why can't Quicktime open iMovie Video Clips?

[space-time]

I have a Mac Mini running Mavericks (10.9.5), and I just installed iLife '09 (iMovie 8.something I believe). I am now importing some miniDV tapes from my late father-in-law that mother-in-law wants to take back with her on a hard drive. I am looking at the movie clips and when I try to open one, it says QuickTime cannot open it.

Is this normal? how can Apple come up with a file format for iMovie that QuickTime cannot handle? How takes these kid of decisions at Apple?