Blue Planet (IMAX) [HD DVD]From the unique vantage point of 200 miles above Earth’s surface, we see how natural forces – volcanoes, earthquakes and hurricanes – affect our world, and how a powerful new force – humankind – has begun to alter the face of the planet. From Amazon rain forests to Serengeti grasslands, Blue Planet inspires a new appreciation of life on Earth, our only home. The IMAX film Blue Planet offers an eloquent reminder–and a cautionary warning–that the planet Earth is a delicate living organism, constantly reshaped and rejuvenated by the awesome forces of nature. The film targets a grade-school audience but will prove informative to anyone fascinated by our home planet’s evolution. Hurricanes, glaciers, volcanoes, thunderstorms, asteroid impacts, undersea furnace vents, and earthquakes are all explored as a system of interconnected forces that ensure the planet’s survival. The difference between this and other nature films is that the Earth’s delicacy is emphasized by stunning views from space, filmed in the IMAX format by NASA astronauts in orbit 200 miles above the Earth’s surface. With astonishing clarity, this orbital perspective supports the film’s ultimate purpose: to reveal the awesome beauty of the Earth, and to emphasize that we, the custodians of this miraculous gift, are also the greatest threat to the planet’s delicate health. Proof of man’s destructive influence offers a sobering reminder that our responsibility toward nature is perpetual, essential, and routinely abused. Blue Planet combines state-of-the-art sound and image, principally directed by Ben Burtt, the Oscar-winning sound designer whose credits include the original Star Wars trilogy. No home-theater system could do full justice to the film’s technical achievement, but the sights and sounds of Blue Planet are awesome nonetheless, and it’s impossible to overstate the importance of the film’s message and its hopeful emphasis on the potentially wondrous future of our one and only home. –Jeff Shannon
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(out of 72 reviews)
Review by A. B. Kutlu for Blue Planet (IMAX) [HD DVD]
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Move on to “Planet Earth” for everything this bluray isn’t…
I normally refrain from posting negative reviews in case it’s a question of taste and I may be in conflict with other people in that respect.
However in this case I am pretty sure this is a title to avoid for everybody. Especially when there is such an alternative as Planet Earth which presents a hundred times the content and imagery this IMAX adaptation strives to deliver.. and fails..
First of all, this is a very lousy transfer. They didn’t bother remastering the 40 minute footage and the “dirt” of the master is visible in every frame. It wouldn’t have taken a large team to edit them out. Frankly it’s the most disappointing bluray transfer I’ve seen out of the 40 or more bluray titles I have.
Secondly, the narration, disjointed topics, duration of many of the space imagery which drag on for minutes without any movement contribute to a mindnumbingly boring viewing experience. You’ll notice you’ll be hardpressed not to forward to the next scene every other minute (and let’s admit it, there are not that many to start with)
There’s also an older similar bonus segment in the bluray, with even worse visuals and mostly resembling SD instead of HD in many places..
In short, I’d strongly suggest you skip this bluray in favor of the stunning Planet Earth if you’ve not grabbed it yet.
Review by Kelly Messier for Blue Planet (IMAX) [HD DVD]
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I got this for my 4 year old son’s birthday last year because he has a fascination with air planes and I was trying to get him interested in the space program. Let’s just say when I first played it, even my husband stopped what he was doing and came over and sat down. We have a large screen TV and it makes you feel like you are really there! The sounds and colors are vivid. And even when there is no sound, the sights are just so amazing you don’t need it- I think that’s part of it’s magic. Maybe it’s just that space is such an unknown and elusive place, but when it shows the view of our planet from space you just get goosebumps. This is a wonderful dvd to pull out on those rainy/snowy days. No matter how many times we have watched it, it still evokes a sense of awe and reverence.
Review by A. Armetta for Blue Planet (IMAX) [HD DVD]
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Hi,
The cover picture and text on the package leads one to expect space shuttle photo journey, but it is more like a 4th grade science class with intermittent space video. It is about 20% space video and 80% ground level shots. With low-level information like,”On Earth there is a gas called oxygen, which we need to survive….” Great for the kids, yes, but adults may be disappointed.
Review by Alexei Lebedev for Blue Planet (IMAX) [HD DVD]
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Shots of planet earth, satellite photography, volcanoes, earthquakes, rainforest. Main message: earth is home to all of us, let’s preserve it. The space and aerial photography are beautiful. Spectacular is the view of a lightning storm as seen from space. Footage of a hurricane, however, did not appear threatening. Sheet metal flying off a small house’s roof, a man leaning into the wind.Things I expected to see but didn’t: a storm at sea, a twister, a nice volcano eruption, a geyser, a large crowd of people. The only people we see are two cosmonauts in orbit taking pictures, and some guys cutting trees.The narration is rather primitive, sometimes mind-numbingly so, as in the end, where the voice-over enumerates those to whom earth is home: “Earth is home to Jews and Arabs; It is home to Russians and the Chinese; It is home to Germans and Italians”, and so on and on, until (surprise!) “It is home to ALL of us”.Some educational facts are given about how many tons of pollutants we emit and millions of acres of forest we destroy each year. These sound horrifying, but to make sense, they need to be put into perspective (there are billions of bacteria in my mouth, but that doesn’t mean I’m about to die). How much forest do natural fires destroy each year? How many acres of forest naturally grow back? How much deadly pollution does an average active volcano emit? The 3D California valley fly-through was visually disappointing (have they heard of texture mapping?).Overall, a very enjoyable experience. The DVD is definitely worth having, although I won’t be watching it for a second time in full any time soon (as I watched Baraka).
Review by M. Potter for Blue Planet (IMAX) [HD DVD]
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This review is NOT for this film, but to serve as a warning to potential buyers. It is apparent that many people, like myself, bought this 44 minute IMAX film believing it is the excellent 8 episode BBC production “The Blue Planet: Seas of Life” from the creators of “Planet Earth”. This is NOT the case. “Blue Planet” and “The Blue Planet: Seas of Life” are two totally separate productions. Unfortunately, “The Blue Planet: Seas of Life” has not been released on Blu-Ray yet.