Film

The editing style of the opening has shots and scenes crashing against each other with non-diegetic sound f/x of metal and explosions, attempting to make the proceeding life story all the more intense to witness. What follows that is not so much an explosive tale, but more a cavalcade of weak pop songs that do not have the strength to carry the film alone so they are separated by Bieber being smug as a young celebrity, him being a brat in his pre-fame days, and far too many shirtless shots for my comfort.

There are two stories being told in this film. The first being the biography of Bieber, the other a day by day countdown to his sold out show at Madison Square Garden. I can forgive much of Bieber’s aforementioned smugness and brattiness to him being an adolescent who has been launched into super stardom. I even managed to alter my opinion of him slightly when I saw that he is actually capable behind a drum kit. Beyond that, this is a film solely for one of his squealing fans and I am not a part of that flock.

Video

Widescreen 1.78:1. Despite having to fight against aged home videos and a fleet of stage lights, the picture quality comes off very well. The only traces of fuzziness are backgrounds during the concert scenes or the expected haze of showing a cheaply shot youtube video on an HD screen. Beyond that, Justin’s heavily tailored image is clear.

Audio

English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio as well as 5.1 Dolby Surround in French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Oh my, how I am forcibly immersed into the constant screams of his fans. Being a concert film, the sound is always crucial and all of Bieber’s mediocre pop tunes come through with plenty of clarity, as well as the similar mediocrity of guests Usher, Miley Cyrus and the like.

Subtitles available in English,French, Spanish and Portuguese

Special Features

Concert Sance off: Essentially an extended scene. A full look at Beiber’s dance crew getting a chance to demonstrate their dance moves. Entertaining enough, and it is one of the few tings on this disc that doesn’t not incessantly praise Bieber.

Favorite Girl: The complete ballad where Bieber starts off suspending over the crowd in a giant metal heart.

R.I.P Hair Flip: Bieber’s haircut was just about as famous as himself. This documents said haircut being removed, filmed on what might have been a phone camera.

Giving Back: Another extended scene from when two of his handlers hand out tickets to random fans. A very nice gesture and great way to get screaming/crying girls on camera, and from the point of view of the filmmakers, it pays for itself as far as that is concerned since they want to display as much Bieber hysteria as possible.

DVD copy of the film.

Digital Copy of the film.

BD-Live

Final Thoughts

Young people have been pre-sold on this formula for a long time. This film is more polished than his image, and said image is manufactrued to the point that it is hardly decipherable from the previous pop sensation, nor the one that will follow in the next two years or less.

Film  

Inside Job is a documentary film that deals with the meltdown of the world’s financial system that occurred in 2008, plunging most of the world into a deep recession from which the world has yet to fully dig itself out. Written and directed by Charles Ferguson, the film traces the entire history of the crisis, starting with the passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act in the late 1990′s which overturned the Glass-Steagall Act, passed during The Great Depression, which prohibited the merger of commercial and investment banks and further prohibited commercial banks from using depositors funds to make risky investments.

It is the passage of this bill, which removed the portions enacted during The Great Depression, which the film claims, quite convincingly, to be the genesis of the current crisis. From there, it traces how the passage of this act led to the Wall Street excesses, the derivatives that were sold based on subprime mortgage loans and the credit default swaps used to insure them, which were bought up around the world by pension funds and local governments, with devastating effects for the economic well being of individuals, business and governments, large and small, while those on Wall Street pocked huge sums of money.

I could go on and on but I will let you be the judge of the overall merit of the film. Inside Job features interviews with some leading figures in the world of finance around the world and lays the facts out for all to see and make their own judgments about. However, the list of those players in the financial system who refused to be interviewed for the film is a long one and for a good reason, as they knew where this film was headed. The film deals with the culpability of politicians, Wall Street Firms, The Fed, private and academic economists and the ratings firms.

For those who are interested, you may also want to read Michael Lewis’ book, “The Big Short”, which goes into the financial crisis in a level of detail that a two hour film cannot. Watching and viewing both of these fine works, one will have a real handle on the cause of the worst financial crisis to hit the world since The Great Depression. The film received the Oscar for Best Feature Documentary, an award which was well deserved. Inside Job is a fine and thought provoking documentary and is very highly recommended.

Video  

The video presentation here is a bit of a mixed bag,. The film is a mixture of standard definition video footage and with some still photography along with new interview segments filmed in high definition. The standard definition footage looks about just as one would expect, which is to say, not all that good. Most of the new high definition footage looks excellent, at least that shot in the US. Those segments feature sharp and bright images with deep and stable blacks and excellent levels of detail. The same can be said of the short segment at the beginning of the film featuring some beautiful video footage of the natural beauty of Iceland. The rest of the interview segments, filmed in France, Singapore, England and China, are rather soft with pasty looking colors and mediocre blacks.

As this is a documentary film, I was not expecting stunning visuals but was a bit surprised by some of the differences in image quality between the interview segments. Had all of the interview segments looked as good as those shot in New York, this video presentation here would rate about a 4.5 on a scale of 5 stars. However, in light of the issues I had with the rest of the video segments, I feel that a 4 stars rating is appropriate, being somewhere in the middle of the scores that I would give for the two different blocks of interviews.

Audio  

All in all, I was quite pleased with the audio presentation on this release. I was not expecting a bombastic audio presentation give the nature of the film and was hence not disappointed. The audio track does feature excellent overall fidelity. The narration track featuring Matt Damon, is well recorded and placed right smack dab in the center of the front three speakers and is always intelligible. I also found the musical score to be well recorded,well placed in the mix and to have been used rather effectively. Other than for the musical score and some sound effects, the audio is rather front heavy with sparse use of the surrounds. Given that this is a documentary after all, I found the audio treatment quite appropriate and its presentation fully worthy of a 4 star rating, especially considering the overall fidelity.

Special Features  

I was a bit disappointed by the extras included with the release. The extras include an audio commentary with director Charles Ferguson and producer Audrey Marrs. Also included is The Making of Inside Job featurette and several deleted scenes which consist of segments, some of them rather long, of the interview conducted for the film with Eliot Spitzer, Lee Hsien, Satyajit Das as well as a few others. I can’t say that I found the deleted scenes to be all that informative, in that they didn’t really add all that much to my understanding of the subject matter of the film. Deleted scenes are usually deleted for an obvious reason and in this case, the reasons are clearly obvious to even a casual viewer of the film. Inside Job does not include a digital copy, just the Blu-raay version of the film.

Final Thoughts  

Inside Job is well paced and thought provoking documentary about the financial crisis that gripped the world in 2008 and provides and excellent and factual look at the causes of the crisis and is well worth your time and is very highly recommended.

Film

Wonders of the Solar System is one of the first BBC docs that involves a narrator who is in-front of the camera as well as behind it and at first I was unsure about how I was going to feel about having that aspect added to the documentary.

I think Brian Cox is a very good choice for this documentary, you can tell he’s passionate about the subject and he’s knowledgeable as well. He’s like an on-screen guide explaining these massive concepts to us in plain language that is easy to follow and understand. His passion and love of the subject matter is so apparent and clear, which helps some of the dryer aspects of the science and details feel lighter for he emotes even the most technical deliveries with such joy. During the first episode “Empire of the Sun”, where he is explaining how to measure the suns power using only a thermometer, umbrella and can of water; the science behind it is so daunting that even the editor decides to skip over some of the jargon by using fade in’s and out’s but the delivery is priceless because even though we’ve glossed over the complicated stuff, you still feel enlightened when he reaches the conclusion. Cox is very personable and I enjoyed the journey he takes us on.

Although I prefer nature documentaries because I feel it’s easier to connect and engage with our local denizen rather than things that are millions of kilometers away, the way Cox connects elements of the solar system and their impact to us on Earth, it becomes very apparent how engaging it can all get.

Video

Wonders of the Solar System’s video is displayed using theVC-1 codec at 1.78:1 aspect ratio, but alas much like all of BBC’s lesser documentaries, it is displayed in 1080i. Although we’re given an interlaced source, it’s not a huge loss because the subject matter doesn’t afford the need for the progressive format. We’re not shown a lot of fast moving footage so it’s barely noticeable unless you’re on a large screen or have the eye to see the interlacing lines.

Besides that the video is pretty good looking, it helps that the visuals are stunning and well shot with very interesting cinematography. The biggest complaint I had was the noise during lower lit shots and even some in the CGI graphics of the planets, which in theory should be pristine considering they’re animated and rendered using only computer generated elements.

The black levels are a bit light, but the details are still clear. The use of depth of field in many of the shots with Brian Cox in them allows for a bit of relief from the constant sharp images with nice bokeh in the background which looks very smooth and helps hide interlacing lines.

Considering the limitations with the interlaced video, BBC provides another good looking blu-ray, unfortunately it’s not on the level of Planet Earth or Life.

Audio

Wonders of the Solar System’s audio comes at us using the English DTS-HD 5.1 codec and the audio is around the same level as the audio. The on-location dialogue has a bit of hiss and noise behind it. The narration is crystal clear and centered.

The surrounds don’t really do much in the mix and the most dynamic aspect of the documentary is the score, which is actually really well matched to the footage and much like other BBC scores, it is very encapsulating.  As far as low frequency rumbles and other dynamic showcases within the mix; they are few and far between. The subwoofer gets some occasional usage but mostly just to add sweetener to the score or to certain shots like the close-ups of sunspots.

Special Features

Wonders of the Solar System is a bit light on special features but it does contain two HORIZON programs hosted by Brian Cox; “What on earth is wrong with gravity?” & “Do you know what time it is”, which carries on Brian Cox’s delving into connections between earth and the universe around us. Unfortunately the special features are in Standard Definition which is why I only gave it 2 out of 5.

Final Thoughts

Although the audio and video presentation is lesser than some of BBC’s milestones, Wonders of the Solar System takes us on a journey beyond our planet and although the scale of the subject matter may be gargantuan it’s the personal qualities that Brian Cox, the narrator, brings that makes it a very enjoyable watch. I would definately recommend this one for a rental or even a purchase if you’re a fan of these kinds of documentaries.

Film 

Pretty darn well and in fact, more than holds its own. Oceans takes at a look at just that, the Earth’s oceans and follows various fish and sea mammals from the Arctic to the Antarctic, from The Galapagos to the tip of South Africa to the coast off Australia. The film features some stunning underwater photography, especially shots on the ocean floor off Australia taken at night.

The film features a look at some of the usual creatures featured in such films such as the Great White Shark, Humpback whales, dolphins and the like. However, it also includes some animals I never knew existed such as the Sheet Octopus, which looks like a red bedsheet floating in the water before you notice the octopus legs. The film features an interesting battle between a crab and a large shrimp which results in one losing a limb, a diver swimming along side a Great White shark, to humpback whales breaching and some amazing footage of a Blue Whale, the largest creature in the sea, swimming along side a diver.

The film is narrated by Pierce Brosnan and includes a bit of some preaching about the current state of the ocean and how we must do all that we can to save it, all of which, by the way. is true. If you are looking for a nature documentary that features some stunning underwater photography and a look at some sea creatures that you may not otherwise ever get to see, Oceans is just the disc for you and is highly recommended.

Video 

This is one very impressive looking nature video with very natural looking colors and deep inky blacks. I found the levels of detail to be excellent which together with the deep blacks and richly saturated colors results in a great looking picture with an excellent sense of depth. Shadow detail is fantastic as well especially the footage in the dark and murky water. Despite the low light conditions, detail remains excellent. If I had one criticism about the video and it is truly a minor one, is that the video lacks the ultimate level of clarity that is found with the very best 5 star reproductions. The video here is a just a tad on the soft side, just a tad, but just enough to keep this release from earning a full 5 star rating.

Audio 

The only quibble I have with the audio here is the use of the surrounds. While the surrounds are active throughout the film, they are not used as actively as I would have liked. The audio design is simply a bit too front heavy for me. When they are used aggressively, they are used very, very well, resulting in a very immersive sound field with a stunning sense of realism. This is especially true during the sequences involving the pounding surf, which places you right in the action, with waves pounding to your left and right.

The overall fidelity of the audio is top notch, sounding smooth and open with excellent transparency and dynamics. Bass response is excellent, with the weight and heft of the pounding surf captured with an excellent sense of realism. Overall detail is top notch as well as you can clearly hear the marine iguana as it climbs on the undersea rocks and chews at the algae. The narration featuring Pierce Brosnan is well recorded and well placed in the mix. Overall, other than the quibble noted above, this is a fine sounding film.

Special Features 

The Blu-ray release is a two disc combo pack with disc one the Blu-ray version of the film and disc 2 a DVD version of the film. The both discs contain the film as well as the following: The “Make A Wave” Music Video where Disney’s Friends For Change music video featuring Joe Jones & Demi Lovato: “Disney & Nature: Preserving the World We Share where viewers get a deeper look into the conversation projects around the world sponsored by The Walt Disney Company and “Deeper In The Ocean” featuring 5 pods from the Blu-ray Living Menus and Film Annotations that go behind the scenes taking a deeper look at the filmmakers, locations and animals that make up the film.

In addition the Blu-ray disc also included “Living Menus” which allows you to explore the oceans of the world on an interactive guide. Through BD-Live, new video pods and pop-up facts will be accessible as they become available, hosted by some of the world’s leading oceanographers. Also included are “Filmmaker Annotations” which is an in movie feature that allows viewers to watch behind the scenes footage of the film being made all while watching the film.

Final Thoughts 

Oceans is an excellent nature documentary which features some stunning underwater footage of some of the seas’ truly memorable creatures. It features excellent video and audio reproductions that will thrill fans of nature documentaries. It sure did me. Highly recommended.

However, I did go into this with some trepidation, as this was not the Elvis of “Comeback Special” fame – this was the jumpsuit-cladded, sideburn-toting, kung-fu kicking Elvis of the 1970’s.  Was there still enough charisma and talent left to carry a whole concert film, or was this the pale echoes of a once legendary performer? 

Film

Truly this film was geared towards pantsuit-wearing middle-aged female devoted Elvis fans, as truly there was very little here for those who enjoy his classic recordings.  From the truly unmotivating cut scenes, to the watching of a once independent man with his legions of hangers-on, it was truly sad to see behind the scenes at how far Elvis has fallen.

Worst of all, the musical performances were far from inspiring, with some seemingly performed by rote and memory, and lacking the passion and charisma of a younger Elvis.  The arrangements were also bombastic, brass-heavy travesties of classic Elvis numbers.  “Can’t Help Falling in Love” was almost unlistenable.

By the same token, there were some very good moments on the disc, possibly made even better by the quality of some of the weaker ones.  Elvis’ version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was superb, with his voice resonating in a way that put chills down your spine.  And his cover of “Proud Mary” was quite good, mainly as it was a song suited well for his tour arrangement.

The filming itself was somewhat pedestrian; some shots were interesting such as Elvis perfoming the same song on three different nights in three different jumpsuits, shown in a horizontal mosiac.  However, too often the camera became part of the show itself, with Elvis clearly talking to the cameraman.  In fact, the moments that felt truest in this film were those of Elvis singing gospel with his backup singers in a variety of locations.

Although Martin Scorsese apparently had some input on the somewhat interesting mosaic sequences, these were only one element of the film, and not nearly enough to carry it.  Overall, this was one of the worst concert films that I have ever viewed.       

Video

Ugh – this was the equivalent of watching a VHS movie.  Grainy, noisy, with film artifiacts and washed color, this was (plainly put) ugly.  Although some films are successfully transferred directly from film to Blu-ray, this film master had to have been of an overly poor quality, and appears to have received little to no treatment at all.

One could argue that this was an “authentic” experience.  Yes, it was authentic for what the viewer would experience watching this on broadcast TV (via a coathanger |rabbit ears”) in 1972.  Worst of all, mashing the film into 4×3 then letterboxing it is a crime deserving of corporal punishment.  Overall, the worst video restore I’ve ever seen on a Warner Blu-ray, and far far short of why I own an HDTV.

Audio

I have to believe that citizens of 1970 had had their standards set extremely low through listening to 8-Tracks and AM radio.  Although reportedly in DTS-MA, they dynamic limitations of the original recording are there for all to hear.  Unfortunately, when I watch a concert Blu-ray, I want to be blown away by the power of the recording.

In Elvis on Tour, big notes distort, there is no LFE information, and the music sounds colorless and lifeless.  In some cases (such as the aforementioned “Bridge Over Troubled Water”), the timbre and power of Elvis’ voice overcomes the limitations of the recording.  These moments are all too rare, making this (again) the poorest audio I’ve ever heard on a concert disc.

Special Features

No extras, no score.

Final Thoughts

Ugh.  Really, I was extremely disappointed by this disc in a way that felt personal.  Instead of a loving restore of a legendary performer’s tour, I was instead punished by a flat video presentation, crushed audio, and arrangements that brutalized some of Elvis’ most legendary songs.

In fact, I can’t even give this disc a “Fans Only” recommendation – most of them would likely be put off by this presentation.

Film  

It’s difficult to classify or label life’s status when considering Planet Earth.  Is it a sequel?  Well, we’re talking documentaries here so the term ‘sequel’ doesn’t really apply.  This is more or less an extension of its precursor, without the concept of a story.  The BBC could have easily titled this Planet Earth: Volume 2 and it would have made perfect sense.  Nevertheless, life is a deserving title to this ten-episode, four-disc set containing over 8 hours of footage.  The material is educational, entertaining, and once again, holds several minutes of rare moments in the animal world.

Unlike Planet Earth though, this piece goes into much greater detail on explaining the how’s and why’s of the animal kingdom.  For instance, I bet you didn’t know that a chameleon’s tongue travels at a speed of 50 feet per second or that the Japanese mudskipper breathes through its skin.  These are just a few of the curiously interesting bits of information and visuals you will witness when watching life.  This series left me in absolute awe as the little miracles that surround us never cease to amaze me and many of the scenes are so clear and inviting that you would think you are viewing them through a window.

The Blu-ray is actually available in two options; the U.S. version with Oprah Winfrey narrating and the British version with David Attenborough narrating.  In all honesty, I was not crazy with Oprah doing the talking before I watched either version, as I would have much preferred the Attenborough performance.  After all, the guy was stellar in his duties on the Planet Earth series.  Still, the U.S. version is what I was provided so it is that which I will grade.

In the end, Oprah did a decent job with her vocal delivery, carrying audiences through the wonderful worlds experienced on this title.  She doesn’t have the dedicated narrator voice the Mr. Attenborough does, but she gets the point across and has done better than most celebrity narrators I’ve come across.  If you would rather experience life without the interference of a human voice, you can always watch the footage minus the narration.

Disc 1
• Challeneges of life
• Reptiles and Amphibians
• Mammals

Disc 2
• Fish
• Birds
• Insects

Disc 3
• Hunters and Hunted
• Creatures of the Deep
• Plants

Disc 4
• Primates
• The Making of life
• Deleted Scenes

Video  

Displayed in a VC-1 encode with a 1.77:1 aspect ratio, life is easily a top 5 example of 1080p resolution.  The colors are lush and vivid, the footage is crisp, and the detail is uncanny as viewers’ eyes will stay glued to the picture quality.  The slow motion footage is highly complimented by the high resolution picture as is every little speck of dirt on a rainforest leaf or the stray plankton floating through a Pacific current.

It really does not get any better than this unless you grab your boots or scuba gear and go on location with the series’ cameramen.  The visual performance is definitely the high point on the four discs.  One problem I had with Planet Earth was that it offered some of the best and worst Blu-ray had to offer in terms of appearance.  There was incredible detail throughout, yet some instances contained a great big distraction of visual noise.  Now take the first part of that, minus the second, and you have the video quality of life.

Audio  

The sound is delivered mildly, in that this a front speaker-heavy audio presentation.  The rear channels are used but not enough.  For example, when I see 200,000 penguins in Antarctica and they’re all squawking, I want to hear squawking behind me, in front of me, to the sides, etc., not just a slight carrying of sound through those rear channels.  You can forget about the subwoofer as that piece of equipment doesn’t get much employment at all here.

When carrying the DTS-HD Master Audio label, I thought there would be better use of a surround sound system as a whole.  Some of the scenes have an all-encompassing experience, but not most.  Even so, that majority of the masses will not be disappointed.  You won’t be straining to hear anything and the overall track is intelligible.  Audiophiles, however, will be left wanting more.

Special Features  

For starters, I am very happy to report that all the extras are in 1080i or p high definition.  That seems to be a big hurdle for production teams to get over.  I’m not sure why they can’t grasp it, but if I have a high def disc, don’t give me standard def pieces-parts!  Fortunately, BBC had the sense to give us watchable extras.  Each episode has its own “Making of” featurette that can be found on the same disc as the actual episode.  These featurettes are all narrated by David Attenborough and all hover around the 11-minute realm as far as runtime is concerned.  Disc 4 contains a segment piece of deleted scenes which are narrated by Oprah Winfrey.  As for the quality of any of these extras, they are as good as gold, not straying from the quality of the actual documentary.

Making Of…
• Challenges of life (11:03)
• Reptiles & Amphipians (10:59)
• Mammals (11:02)
• Fish (10:58)
• Birds (11:00)
• Insects (10:56)
• Hunters & Hunted (10:27)
• Creatures of the Deep (11:10)
• Plants (10:37)
• Primates (10:59)
Deleted Scenes (18:09)

Final Thoughts  

With a near magical display of earth’s creatures, there is no passing up life on the store shelf or in your online shopping cart.  Providing a sole focus on creatures and not splitting time between creatures and environments (as in Planet Earth), viewers familiar with Planet Earth can enjoy more of that series’ style here as well as the more devoted animal focus.  Newcomers to BBC’s line of nature productions are truly in for a treat with the beauty and education in store for them.  Young and old, casual or conservationist, life offers a majestic and rare look at some of the wonders of the animal kingdom around us.

Bring home Life today on Blu-ray!

Film

The documentary Wild Pacific, also called “South Pacific” in other regions, covers the islands and waters throughout the Pacific Ocean. I prefer the title South over Wild, due to the fact that those who have seen the other BBC documentary “Wild China”, may attribute the lower quality of that doc with this one.

Wild Pacific is a 6 part BBC miniseries, which not only covers the Southern section of the Pacific but the entire Pacific. Unlike Planet Earth, this documentary series covers not only wildlife and locations, but also the people who inhabit the islands in the pacific. I prefer the footage of wildlife doing extraordinary things that are rarely caught on film or capturing the amazing vistas that our world has, but spicing it up with groups of people living in these remote areas is just as interesting.

Although, Wild Pacific has some great cinematography, a lot of it pales in comparison to Planet Earth. There are some interesting shots and there’s definitely some awesome events captured well, for example the tiger sharks capturing the albatross chicks, however some of the more engaging filmmaking techniques are wasted on shots that simply aren’t of something as cool. Do I want to see super slow-mo shots of a surfer? I’d much rather see the underwater volcanoes pouring out the ash and magma in slow-mo.

Although it’s not as well-made as Planet Earth, Wild Pacific does have some great shots and captures some very cool events. I find that BBC is one of the forerunners of the best documentaries presently around and Wild Pacific, although may not be a prime example of it, is still a great doc to watch. Just like other BBC documentaries such as Wild China, Ganges and Galapagos; although none of them are as solid as Planet Earth or Life, they all have great qualities that make them worthwhile watches.

Video

Wild Pacific’s video is displayed in the aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and uses the VC-1 codec, unfortunately the resolution is not full HD. We’ve got yet another BBC documentary released in 1080i, which is always disappointing. I watched the documentary on my 1080p projector and immediately noticed the inferior resolution, however watching it on a 100” screen is a bit of a torture test. For those one smaller TVs, the resolution isn’t as bad. I actually watched part of the doc on my 27” 1080i monitor and it looked fine.

Motion is crisp on smaller TVs even for interlaced footage and the colours are vivid. The black levels are nice and deep while maintaining a dynamic colour brightness range. It’s definitely a great example of good looking 1080i footage, to the untrained eye, it’ll look just fine.

Audio

Wild Pacific’s audio comes at us using the English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 codec and comes with English subtitles. Unlike the video quality, where we see a prime example of quality overcoming technical limitation (1080i), we’re given an audio codec capable of the best, and the quality doesn’t come close.

The audio is quality isn’t bad, but there’s very little to no atmospheric qualities from the surrounds, the mix is very front heavy. Also it’s obvious  at times that a lot of foley was used to recreate some scenes, but considering I was so enthralled into the amazing visuals, it’s hard to notice any real deficiencies in the mix.

There’s decent dynamic range and while the subwoofer doesn’t get used much, there is some subtle low frequencies that come in nicely, especially in the score. So although we don’t get some of a surrounding effect, the mix does its job, while we’re distracted by great looking footage.

Special Features

Each episode comes with a 10 minute behind-the-scenes video diary highlighting some of the ways the filmmakers captured certain shots and parts. It’s definitely a cool bonus that wasn’t included when the mini-series aired and it’s definitely a testament to the trials and tribulations these filmmakers had to go through; from tight quarters to insane shooting environments.

Although this is considered a special feature, it’s tagged onto the ending of each episode. There aren’t actually any standalone features, which is why it only gets “2”. I think an overall look at the making of the series would’ve been nice as well as some extra footage that may have been cut.

Final Thoughts

BBC delivers another good documentary covering the Wild Pacific; with good looking video and decent audio, Wild Pacific is a good watch for those who enjoy documentaries. Unfortunately, with sparse special features and an overall short running time, this would make a better rental than purchase.

Film   

IMAX: Under the Sea is a spectacular look into the coral depths of various parts of the Pacific ranging from Indonesia to Australia.  Narrated by actor/comedian Jim Carrey, the Hollywood funny man serenely guides viewers through the densely populated ocean floor of coral reefs where life is abound in many different forms and colors.  Documentaries aren’t for everyone as far as casual viewing goes, but Under the Sea proves to be quite the educational and even entertaining piece as audiences will gain an education on the various species of fish, sea snake and cuttlefish just to name a few.  From the world’s most venomous fish, the stonefish, to the mysteriously primitive nautilus and the playful sea lions of Oceana, IMAX brings to you an appealing production that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.

My only complaint about this film was selecting Jim Carrey as the narrator.  He doesn’t turn into his on-screen persona, so no worries there.  However, his vocal coverage of the material just didn’t draw me in.  I can’t say it was annoying, but it just didn’t retain the commanding presence of someone like Liam Neeson or Harrison Ford.  I’m not saying it had to be one of those guys, but they would have been a better fit.  Considering the narrator is your guide in IMAX films, it is a fairly significant issue of who the production team chooses to present the dialogue.  That aside, it is no deal-breaker and viewers will still be able to enjoy a beautifully presented experience.

Video 

This disc utilizes a VC-1 encode, 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and the obvious 1080p high def resolution in its visual presentation.  The bottom line to all that is this is not one of, but thee most beautiful Blu-ray disc I have ever laid my eyes upon.  Perhaps this is due in part to Mother Nature being a better provider of beauty and eye-catching phenomena that computer generated imagery could ever hope to give us.  Advantages of content aside, there was not one bit of grain in this film.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  The array of reef colors and the details of the life that call the reefs home was nothing less than pristine and is without a doubt, reference quality material.  The filmmakers captured the magnificence of aquatic life with obvious expertise, which is blatantly apparent in the content and quality of that content captured here.

Audio 

Though not as striking as the visuals, the audio is impressively relayed through the variety of speakers in your home’s surround sound, save for the subwoofer.  Jim Carrey’s narration is delivered through the front speakers along with the music and some underwater sounds.  The front-side and rear channels also bring forth the disc’s musical soundtrack and a few oceanic sounds such as air bubbles and a snapping fish.  Again, the only drawback is with the narrative.  In this case, it is not that it is with Carrey himself, but the recorded volume of his narration.  It just came across a bit too low, not to the point of being out of earshot, but low enough to recognize that an improvement could have been made.  All in all, you will find a very fitting soundtrack carried to your ears as each tune is accurately accompanying the scene on screen, beautifully captured ambient sounds of the undersea with a mild Jim Carrey dialogue.

Special Features 

With a 40-minute, 51-second main feature, one cannot expect too much content to appear on the disc’s extras.  Such is the case with IMAX: Under the Sea as there is less than 20 minutes of goodies here.  They are all displayed in 1080i, though I beg to differ on the true high definition labeling of all the extra content.  Many of the shots in the field are rough and very dvd-looking.  The quick interview shots with people like director Howard Hall are indeed flawless, true high def.

• Behind the Story – Filming IMAX: Under the Sea – This provides a brief experience of what went into making this documentary (7:17).
• Expeditions – With five featurettes in all, they take viewers on a quick journey into the various shooting locations of Under the Sea (12:06).  They are as follows:
o Papua New Guinea – New Britain
o Papua New Guinea – Milne Bay
o South Australia
o The Great Barrier Reef
o Indonesia

Final Thoughts  

Anything short of buying this on Blu-ray is a mistake.  The world recorded on this disc is far too beautiful to be watched on the standard definition of dvd.  IMAX: Under the Sea is a quick, educational film that is the crème de la crème of visual presentation.

Bring home IMAX: Under the Sea today on Blu-ray!

Then the news came out that Michael Jackson’s rehearsals had been filmed and his camp released some rather short rehearsal footage taken a few days before his death which seemed to indicate that he had been in good health prior to his death. Then came word that a feature film would be released pieced together with the rehearsal as well as other footage to give fans a glimpse of what the This Is It tour was going to be like had it debuted in London. The film, released to theaters for 2 weeks was a huge hit. I missed it in theaters but was really impressed with the video and audio quality on a trailer for the Blu-ray release included on a recent Sony release. Would the look and sound of the feature release even exceed the trailer?

Film 

This film is clearly made for Michael Jackson fans. If you are a fan of Michael Jackson and his music, you will simply love this film. If you aren’t, I guess there will be no need for you to experience the film, other than for some sense of historic curiosity. Most of the film was shot at the rehearsals at The Staples Center in LA in the weeks before his death.

Some of the footage was shot at sessions where the dancers were selected and others at studios where new footage to serve as intros and backdrops for songs such as Thriller were shot as well as some pre-production meetings. Several full length or nearly full length song performances are pieced together from several different rehearsals and are the highlights of the film. These songs include Thriller, Wanna Be Startin Something, Beat It, a Jackson 5 medley, Billie Jean, Man In The Mirror and Human Nature, just to name a few.

Some of the performances are better than others as Michel Jackson is clearly trying to preserve his voice over what appear to be many grueling rehearsals. On occasion, he really gets into the performances vocally. Billie Jean isn’t one of them however. You will be disappointed if you go into the film expecting to see him at his best as though he was performing live for an audience rather than for the crew. However, what is clear from the footage in the film is that he was still able to perform and appeared to be in excellent shape, although he does appear to lack some of the explosiveness he had as a younger man. However, he was still as light on his feet as always.

It is just as clear that fans would have loved the planned show as it was a real spectacle. If you are a huge fan of Michael Jackson, this release is a must buy. For the rest of you, I would recommend that you at least give it a rental. Who knows, you may even enjoy it.

Video 

I must admit that I have been struggling with my rating for the overall video on this release. The HD footage was shot with state of the art Red One cameras is simply fantastic and among the best looking HD video I have ever seen. The HD footage has incredible levels of clarity, depth and detail that are just staggering. The colors are bright and bold yet natural, with deep and stable blacks and is fully worthy of a 5 stars if not higher rating, it is that good. However, included along with the HD footage are significant pieces of standards definition footage, which is no where near as impressive as the HD stuff.

This footage is presented as letterboxed SD content. As a result, it has black bars on the top and bottom in addition to the sides. There also appears to be some widescreen SD material. While I was not using a stopwatch, the majority of the film features the stunning HD video from the Red One cameras and is simply amazing. However, there is enough rather mediocre SD material included that I felt I had to reduce the score just a bit, from an otherwise perfect 5 star presentation.

Audio 

If I could only use one word to describe the audio on this release, it would be magnificent. Yes, it is that good. This is simply spectacular stuff. Where do I begin? The overall fidelity is excellent, with a smoothness, openness and transparency that I have yet to experience in a concert video. Bass response is off the charts with deep and throbbing bass lines driving most of the songs, without a hint of bloat. The surrounds are also aggressively creating a sense of total immersion. If you ever wondered what a sound check sounded like in an empty arena such as The Staples Center, you will find out here. The audio on this release is nearly, if not, perfect. How can you improve on perfect? You can’t. Enough said.

Special Features 

As one would have expected, this release is filled with extras, all of which are presented in HD. The extras include several featurettes including “Staging The Return: The Adventure Begins” which details the origins of the tour and the rehearsals as well as the creation of the whole show. In Staging The Return: Beyond The Show” director Kenny Ortega and his crew discuss the final rehearsals, their final moments with Michael Jackson and the reasons why the film was created. In “The Gloved One”, costume designer Zaldy takes you behind the scenes as the costumes were created and shows the final products, many of which Michael Jackson never was able to see before his death. In “Memories of Michael” members of the show’s crew and management team discuss some of their personal recollections of Michael Jackson. The featurette “Auditions: Searching for the World’s Best Dancers” chronicles just that, with 5,000 applicants for 11 available positions.

Also included is the Smooth Criminal vignette that was to be shown before the concert performance of the song, presented in HD and 5.1 Dolby Digital. Also included is the new vignette filmed for the performance of Thriller likewise presented in HD and 5.1 Dolby Digital. The release is BD-Live enabled and features movieIQ, which enables you to access real-time information about the cast, music and trivia, while watching the movie. The theatrical trailer for the film is also included. A digital copy is not included.

Final Thoughts 

This Is It offers a fascinating insight into the final days of Michael Jackson as well as the creative process behind his planned final concert tour. It offers exceptional and reference audio and video presentations and is a must have for Michael Jackson fans. Even if you aren’t a fan of the man or his music, the audio and video are of such high quality that you should give this release a look, if only on the basis of a rental.

Film

‘Dogtown and Z Boys‘ follows a group of teenage surfer/skateboarders who revolutionized skateboarding through the seventies. The film opens up with a brief history of where Dogtown is and takes through the history of the Zephyr shop started by Jeff Ho, Skip Engblom and Craig Stecyk.

Starting as a innovative surf shop it soon became the home of the Z-Boys, a group of young rebels who used their surfing techniques to completely revolutionize skateboarding, At the time skateboarding was on the same wavelength with the yo-yo and the Frisbee, a simple childish toy, but with the help of the Z-Boys skate team from Santa Monica.

The film does a great job showing how the Zephyr shop not only had an important role in what would become modern skateboarding, but also how it’s style and art became a culture (mostly due to Jeff Ho’s artwork).

The pace of the film and editing makes the watch enjoyable, there are a few slower parts but overall I was enthralled in the documentary. I was impressed at how interested I was, knowing nothing about skateboarding and it’s culture.

There are some annoying qualities of the film, mostly technical related so I’ll save those for the other categories, but there’s some screw-ups left in the narration by Sean Penn that were left in (one flubbed line in particular where he coughs). Although it’s not a big deal, but it made me feel like they were trying to create this grungy and low-budgeted and it really felt fake to me.

Overall the documentary was well made and it did its job in both being entertaining and being insightful.

Video

Ah the glorious wonder of watching a film on Blu-ray that consists mostly of super-8mm footage shot in the seventies. The grainy and scratched up film used in the transfer is painful to watch… It’s as if someone used one of those ‘Old film’ filters onto the video.

However it’s great to actually have some footage to see history in the making, rather than just hearing people talk about it or having to sit through renactments.

The interviews themselves are grainy as well and were probably shot using older mini-dv cameras, however they’re not as hard to watch.

Although it’s presented in 1080p/AVC MPEG-4, I feel that the codec is wasted on such low quality video, in 4:3 aspect ratio.

Audio

The audio is presented in English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Surround Sound but besides the soundtrack (which is a pretty full catalogue of great hard rock from the classic rock era) there’s nothing really utilized besides the center channel for dialogue.

Overall the dialogue is clean and the music selection is a great companion to the subject matter, so for a documentary that’s pretty much all you need

Special Features

Most of the special features consist of more old footage of skating, with a few exceptions such as The State of Pool Skating (which is new skate footage). Overall the selection of special features is nice considering some of the bare bones discs I’ve come across recently.

The commentary is great, mostly because I thought Stacy Peralta’s interviews throughout the film were the most engaging, so it was nice to hear some more about the documentary through his P.O.V..

There are a couple duds, such as the multi-angle sequences which are, as advertised, simply another camera’s P.O.V. of the skating. Also there’s the “That was a stupid question” which is the interviewees talking back to the interviewer (Peralta) saying they don’t like certain questions. Also the Jeff Ho 200 video is an audio-less clip of Peralta and Jeff Jo in Hawaii.

One of the better special features is Tony Alva Art Show, which is a glimpse into one of Alva’s art shows that showcases similar art to that which made the Zephyr shop a cultural staple. Also the “Lords of Dogtown webisodes” behind the scenes mini-featurettes about the film are a great addition.

Final Thoughts

I was surprised with how much I enjoyed Dogtown and Z-Boys and I felt that although it may not be a Blu-ray I would be attracted to, it’s a great example of not judging a book by its cover. I think that if you even have a small interest in skateboarding, than this film will mean a lot more than it did for a non-skater, but even for those who might just be looking for a compelling watch, then this might be one to look into.