7.3 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Take a technological thrill ride faster, higher, and wilder than modern science or even your imagination! Relive the historical first flight of the Wright Brothers in 1903, then soar with the world-famous Blue Angels as they defy the laws of gravity with their most breathtaking maneuvers. The Magic of Flight highlights and salutes a variety of modern aircraft, the people who fly them, and the human potential of training and performance. Ever wonder "how did they do that?" 'The Magic of Flight' puts you behind the camera and provides further insights into the world of aviation and the techniques used to get some of the most amazing airborne footage ever captured on film. Shot using high-definition cameras, The Magic of Flight' captures the enthusiasm and excitement of the crew who made this groundbreaking film.
Narrator: Tom SelleckDocumentary | 100% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.43:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
As a kid, I memorized the silhouettes of WWII aircraft so I could pretend I was on lookout for incoming Japanese fighters. I built balsa wood models of Fokkers and Sopwith Camels—the biplanes that ruled the skies during The Great War—and wrote stories for my sixth grade language arts class about a squadron of scrappy British pilots stationed at a muddy airfield outside of Versailles. I considered myself a self-studied engineer of paper airplanes, having graduated from the simple designs that all school kids know to complex constructions, made up of tight origami folds and weighted with paper clips. To put it mildly, I was a massive dork of the first order. But I say all of that to say this: the young, bespectacled me would’ve loved The Magic of Flight, would’ve watched it on repeat even, stuck in a near comatose state of open-mouthed, aviation-fueled bliss. The short version of this review, then, is that if you have a junior aviator-in-the-making in your household—the sort that wants a subscription to Air & Space magazine for his birthday and always asks flight attendants for a pair of those plastic pilot wings—The Magic of Flight is a safe bet for video edutainment.
The Blue Angels
The Magic of Flight takes off on Blu-ray with a 1080p/VC-1 encoded transfer that generally keeps pace with the documentary's lofty visuals. Shot in 1996, the film doesn't look as clean or crisp as more modern large-format productions, but have you ever seen an IMAX film that looks outright bad on Blu-ray? I know I haven't. The biggest thing holding back the presentation here is that the print is occasionally dotted with white specks, black flecks, and other bits of debris. Grain looks fine and untouched, though, and there's not much on the technical front to sully the experience, aside from a handful of errant but largely non-distracting artifacts. Like I said, the image isn't the crispest IMAX I've seen—the frequently used fisheye lenses just aren't consistently sharp throughout the frame—but a 70mm negative transferred into 1080p is still going to display a lot of detail, no matter which way you slice it. Black levels are deep, contrast is tight but never overdone, and colors are natural and nicely saturated, with sky blues and Blue Angel blues looking especially vivid.
There's plenty to be impressed by here, as The Magic of Flight's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track both rumbles with the expected thunder of jet engines and gives off a surprising amount of detail in less powerful sounds, like a flock of birds taking off from a marsh, filling the soundfield with their squawks and flapping wings. The surround speakers are activated frequently, with lots of fluid cross-channel movements, and the country/rock/inspirational score swelling from all directions. The instruments all have a satisfying presence, most notably the slide guitar, and Tom Selleck's narration rides cleanly over the rest of the mix.
Making Of (SD, 42:54)
Yes, the making of documentary is actually longer than the actual film, and in a way, it's also
more interesting, as we get a more in-depth look at each segment, from shooting on the deck of
an aircraft carrier, to the challenges—mostly incredible patience—of filming birds in the wild. As
an aviation nerd and a camera geek, I also loved learning about how the producers, with the help
of McDonnell Douglas, spent nearly a year and close to $1 million custom fitting IMAX camera
mounts for F/A-18s. I was a bit disappointed, however, to find out that they faked the "flat spin"
segment, which was actually shot on the ground, with a cockpit attached to a turntable—though
I understand why they wouldn't want to risk a pilot's life by having him purposefully go into the
most dreaded and deadly kind of stall.
Film Trivia Quiz
As has become the norm on Image Entertainment's IMAX releases, this disc includes a 10-
question multiple-choice quiz that tests your knowledge of the film.
MacGillivray Freeman Films History (1080p, 7:37)
This is a history of and promo for MacGillivray Freeman Films, who have been go-to producers of
IMAX movies since 1976.
About Greg MacGillivray
A text-only biography and filmographer of director and producer Greg MacGillivray.
Trailers (1080p)
Includes trailers for Journey Into Amazing Caves, The Magic of Flight, The
Living Sea, Mystery of the Nile, Greece: Secrets of the Past, Hurricane
on the Bayou, Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk, The Alps,
Dolphins, Amazon, Super Speedway, Fighter Pilot: Operation Red
Flag, and Volcanoes of the Deep Sea.
BD-Live Functionality
Armchair-flyers, IMAX enthusiasts, and once and future pilots should all find something to like in The Magic of Flight, but whether or not the 40-minute feature is worth a purchase depends on your personal tastes. I'd advise either tracking down the trailer online or renting first.
IMAX
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IMAX
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2011
Director's Cut
2014
2010
IMAX Enhanced
2018
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