Polar Bears 3D: Ice Bear Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

Polar Bears 3D: Ice Bear Blu-ray Movie Review

A heartbreaking look at the polar bear's new reality...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown January 11, 2014

Universal has been doing the 3D market a disservice of late. Not in terms of the recent theatrical releases issued on 3D Blu-ray, which are uniformly excellent, but with the growing number of bargain bin natural history 3D documentaries the studio casually tosses into the market. Every few months it's a new batch of lesser titles, the most recent being Fascination Coral Reef: Hunters and the Hunted and Ocean Predators 3D; bland, undersea rehashes in every sense of the word. Both are of such low quality that it's a wonder they aren't bundled together with a $9.99 price tag, Echo Bridge style. (Although even that might be a bit too generous.) However, Polar Bears 3D: Ice Bear breaks from the pack and actually arrives via a decent -- scratch that -- worthwhile release. Yes, the technical video presentation isn't exactly anything to write home about, and yes, the 3D experience is somewhat hit or miss. But the documentary itself is effective and notably jarring, its DTS-HD High Resolution track is assertive and involving, and the cost of admission is less troubling than that of other Universal natural history releases.

The polar bear is the Arctic's biggest predator. But what happens to the "Ice Bear" when there's no ice? Featuring breathtaking 3D cinematography shot over 12 months in the Canadian Arctic and capturing rarely-seen behavior, 'Polar Bears 3D: Ice Bear' is an enthralling and captivating look at their changing world.

Ice Bear is a fascinating glimpse into the startlingly changing world of the polar bear. Those quick to deny global warming and dismiss its effects would be hard pressed to shrug off the sight of polar bears lying in tall green grass dotted with flowers, walking along spring-like shores and fighting for survival amidst the waters of the sun-beat Arctic. Until recent years, images and footage of polar bears were almost always framed by untamed snow and ice; greens, browns and more vibrant colors were something of a rarity. Never the norm. The bears' environment has been -- for as long as I can remember -- as white as their fur. Now mud has replaced snow. Fertile fields have replaced sheets of ice. Miles of water prevents the bears from moving as freely as they once did. And survival has become incalculably more difficult, with polar bears dying in record numbers, and with no signs of the natural order of things righting itself.

Absorbing as it can be, though, the documentary filmmakers aren't big on restraint. Bray Poor's commanding narration is occasionally a bit intense and overbearing, bordering on dogmatic. The film's music follows suit, sometimes making the polar bears' plight sound like a series of near-death action scenes in a Hans Zimmer-scored Michael Bay movie. Moreover, little is offered in the way of carefully orchestrated balance a la the BBC Earth productions, which touch on the fallout of global warming while still taking time to allow the animals at center stage an opportunity to inspire awe and piqué curiosity. If a person doesn't have a connection with something they'll have less of a motivation to preserve it, and Ice Bear assumes its audience already on board the global warming reversal train. Short version: it tends to preach to the choir. That's not necessarily a bad thing, mind you. But it will rub some the wrong way.

Still, the unfolding narrative is engrossing, the case presented convincing and the cinematography striking; all a surprise considering the crop of lesser 3D natural history titles released alongside it. The film even managed to elicit a visceral emotional response from me, and I typically ascribe to the stoic academic school of documentary viewership. At the same time, Ice Bear paints such a bleak picture that it plays like a tearful fare-ye-well song for the polar bears, and it's hard to come away with anything but a feeling of hopelessness. As an educational tool, Ice Bear succeeds. As a film, it's slightly flawed but completely mesmerizing. As a gut-check documentary, it's a satisfying, eye-opening alarm bell worthy of more attention than it's likely to receive.

Polar Bears 3D: Ice Bear Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Most of the issues and woes exhibited by Universal's 1080p/MVC-encoded video presentation trace back to the source and the cameras at director Adam Ravetch's disposal. It isn't difficult to spot instances of macroblocking, banding, ringing and other anomalies, and clarity isn't all that consistent. That said, there isn't a lot of distraction either. Colors are warm and lifelike, primaries are strong, black levels are deep and contrast is spot on from start to finish. Detail ranges from passable to exacting, and the only softness that appears is of the filmic variety. (Again, look to the cameras being utilized, not the quality of the encode itself.) The 3D experience, meanwhile, is a welcome addition. While the picture doesn't always pop, there's enough depth and dimensionality on tap to make an impression. Add to that a proficient 3D encode that isn't hindered by aliasing or crosstalk. Will either presentation turn heads? No. Will it be confused for a DVD? No. Does it do its cinematography justice? Yes, and really that's all that matters.

Polar Bears 3D: Ice Bear Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Rather than a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio track, Ice Bear features a 2046kbps DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 surround track. Not that anyone would be able to discern much of a difference if they had both to compare. Poor's narration is authoritative and nicely centered, and prioritization is remarkable. The documentary boasts a bolder, more aggressive soundscape than most, yet narration and other elements are perfectly balanced, without anything in the way of muffled lines or waylaid effects. LFE output is robust, rear speaker activity is full and engaging, and dynamics are excellent. Music is sometimes somewhat overwhelming, becoming more combative as the drama of the polar bears' struggles increases, but it's hardly an issue. All told, Ice Bear sounds great; much better than most of the other 3D natural history documentaries released by Universal.

Polar Bears 3D: Ice Bear Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

A handful of extras are available including a "Music Only Option," a series of 3D deleted and extended scenes (HD, 10 minutes, requires 3D-enabled player to access), and a "Behind the Scenes" featurette (HD, 14 minutes).

Polar Bears 3D: Ice Bear Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Polar Bears 3D: Ice Bear is different than the vast majority of natural history documentaries released by Universal; bargain titles that aren't much of a bargain at all. Ice Bear, by contrast, is an excellent standalone feature, with solid 2D and 3D video quality, a rousing DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1 surround track, and even a small but appreciated supplemental package. I'd even go so far as to recommend this one, although I'd suggest keeping an eye out for price drops.