6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
From Fiji to the Bahamas, Jean-Michel Cousteau and his children explore the ocean to learn about the threats it faces.
Starring: Jean-Michel Cousteau, Arnold SchwarzeneggerDocumentary | 100% |
Video codec: HEVC / H.265
Video resolution: 4K (2160p)
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
4K Ultra HD
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Now that we can no longer call Arnold Schwarzenegger "The Governator," maybe now we can call him the "Narratator." Rather than terminating human resistance fighters, he's now telling the story of the world's natural undersea wonders in the documentary film Wonders of the Sea. In fact, Arnold says in the film's intro that he has lent his talents to this film, far away from any kind of work he has done before, because this is an important film. Important though it may be, it's not a dramatically original film. It's a largely engaging, largely satisfying, and largely well made, yet largely similar to other likeminded fare that explore the ocean's depth and unveil its secrets. Truth be told there can't be too many of these sorts of films, but to call this one more than, well, "largely good" rather than "necessary" would be to stretch the truth.
Wonders of the Sea was originally intended to be presented in 3-D, and that version is not included with this release. That might be
one of the driving factors for my ambivalence towards the film; it may have indeed played better as it was intended to be seen.
Nevertheless, as it is here, both a Blu-ray and a UHD are included, so here are a few words about each.
The Blu-ray presented at 1080p is a satisfying venture, especially in terms of color output where blue ocean water is a highlight but more so the colorful
sea creatures that abound throughout the film. There's a beautiful myriad of oranges, yellows, purples, blues, and all variety of colors to behold that are
nicely distinguished, full and vivid, and satisfying in every shot. Audiences will never bemoan the lack of color or the fullness and satisfying
presentations thereof. Further, black levels are very rich and deep, especially during some of the deep underwater excursions where there is a complete
absence of light. The image's detailing is solid, too, though at times slightly limited by the capabilities of the underwater gear, as good as it may be.
Burt certainly even at 1080p there is enough resolution muscle here to capture very fine textural qualities and characteristics on the complex sea
creatures. There is some mild banding and compression related issues, at times, but these are never a serious distraction.
The UHD presentation does up the game for the film, especially considering the HDR color grading. After watching the Blu-ray first, I was almost
shocked to see just how much better the film looks with the incredibly bolder ocean blues and dive suits as the first of many examples of just how
much deeper, richer, and fuller are the colors on the UHD image. Of course, the sea life is just overflowing with incredibly vivid colors that leap off the
screen. It's wonderful to see the variety of greens, reds, oranges, pinks, and yellows so bold and brilliant here that adds a new layer of life and visual
excellence to the presentation. Clarity is better, too, with sharper details to the fine qualities and characteristics of coral, fish, and even the humans who
sporadically appear in the film. The sharper textures give this a very lifelike image that almost looks like seeing the content firsthand at an aquarium.
A DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 lossless soundtrack accompanies both the Blu-ray and UHD presentations. It's been engineered in a way that is reflective of the IMAX documentary style in that it's a bit over cranked and slightly booming for impact. Music is especially so, and so are some core sound effects, like when divers dive into the water. Limited by the front two channels there's no surround spacing at play, of course, but the track does push big into the two available speakers to offer as much content as possible, with some discrete elements and clear and obvious separation between the channels as well. Dialogue does not always image to the center but appears to try and match character location along the front as they speak, such as during planning meetings on the ship. Core narration, however, does find a nicely grounded front-center location. Both can be slightly booming, but clarity and intelligibility are just fine.
This Blu-ray release of Wonders of the Sea contains the same extras on both the Blu-ray and UHD discs. No DVD or digital copies are included
with purchase. This release does ship with a non-embossed slipcover.
A quote from The Hollywood Reporter on the back of the Blu-ray packaging calls the film "a feast for the eyes," and that is indeed an apt descriptor. It's a fascinating film, teeming with vivid underwater creatures and all sorts of amazing creatures to explore. It's certainly not a new standard for its genre, and it's not as socially penetrating or even politically important as it really wants to be, but it is a solid film and fine example of its type. It is suitable for individual consumption, viewing by families, or even classroom duty. Screen Media's Blu-ray and UHD discs deliver very good video and audio presentations, and there are even a few extras included, too, to sweeten the deal. Recommended.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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