Big Picture Big Sound

The Film

Disney has cranked out yet another inspirational sports story, without the likes of Dennis Quaid, Kurt Russell, Shia LaBeouf or any other big name star. With Morning Light, they go the documentary route to present the story of a crew training to compete in the 44th Transpacific Yacht Race.

If that doesn't sound very exciting to you, your name is definitely not Roy Disney. Walt's nephew not only executive produced the movie, but he's a sailing enthusiast and former Transpac competitor. When someone like that is a fan, you apparently get your own movie.

However, the difference between this story and any other tale of the sea is that the crew of the Morning Light is the youngest to ever compete in the Transpac race. That’s pretty cool. Also, of the 538 applicants, only 11 actually made it on board -- an interesting story in itself. 

The Transpac race is 2,225 miles long. Fortunately, the movie is only 98 minutes. However, it's a fairly interesting 98 minutes. Of course, it's a bumpy ride. There are plenty of goofy moments that play more like Survivor on the high seas. Also, we never really get attached to any of the crew. Running a tight ship takes a lot of hard work, so there's very little time for anything else.

Who knew? Apparently, no one. That's why you don't see many sailing movies that don’t involve pirates, Johnny Depp, or both. It’s pretty cool that Disney went outside of the comfort zone to capture a compelling and different kind of sport.

The Picture

Morning Light features some older footage and night vision shots, making the film kind of uneven on the eyes. There are multiple sources, which does add to the documentary's style and story, but not so much the image. However, when the shots are high-def, they are simply breathtaking. If you've ever been on a boat, you know how beautiful most of the scenery can be. This 1.85:1 transfer conveys much of that action beautifully. In fact, it's so lifelike, you may start to feel a little seasick.

The Sound

Splish-splash, this sounds much cooler than any tub we've ever taken a spin on. Morning Light's DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack allows your speakers to get as much of a workout as its crew. There's a lot going on in this movie. Unfortunately, that includes the soundtrack, which is often a bit too loud for our taste, as well as unnecessary. Believe it or not, there's a lot of action in the art of sailing. The sounds of the sea and this crew are plenty. In fact, it's so much that the dialogue occasionally gets drowned out. Still, the sound here will keep you glued for the film's entire 98-minute runtime.

The Extras

The Blu-ray Disc offers two special features. While that may seem meager for a big-budget release, it's more than enough extra material here. "Stories from the Sea" is the typical, but interesting, making-of documentary, which includes interviews with Roy and Leslie Disney. There's also a 42-minute ESPN special that plays like an ESPN special, but is probably worth a peek since we're sure you blew by it the first time.

Final Thoughts

Ahoy mates! Morning Light has a nice few surprises -- especially for high-def fans. However, don’t go in expecting your typical weepy Disney sports classic. We respect that you might feel a bit queasy about the prospects of 98 minutes' worth of sailing. Just grab some Dramamine and get ready for a pretty interesting ride.

Where to Buy:

• Morning Light on Blu-ray Disc (Amazon.com)

Product Details

• Actors: Patrick Warburton, Chris Branning, Graham Brant-Zawadzki, Chris Clark, Charlie Enright
• Director: Mark Monroe
• Audio/Languages: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (English), Dolby Digital 5.1 (French)
• Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Region: A
• Number of Discs: 1
• Rating: PG
• Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
• Blu-ray Disc Release Date: June 16, 2009
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• List Price: $39.99
• Extras:
  • Stories from the Sea
  • Making the Cut