7 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Disneynature presents a close-up look at the unsung heroes of our planet. Wings Of Life reveals the intricate worlds of bees, butterflies, birds, and bats. Our life on Earth relies on these incredible creatures, as more than one-third of our world's food supply is dependent on them. Yet we are increasingly threatening their lives, and if they should suddenly disappear, we may too. Directed by Louie Schwartzberg, Wings Of Life takes us on an adventure to reveal this spectacular world that is right in front of us, yet rarely seen in such incredible detail.
Narrator: Meryl StreepDocumentary | 100% |
Nature | 75% |
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
English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A, B (C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Wings of Life is an odd little documentary, unsure of exactly what it wants to be or what it so longs to say. Though undeniably gorgeous -- overwhelmingly so -- it lacks focus, personality, momentum, power and, more crucially, a sense of purpose. As an all-ages Disneynature film, it inches along at a caterpillar's pace; too slow and uneventful for children, too leisurely paced and monotonous for parents searching for more entertaining educational family fare. As a more traditional natural history documentary, it fawns over its youngest viewers to the point of alienating the adults in the room, exchanging more substantial science for sleepy, sing-songy narration (courtesy of Academy Award-winner Meryl Streep, taking on the role of a disembodied talking flower) and a much too accessible, kid-friendly narrative. It's a flighty, fluttering contradiction; a breathtaking but exasperating paradox meant for everyone yet incapable of profoundly speaking to anyone.
Wings of Life is simply beautiful, and its 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer stands as one of the more impressive presentations of a high definition nature documentary to date. It isn't flawless -- a handful of establishing shots are prone to minor, presumably inherent noise, a handful more exhibit exceedingly slight banding, and a rendezvous between bats and cacti fruit is beset by negligible macroblocking in the gray night skies -- but it's about as perfect as "perfect" gets. The photography is awash with bold splashes of vibrant color, with rich, eye-popping primaries, lush earthtones, fiery reds and oranges, vivid blues and purples, and deep, enveloping blacks. The image almost has a 3D quality, thanks to exceptional depth, dimensionality, contrast and detail. Edges are razor sharp yet free of aliasing and significant ringing, and fine textures are wonderfully resolved. Whether it's the branched hairs of a bee, the delicate veins of a flower petal or the tiniest grains of pollen, Disney's precise and proficient encode does it justice, without exception. Videophiles, armchair naturalists and more casual viewers of all ages will be thoroughly taken with the presentation.
Disney's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track doesn't make nearly as much of an impact as its video presentation, but then neither does the film's garden variety sound design. Narration is clean, clear and perfectly prioritized, no matter how subdued, restrained or hushed Streep's voice grows. Jan Holzner's score, meanwhile, dances in the background, ever present and harmless, almost to the point of being detached. In fact, everything about the mix seems to have been crafted to create a calm, serene soundscape without anything in the way of disruption or chaos, disruptive and chaotic as nature is. Still, the rear speakers wrap the experience round the listener like a warm, fuzzy blanket, and the LFE channel lends its support whenever called upon, even if that support is more akin to a soothing heartbeat than a pounding drum. The smallest insect creeks and chirps, the softest rustling of leaves and the most humble elements are represented without fail, and the entire mix sounds exactly as intended. The track isn't quite capable of sweeping anyone away to the film's far-flung forests and jungles on its own, but it certainly serves at the pleasure of the original photography and serves it well.
The only extra available is a much too short Disneynature overview paired with a brief sneak peek at the studio's next theatrical feature: Bears, due in April of 2014.
Too sluggish and plodding for most children, too superficial and airy for most adults, Wings of Life is yet another Disneynature documentary that tries and largely fails to appeal to both kids and their parents. A bit of salvation comes, though, by way of the film's magnificent imagery and high-speed, pinhole lensed photography. Arguably worth the cost of admission alone, the visuals are nothing short of stunning and deliver spectacular sights I can honestly say I've never seen before. (Or thought possible for that matter.) Thankfully, Disney's Blu-ray release follows suit with an equally impressive video transfer and a solid DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Extras are almost nonexistent, sure. But natural history aficionados won't mind all that much anyway. So while the safest bet is a rental, I can't blame anyone for blind buying such a gorgeous documentary, even if its beauty only runs skin deep.
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