The Movie
The tropical waters of the South Pacific are home to more marine species than anywhere else on Earth, which has led to the highly specialized evolution of boundless strange and wonderful creatures. Shown theatrically in IMAX 3D last year, the documentary Under the Sea is as close as most of us will ever get to diving into the midst of all this life, and all this drama, most of it centered on eating/not being eaten, with a little mating thrown in for fun. The visions captured by the underwater crew are simply stunning, more fantastic than any science fiction film.
Actor Jim Carrey is our narrator, bringing a light but not over-the-top mood to the gastronomic and romantic proceedings, taking a serious turn as he reminds us of the threat posed by global warming. He ends on a positive note, as we humans seem to be finally taking responsibility for our impact on the environment, which might ultimately make the difference between this movie being a simple visit or a last glimpse.
The Picture
The large, über-quality IMAX format requires special film stock, cameras and exhibition in order to fully capture and deliver the maximum clarity, almost akin to viewing these exotic places through a giant window. This superior film element lends itself to a superior video master--strictly 2D here--and the range and depth of colors afforded by high-definition are particularly awe-inspiring. Slight anomalies of focus in the corners of the 1.78:1 home video frame are maintained, and the tiniest shrimp or specks of silt are razor-sharp. What I thought might be a form of video noise was actually the brisk movement of tiny fins or gills: Apparently nothing escapes the IMAX lens.
The Sound
It's hard to know for sure how much of the soundtrack has been enhanced or added outright to achieve this full-bodied DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix. Carrey's narration is dependably front and center, although the filmmakers often let the currents and bubbles do the talking, with just enough of a 360-degree spread to really make us feel that we too are beneath the water, volcanic gas vents et. al. At points we can hear the stars swimming from speaker to speaker, and bass is deftly utilized, as for a crashing wave. The eclectic musical score by Mickey Erbe and Maribeth Solomon also reproduces magnificently in the home theater.
The Extras
"Filming IMAX: Under the Sea" (seven minutes) is a fairly standard preview intended to compel us to go out and see the movie. Exclusive to Blu-ray is a series of five "Expeditions," brief promotional "webisodes" totaling 12 minutes that reveal behind-the-scenes secrets, local color above the water and more for the different locations: Papua New Guinea - New Britain, Papua New Guinea - Milne Bay, South Australia, The Great Barrier Reef and Indonesia. All of these supplements are technically HD, but they look only so-so.
And although our early review copy is Blu-ray-only, Warner assured us that the final "Combo Pack" version sold at Amazon.com and elsewhere will indeed include the movie on standard-definition DVD as a bonus, in addition to a Digital Copy.
Final Thoughts
While IMAX movies are optimally enjoyed in a bona fide IMAX theater, Blu-ray offers the next best thing, state-of-the-art home video quality for the best-looking movies. And this movie must be seen to be believed.
Product Details
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