7.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
This film takes viewers to the isolated shores of Lake Natron in northern Tanzania for a birds-eye view of the mysterious lives of flamingos.
Narrator: Mariella Frostrup, Zabou Breitman, Karoline HerfurthDocumentary | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
German: Dolby Digital 5.1
Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1
English, English SDH, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Africa is host to two great animal migrations each year: that of millions of wildebeest, whose annual trek to fresh pastures has been featured in many a nature documentary, and that of the lesser flamingo, whose mysterious descent on a northern Tanzanian salt lake is the source of a fascinating, centuries-old breeding ritual. As the flamingos feast in the algae-rich waters of Lake Natron, their sustenance causes their feathers, legs and eyes to flush, granting them the bold splashes of crimson necessary to attract a mate. As their desire blossoms, the region's intense heat rapidly assaults the surface of the lake, evaporating inches of water in days and leaving behind scaly sheets of salt. The salt, in turn, gathers in the center of the lake, forming an ideal makeshift island for the flamingos to build their nests, coddle their eggs and hatch their young. It's a natural marvel; one that proves even more intriguing as predators, comically villainous storks and ravenous hyenas among them, close in on the newborn chicks struggling to survive, learning to fly and preparing for their own annual return to Lake Natron. Yes, Africa's wildebeest migration has garnered far more attention over the years, but as The Crimson Wing directors Matthew Aeberhard and Leander Ward see it, the flamingo migration is just as extraordinary.
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the Phoenicopterus minor...
The Crimson Wing's evocative, salt-spattered imagery is beholden to the fierce Tanzanian elements, but Disney's 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer nevertheless comes close, oh-so-close, to high definition perfection. Pale rose-petal pinks, bold splashes of sun-baked color, lavish blacks and blazing streaks of crimson make Matthew Aeberhard's artful photography come to life, even in the otherwise monochromatic plains surrounding the red waters of Lake Natron. Detail is crisp and clean as well, even though some minor ringing is apparent throughout. Edges are sharp and satisfying, the film's tasteful veneer of grain isn't intrusive or inconsistent, and every fine, feathery texture is beautifully resolved. Like most documentaries, soft shots make regular appearances, but always trace back to Wing's original source rather than the studio's proficient presentation. Contrast is strong and reliable, and while minor banding distracts on occasion, I didn't notice any other notable issues. Artifacting, aliasing, errant noise, crush, digital anomalies and their ilk are nowhere to be found, and Disney's efforts are appreciated from beginning to end. Documentary enthusiasts will be most pleased.
The Crimson Wing's excellent DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track isn't as enveloping or gratifying as Oceans's masterful mix -- Aeberhard's sonics simply aren't as aggressive or arresting, nor should they be considering the two films' wildly different subjects -- but the results rarely disappoint. Mariella Frostrup's pleasant narration is warm, mellow and pitch-perfect, not to mention smartly layered within Paul Davies' smartly seasoned soundscape. The rear speakers are nimble when called upon and lively as needed, and directionality is fairly convincing throughout. Low-end output is a tad reserved, but never dishearteningly so. The heavy, hundreds-strong chorus of flapping wings is earnest and formidable, and The Cinematic Orchestra's score lends welcome weight to the experience. If anything, the soundfield is a bit front-heavy at times. When Aeberhard's flamingo flocks thin out, Crimson Wing simply ceases to be as immersive as it is when they're congregating en masse. And while the effect lends itself to later scenes involving a lost chick, it isn't as befitting earlier sequences. Regardless, Disney's DTS-HD mix is a solid lossless offering that complements its striking video transfer nicely.
The Blu-ray edition of The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos nudges past this week's foremost Disneynature release, Oceans, with a slightly fuller supplemental package. Directors Matthew Aeberhard and Leander Ward helm an excellent "Filmmakers Annotations" Picture-in-Picture track featuring dozens of interviews with the filmmakers and crew, behind-the-scenes footage of their efforts, pop-up trivia tidbits and other notable information. Next up is "Lake Natron Diaries: Behind The Crimson Wing" (HD/SD, 20 minutes), a five-part documentary that explores the production and its feathered subjects even further, all in thoughtful detail. While Disney presents the overview in high definition, the individual segments -- "Life at the Camp," "Life of the Flamingo" "Making Of," "Lake Natron" and "Music" -- were created at a much lower resolution, meaning the resulting video is rather subpar. Still, I doubt anyone will complain. Beyond that, a "Living Planet" experience replaces the usual Disneynature "Living Menu," but essentially amounts to the same thing (an interactive globe peppered with selectable hotspots that update frequently via BD-Live), an auto-looping "Crimson Wing Screensaver" (HD, 5 minutes) comprised of photography and music from the film itself, and a remarkably rousing trailer for the next Disneynature theatrical release, African Cats (HD, 2 minutes), tops off the extras.
The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos isn't as arresting as I had hoped, but it is worth watching, if for not other reason than to learn about a species passed over by most nature documentaries. Disney's Blu-ray release is much better -- its filmic video transfer is gorgeous, its DTS-HD Master Audio mix is strong and stable, and its supplemental package is, in some ways, more satisfying than the film itself -- but casual documentary fans may want to rent this one before committing any significant cash to a purchase.
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