Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.0

Legends of Flight 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

Not so legendary.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 29, 2011

Great planes seem to enjoy flying.

Legends of Flight doesn't exactly come as advertised. One would reasonably assume a film of this title would look back at the history of aviation and showcase some of the great models that defined air travel and air combat over the years. Caveat emptor, that's not what this is really about. Instead, Legends of Flight primarily looks at the brief history of the Boeing 787 "Dreamliner," from conception to first flight. While the film engages viewers with both a smattering of educational insights as they pertain to the advancement of aeronautical technologies in conjunction with the study of the flight of natural creatures and a glimpse at a handful additional aircraft that have in some way influenced the design of the 787, there's actually very little here that would suggest a picture that lives up to its title. It's still an informative -- though not exactly entertaining -- little 3D IMAX razzle-dazzle sort of experience, but audiences hoping for a more generalized overview of the history of flight on the ultra-big-screen need look elsewhere.

I am legend.

Captain Mike Carriker and Narrator Michael Hanrahan guide audiences through the wonders, complexities, challenges, inspirations, and accomplishments of Boeing engineers, test pilots, and factory workers as they design and construct the world's most advanced aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner within the walls of the world's largest building where no less than ten 777's are assembled every month. With engineless gliders, birds, butterflies, and bees serving as the inspiration for the 787, the film takes audiences up in the air, into the board room, and onto the factory floor as designs are drawn up and the decision to go ahead with the construction is made, all the while the fate of the company hangs on the success of the prototype under construction.

Legends of Flight just doesn't have what it takes to stand with the best of the best IMAX features. The narrative is choppy, the title is misleading, the visuals aren't particularly spectacular, and the narration could use some work. One can only wonder how or why a jumbo jet that, even after the film's release, has yet to make great inroads in commercial flight may be labeled as a "legend." There's certainly a disconnect somewhere along the line, with the film playing more like a mega-promotional piece for Boeing rather than a more neutral or more broadly-conceived retrospective piece that looks back at the history of flight, as one might reasonably assume given the title. As a promotional/propaganda piece it isn't bad; it's just a bit presumptuous and misleading to title it as it is. The film simply fails to inspire, and only does a so-so job of informing. It's more of a primer on the processes that take place within Boeing in bringing an aircraft into development than it is anything else. Audiences interested in catching a glimpse into the inner-workings of the airline industry will enjoy, others might be disappointed to find a less-than-emotionally-gripping production.

Still, there's certainly some value to be found in Legends of Flight. While it's disappointing that there's not more play given to some of the great aircraft of the past 100 years -- there's a token mention of the Harrier, an Airbus A380, a Stearman Biplane, and even a digital recreation of the Wright Brother's craft -- the film in some ways makes up for that shortcoming with a somewhat in-depth examination of how man has come to depend both on radically advanced technologies and his greater but still limited understanding of natural creatures in-flight to better help him in the design of the latest and greatest in human air travel. The large-format IMAX presentation aids in allowing audiences to further appreciate both the sheer size of the craft but also better see and understand the smaller elements that allow for the plane to take flight, particularly on those shots of both the expansive factory floor and within the bowels of the still-incomplete craft (of course, much of that is lost on the smaller screen). Even the recreated look-ins on the Boeing meeting room offer a greater glimpse into the human element that's so critical in shaping the design, purpose, and construction of the 787, even if it does take away precious minutes from what audiences who attend a screening of something called Legends of Flight undoubtedly want to see the most: aircraft in action.

Legends of Flight 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Legends of Flight's Blu-ray 3D presentation isn't one that immediately screams "spectacular," but it's at least consistently "steady." There's very little in terms of "pop out" 3D visuals -- though there are a few moments where the nose of a plane threatens to poke out of the television screen -- with the image instead content to allow shape and depth to dictate the relative success of the presentation. Indeed, viewers will be awed at the ease with which this transfer captures the sprawling factory floor inside the Boeing facility, the sheer scope and size from top to bottom and front to back of the aircraft-under-condstruction inside, or throngs of people eagerly awaiting the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner. A few computer graphics also take on a discernible shape. The 3D presentation, then, is rather basic but highly effective, and it's complimented by a wonderfully sharp, crystal-clear, and highly-detailed general image. Viewers will enjoy the rocklike stability the transfer offers, where even objects at great distances remain sharp as a tack and very well detailed. Up-close shots of the planes's interiors and exteriors alike reveal the finest intricacies in scratches on bulkheads, wear and tear around nuts and bolts, or the finest details on circuitry and instrument panels. Colors are steady and natural throughout. On the downside, the image washes out once or twice, a few soft shots disrupt the otherwise razor-sharp proceedings, and at least one background artificially shakes. Nevertheless, this is a quality presentation that's more memorable for its overall stability than any one single 3D effect.

Legends of Flight 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Legends of Flight zooms onto Blu-ray with a satisfying DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The track is jam-packed with surround information, whether natural ambience in outdoor shots, the wonderfully realistic echoing sensations in support of the rumbly heavy machinery inside the factory, or the zips and zooms of aircraft powering through the listening area from front to back. The track is naturally immersive, with most every element in some way engulfing the listener and making him or her feel a part of the action and/or the environment. Music delivery is smooth and satisfying, nicely spread out and cemented in the front but enjoying a supportive surround element. Dialogue is efficient, but the narration itself can be a bit choppy, though such seems more a fault of the narrator than a shortcoming of the soundtrack. This is a pleasant, well-engineered mix; one can only image how entertaining it might have been had there been more SR-71s and the like zooming about and less chatter in the Boeing meeting room.

Legends of Flight 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Legends of Flight's supplemental package barely gets off the ground, the brief package headlined by a "making of" piece that's actually a bit more interesting than the film itself.

• Making Of (1080p, 24:20): A strong piece that examines the creation of digital airplanes for the film, shooting at the Paris Air Show, filming in 3D, introducing audiences to some of the people who made the film possible on both sides of the camera, editing the film together, and the integration of the advanced technologies seen in the movie.
• The Planes (1080p): Brief text-based histories of the six planes seen in the film.
• Previews: Additional Image/IMAX titles.

Legends of Flight 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Legends of Flight is a disappointment if only because it seems dishonestly titled. Most viewers aren't going to get what they want or what the title seems to promise, which is an overview of the greatest aircraft of past 100 or so years. What the film is is a look at the process of bringing the latest aeronautical "legend" into production, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. It's a fairly interesting process that makes for a fairly interesting movie, but audiences need know ahead of time that there's definitely a disconnect between the title and what's actually offered. Image Entertainment's Blu-ray 3D release of Legends of Flight delivers a satisfactory technical presentation and a few extras. Worth a rental.