The Film
Sea Rex: Journey to a Prehistoric World could be one of the most ridiculous movies ever made. However, it is in 3D; seem better now?
If you haven't heard of Sea Rex, it's because it's a French movie that played in select IMAX theaters. That said, one theater is not selective enough for this one. This is like one of those so-bad-it's-good SyFy channel flicks, like Mega Python vs. Gatoroid. Except it's not that good. In fact, Tiffany and/or Debbie Gibson would be welcome here.
See, the acting is incredibly bad. The story isn't so great, either. Chloe Hollings is stiff as a board in the role of Julie. Maybe she's just scared stiff that she's in the middle of a guided tour from the infamous, long-dead paleontologist Georges Cuvier (played by Richard Rider). The two travel through the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous eras. Of course, not physically. That would be insane! Instead, it's sort like flashbacks, with the two discussing and learning about various ocean creatures.
Sea Rex may entertain those kids interested in dinosaurs. Everyone else will have a really hard time hanging in, though. This title has Mystery Science Theater 3000 written all over it. Also, despite the Blu-ray case listing a 58-minute runtime, Sea Rex: Journey to a Prehistoric World actually clocks in around 41 minutes, which includes the credits. Be thankful.
The Picture
With the word IMAX well above the title on this Blu-ray, we expected a lot from the film. It may have completely crapped out on the content, but this is a wonderful 1.78:1 transfer. The disc includes both 2D and 3D versions of the film, which have great colors that are especially eye-popping during the underwater sequences. The special effects aren't especially great as far as the creatures are concerned, but the 3D does deliver. If you're into 3D, this film should fill your effects quota, with plenty of creatures flying, swimming and popping out at whim.
The Sound
Sea Rex may hold the record for most languages ever offered on Blu-ray. Everyone must see Sea Rex! Maybe it just makes more sense in Slovenian or something.
Say as many bad things as you want about Sea Rex -- and you will. However, it does have a very nice DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 track. The dialogue is crystal clear and has a bold presence. Even better, there's a ton of surround action going on. The ocean sounds, creature cries, and a creepy soundtrack all deliver a nice immersive experience.
The Extras
Let's talk a little about this disc's navigation. Yeah, it makes about as much sense as Sea Rex. The main menu features a bunch of little symbols. The play button is sort of obvious, but then there's a book, a star symbol, something that looks like the volume in the corner of a PC, and something so confusing, you need to click on it to realize it's the language option. More appropriate navigation would have been $#*! and WTF.
If you manage to find the special features (it's under the *), you'll get a 4-minute featurette about the movie's plot and another four minutes about the movie's production. That last featurette is sort of a weird one, with a mix of on-camera and audio-only interviews. The release also includes the film's trailer.
Final Thoughts
If you have a need to feed a 3D addiction, you may consider springing for Sea Rex: Journey to a Prehistoric World. Please try to resist that urge, though. Despite decent 3D effects and a good audio track, Sea Rex is still a pretty painful 58 (or 41) minutes.
Product Details
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