents people who think Jim Carrey is funny, while another circle represents people with an I.Q. above 12--that dinky little sliver where they intersect creates a new set that belongs to both subsets or...something like that. Swiss Rail Journeys reminded me of sets, because it's aimed at another thin slice of folk: those who are interested in Switzerland and are train buffs. This 9-part series, which was originally seen on PBS stations, is a made for video effort which takes viewers on one of several extensive railway lines crisscrossing Switzerland. We watched The Arosa Line, which runs from Chur to Arosa and crosses some huge trestles along the way. The narration bounces back and forth between descriptions of Swiss landmarks in the countryside and various villages and historic commentary (lightly sprinkled with semi-technical talk) about the railway line. The video quality is okay, but I've seen Switzerland looking much better, and the narration--while not absolutely coma-inducing--is not recommended for those who are in the least bit drowsy. In short, Swiss Rail Journeys is rather slow and rather dry--but if you happen to be into Switzerland and trains, you'll probably stick with it. Other titles in the series include: The Davos Line, The Bruenig Line, and The Albula Line. [Note: six titles are offered in a boxed set for $99.95.]"Tell host Alan that you saw him on a video and he'll have a surprise for you," burbles the narrator about a favored eatery in St. Barthelemy: The Magic Island. We've no idea what the "surprise" is, but it seems that commercials have reached a new stage of interactivity. Boasting so-so video quality, this bland-looking production features brief historical tidbits about St. Bart's, and a tour of the many beaches found on the 8 square mile slip of land, but the primary focus here is commercial: from which car to rent (Avis) to which hotels and restaurants to use (all the ones listed as sponsors at the end of the video, of course). The script has about as much objective tourist advice as you'd expect to find in a travel agency brochure ("magic island," "friendly people," "enchanting beaches," etc.), and while the back of the video jacket boasts that the video "contains beach nudity," it's brief--certainly not enough to recommend the tape. Swiss Railway Journeys is an optional purchase. St Barthelemy: The Magic Island is not recommended. (R. Pitman)