7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 3.8 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 3.8 |
The monarch butterfly is a true marvel of nature, Weighing less than a penny, it makes one of the longest migrations on Earth. Follow the monarchs' perilous journey and experience millions of them in remote mountain peaks of Mexico. Be captivated by the story of an intrepid scientist's 40 year search to find their secret hideway
Starring: Gordon PinsentDocumentary | 100% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.43:1
English: Dolby Atmos
English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Digital copy
4K Ultra HD
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Early in my reviewing career here at Blu-ray.com, I was assigned to a couple of niche labels that released what I termed “ambient television” product, offerings like HD Moods Aquarium which, as I overtly discuss in that linked review, were kind of a challenge to discuss in any overly incisive way. “Then there was a red fish,” I remember joking with my wife as I lamented over the difficulties of writing a decent review of the Aquarium Blu-ray, and coming to the conclusion that the quoted phrase would suffice as well as any for my next attempt at insightful commentary. I was therefore just a bit hesitant when I saw Shout! Factory was releasing what looked like two more offerings in this kind of odd subgenre, Flight of the Butterflies and Rocky Mountain Express , and in multiple formats that include (in the case of Flight of the Butterflies) 3D and 2D Blu-ray as well as 4K UHD, and (in the case of Rocky Mountain Express) 2D Blu-ray and 4K UHD. I needn’t have worried, at least in the case of this particular film (I haven’t yet watched Rocky Mountain Express, but after an extremely enjoyable, even moving, experience viewing Flight of the Butterflies, many of my fears have been allayed). In a world that seems virtually overrun with technology and scientific study nowadays, it may come as something of a shock to realize that very little was known about the migratory habits of Monarch butterflies until at least relatively recently. That’s the “hook” of Flight of the Butterflies, a really appealing IMAX offering that ping pongs between the adventures of Fred Urquhart, a guy you’ve probably never heard of unless you have an interest in entomology, and a more generalist view of the lifespans of several generations of one “family” of Monarchs as they complete a migratory cycle (the annual migrations cover such a huge span of space and time that it actually takes several generations to complete).
Note: The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.
This two disc version of Flight of the Butterflies contains a 4K UHD disc offering Flight of the Butterflies with an HEVC / H.265
encoded 2160p transfer in 1.78:1, and another standard Blu-ray disc offering AVC (2D) and MVC (3D) encoded 1080p transfers in 1.78:1. With
such a glut of choices, there's quite a bit to discuss in this assessment of the release's video quality in its various versions.
Shout! is really paving the way toward interesting "hybrid" releases, and they're furthermore giving consumers interesting additional choices by
having their 4K UHD releases offer either HDR or SDR viewing options. Watching the 4K UHD release of Flight of the Butterflies with HDR
is an often jaw dropping experience, both in terms of detail levels like the incredible ribbed appearance of the Monarchs' wings, or in the nuance
of the palette, something that's especially noticeable with regard to some of the gorgeous flowers that are often on display. The outdoor
footage in Flight of the Butterflies is often incredibly scenic, and the 4K UHD disc offers superior detail levels extending well into what is
frequently awesome depth of field. Similarly, almost telescopic close-ups reveal incredible levels of detail on the hatchling caterpillars (to cite just
one example).
The "standard" 2D and 3D iterations of the film are similarly excellently detailed, if understandably less so than the 4K UHD disc. 3D depth is
quite pronounced throughout the film, with some really fun "reach out and touch" moments with butterflies clearly flying out toward the viewer in
some of the most convincing displays of visual immersion that I've personally experienced. There's an incremental but noticeable loss of detail in
the 3D rendering, however, something that was even more pronounced when I watched the film upscaled to 2160p on my 4K setup. When
viewed both upscaled and "traditionally" (i.e., at 1080p), wide shots like the opening scene with the young Urquhart running through cliffside
fields are just slightly fuzzy looking at times, though the bulk of the 3D presentation boasts excellent detail levels overall.
Audio options are similarly widespread when one considers both of the discs on this release, not to mention the still perplexing inability of PS3s
to handle simultaneous 3D playback with lossless Dolby audio (more about that in a moment). For the record, the 4K UHD disc contains an
English Dolby Atmos track (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core), as well as French and Spanish tracks in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The standard 1080p Blu-ray
disc repeats the English Atmos track, with the same Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core, but I discovered that when I played the 3D version on my PS3, a
"hidden" English Dolby Digital 5.1 track was available. The French and Spanish tracks on the standard Blu-ray are Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks. So,
with all of that out of the way, and assuming that most will be accessing either the Atmos or Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core track, the rest of my
comments refer to that version.
This is an extremely subtle track at times, but one that is incredibly precise and immersive. Even before the first imagery is presented there's a
subtle spill, but around the listener and above, of very quiet but evocative insect noises, including soft buzzing and the occasional flap of wings.
Once the actual video kicks in, there are frequent if subtle uses of calming breezes wafting overhead or the sounds of the swarms of butterflies
flocking through sylvan environments. Megan Follows' soft spoken narration is always presented front and center, while the enjoyable, at times
rootsy, score by Leonardo Heiblum and Jacobo Lieberman regularly fills the side and rear channels. There's some other voiceover by the actor
portraying Urquhart which is also presented cleanly and clearly and with excellent prioritization. This isn't an audio effects spectacular by any
stretch of the imagination, but it's consistently immersive and boasts superb fidelity and clarity throughout.
Both the 4K UHD and standard Blu-ray discs contain the same supplements:
Flight of the Butterflies is that rare kind of documentary that not only imparts bounteous information, but which also speaks directly to the heart—repeatedly. Urquhart's story is mind boggling, with an especially meaningful denouement, and the actual scientific data doled out in this film is just as mind boggling in a completely different way. Technical merits are first rate, and Flight of the Butterflies comes Highly recommended.
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