The Movie
Not to be mean, neither to Zac nor his dream, but this movie is really corny. With more of a cohesive, original dramatic story than most IMAX films, Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream introduces us to a boy whose every waking moment appears dedicated to the pursuit of his own manned flight. Together with his best friend Laura, he builds contraption after contraption, meeting with failure after failure, much to the dismay of his mother.
But his father decides to help channel that passion into a serious education about the science of flight, and Zac not only grows up to become a pilot but a flying instructor. Circumstances take him to the American Southwest, where his planes are stored in the off season, where he is reunited with his childhood rival, Carl, now an obnoxious Air Force fighter jock. They duel in the sky once and for all, for bragging rights and for the affections of a certain mutual lady friend.
The acting is pretty lame, even from a prepubescent Michael Cera, who does however show a glimmer of the charm that has endeared him to more recent audiences. And the title is something of a misnomer, as the flying is more of the typical air show variety, without the depiction of any excessive gravitational forces at work.
The Picture
Produced in 2000, a significant several years before the other IMAX 3D features I have been reviewing lately, Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream looks a little soft, frankly, noticeably lacking the genuinely eye-popping detail of its large-format brethren. Most impressive are the flying shots above The Grand Canyon which, while not vertigo-inducing, offer a more convincing sensation of flight than the 2D version, also on this disc. In some shots I found the 3D effect to be a little crude, a little overpowering, with quite a bit of distracting ghosting (crosstalk) in the 16:9 image.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack features conspicuously discrete voices and effects from the rears, a tad heavy-handed, although elsewhere the active surrounds are used to great effect, as at a working airfield. The music mix is big and full, and there are lots of directional fly-bys, just about every which way. The dialogue is extensively, undeniably looped, which might explain the less-than-stellar performances.
Overall the audio here is more noteworthy than the video, which for an IMAX 3D Blu-ray is probably not a good thing.
The Extras
The only bonus materials on the disc itself are a total of seven IMAX trailers, including one in 3D. The disc also supports BD-Live to access additional content online, although the portal for Zac's Flying Dream was not active at press time.
Final Thoughts
If you're an aviation buff whose spirit echoes that of young Zac, and you appreciate the way in which IMAX and 3D are able to capture the magic of flight, or if you're simply a Michael Cera completist (they're out there!), then consider taking Ultimate G's for a spin.
Product Details
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