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Dvds Direct |
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Antarctica: An Adventure of a Different Nature (IMAX) [Blu-ray]
Plot Outline:
True to the IMAX tradition, Antarctica is replete with
breathtaking aerial and underwater footage of the earth's
highest, coldest, and driest continent. Most folks' TVs are
4,500 times smaller than an IMAX screen--too small to duplicate
the acrophobic-stomach sensation that is the hallmark of the
IMAX in-theater experience. All the same, like most IMAX movies,
Antarctica has some of the best production values on film today.
The story begins with a flock of penguins above--and
below--water, and moves to gargantuan underwater ice sheets and
then to a look at Antarctic climatic changes. Watch scientists
locate and extract ancient ice to analyze preserved bubbles of
ancient air, as well. Explorer Robert Scott makes an important
contribution with his appealing voice and serene,
well-articulated narrative. The DVD's special features include
Spanish and French language tracks, subtitling, and Internet
links if you use the disc on your computer.
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This 1991 documentary was created for an IMAX presentation so I seriously wondered how this video would look on my little TV scene. Of course it could never be the same, but I had nothing to worry about because this 38-minute Australian documentary definitely captures the wonder and majesty of Antarctica. I learned something too and held my breathe in awe when the camera showed how the crevices in the glaciers are sometimes covered with such a thin sheet of ice that it will not sustain the weight of a person. However, they did bring a camera down there and it was a treat to see something that had never been filmed before. Another great shot was a timed exposure of the sun as it travels around the pole. There was also excellent cinematography of seals and of penguins although I wish they had skipped the silly background music, which tried to be humorous while showing the penguins diving. There were also a few film clips from the 1948 British film "Scott of Antarctica".
I understand that the film cost $3.5 million to
produce and that the film crew had to drag 2300 pounds of Imax equipment
around, including one camera that never worked in the frigid
temperatures. It took two Antarctic summers to film and the crew stayed
at the American, French, Russian and Chinese scientific camps, getting
some interesting footage of the scientists themselves and their
experiments. The inevitable conclusion is that global warming is a
serious threat that we cannot ignore. This is a great video for those of
us who will likely never visit this coldest, driest, windiest and last
unexplored place on earth. Recommended.
| UPC 690445047328 |
