Island of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Island of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown March 21, 2015

The rise of the cutesy natural history documentary continues with Island of Lemurs. But you know what? I don't mind, and neither should you. As any parent of young children will tell you, a health appreciation of nature paired with a fascination with the planet's wildlife is nothing to shake a stick at. And it has to start somewhere. David Douglas and Drew Fellman's short but sweet exploration of Madagascar and one of the world's most famous primates, the lemur, is designed to do little more than entertain and educate kids, unapologetically. The documentary itself may not wow moms and dads, but the joy of watching their children discover and learn, smiling from ear to ear, will keep parents just as engaged as their sons and daughters.

Scientist Patricia Wright has a passion for preserving the life of one particular creature: the lemur. These lively animals found in Madagascar face all sorts of threats, just like so many other animals in a world in which they are increasingly crowded out by humans. Her passion for the subject is compelling and plainly evident, but it's the silent testimony of the animals themselves that really makes the case. Countless hours of footage are trimmed down to create this tapestry depicting the lives of these creatures of remarkable intelligence and ingenuity. Their daily routines and extraordinary adventures are awesome to behold, as is the way that the community functions. A full immersion into the world of the lemurs means great insights on this unusual animals.

The family-friendly familiarity of Island of Lemurs: Madagascar shouldn't come as much of a surprise, nor should seasoned natural history documentary regulars expect to learn a whole lot they didn't already know. No matter. Kids will bop to the music, hang on narrator Morgan Freeman's every word, and delight in Douglas and Fellman's introduction to the lemur; an animal most children will immediately associate with King Julian from Dreamworks' Madagascar franchise, only to quickly realize they don't actually know much about the island's crafty creatures. There are moments of sobering reality here -- agricultural fires, species pushed toward extinction, and other uphill battles of survival -- but nothing too frightening or upsetting. The main focus are the kinds of moments that are sure to earn big laughs and bigger grins, which will keep the youngest viewers from growing bored or wandering out of the room, while others show Madagascar fighting back against the tide, racing to protect lemurs and preserve their habitats.

The documentary also introduces primatologist Patricia Wright, whose conservation school teaches local scientists-in-training how to co-exist, study, tag and track, care for and treat lemurs without having an adverse effect on the animals or their environment. (Her scenes feel terribly scripted, but she's sincere, so it's easy to grant the more manufactured sequences a pass.) Through her and her colleagues, we meet a variety of species, from the popular ring-tailed lemur to the tiny mouse lemur, the dancing sifaka, the greater bamboo lemur (rescued from a burning forest) and others, some of which Wright transports to national parks and other areas of safety. Again, there's not a lot in the way of depth here, or even much context when it comes to crucial topics. But as entry-level natural history documentaries go, Island of Lemurs does a fine job inspiring young kids to pursue additional research and learn more about the wildlife of Madagascar than any film could teach.

Island of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Island of Lemurs features a decent 1080p/AVC-encoded 2D presentation and a comparable MVC-encoded 3D experience, but there a few issues. Contrast is hot to the point of skewing colors and crushing blacks, fine detail isn't as refined or revealing as other high definition natural history documentaries, and minor instances of aliasing and shimmering creep in from time to time. The depth and dimensionality of the 3D image also isn't as convincing as expectation will demand, nor as jaw-dropping as the word "IMAX" suggests. There isn't much in the way of ghosting (for those whose displays are prone to crosstalk), or artifacting, banding or noise, but both the 2D and 3D presentations are less than remarkable. That's not to say there's nothing to appreciate about the encode. Largely precise and proficient, the Blu-ray still boasts enough vibrancy, clarity and striking photography to make it easy on the eyes. It's not disappointing per se, but I expected a lot more.

Island of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Warner's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is more impressive, though it isn't all that remarkable either. Morgan Freeman and Patricia Wright's narration is intelligible and perfectly prioritized in the mix, and the cries, calls and songs of the various species of lemurs are crystal clear. The LFE channel lends strong support to surging water, roaring fires and Mark Mothersbaugh's score, and the rear speakers handle winds, creaking branches, rustling leaves and other ambient effects with prowess. Narration obviously takes precedence, but when Freeman or Wright aren't speaking, the sounds of Madagascar are full and immersive. All told, it's a solid lossless experience. No real complaints here.

Island of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Making of The Island of Lemurs (HD, 5 minutes): Though more of an extended promo than a full-fledged behind-the-scenes documentary, this extended promo touches on the challenges the filmmakers faced (the lack of roads chief among them), the use of advanced cameras, filming from a hot air balloon, and more.
• Behind the Scenes (HD, 2 minutes): A shorter promo, again billed as a more insightful featurette. Still, there are a few tidbits about the production that prove worthwhile, and children will find the bonus bits interesting.
• The Story of Lemurs (HD, 6 minutes): Primatologist Patricia Wright, director/cinematographer David Douglas, and writer/producer David Fellman discuss the mystery surrounding the Lemurs' initial arrival on the island of Madagascar, the likely manner in which they survived and flourished, the Call of the Indri, and the differences between the various species of lemurs.
• Meet Patricia Wright (HD, 4 minutes): A quick introduction to Wright, her work and studies as a scientist and conservationist, her history and foray into primatology, and her special relationship with lemurs.
• A Baby Indri (HD, 2 minutes): Fellman discusses working with young local scientists.
• The Cutest Lemur (HD, 2 minutes): Meet "the most adorable thing that exists on Earth."
• Go-Kart Racers (HD, 2 minutes): Filming a scene involving special carts used by the people of Madagascar.
• Five Things About Indri (HD, 2 minutes): A "fun facts" countdown for kids.

Island of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Island of Lemurs: Madagascar doesn't reinvent the natural history wheel, focusing instead on educating and entertaining children. It's a noble pursuit; one that's been done better, sure, but one that accomplishes everything it sets out to accomplish. Warner's Blu-ray release is a bit hit or miss, with somewhat problematic 2D and 3D presentations, and a selection of shallow special features, but its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is solid, and the rest of the disc is decent enough to warrant a watch (or a purchase).