Wolf Totem 3D

Based on the beloved Chinese novel by Jiang Rong, Wolf Totem tells the story of a young Beijing student is sent to live among the nomadic herdsmen of Inner Mongolia. Caught between the advance of civilization from the south and the nomads’ traditional enemies—the marauding wolves—to the north, humans and animals, residents and invaders alike, struggle to find their true place in the world. In the midst of this setting, the boy forms an unlikely bound with a Mongol wolf cub. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the featurette The Nature Of A Wolf (HD 11:27), A Look At The Cast (HD 03:19), The Director’s Adventure (HD 05:26), and Saving The Environment (HD 05:28).

The 2.39:1 1080p MVC native 3D picture was photographed entirely on location in Inner Mongolia under the direction of Stereographer David Bush using the Arri Alexa digital camera system. The imagery is absolutely spectacular and breathtaking in its scale, perspective, and depth.The native 3D produces excellent volume and scale. Every scene is wonderfully dimensional, which conveys absolute realism. The color palette is nicely saturated with dense greens of the Mongolia landscape, blue and fierily multi-colored skies, and white clouds. Object textures, such as huts and clothing, are naturally hued, as well as the wolfs and horses and other wildlife. Fleshtones exhibit a warm, naturally healthy glow. Contrast is excellent, even during intense dark storms, though, in some of the darkest scenes shadow delineation is wanting. Resolution is excellent, with fine detail exhibited in grass, animals, humans, objects, and the overall natural environment. This is a wonderful 3D presentation whose visuals are haunting yet absolutely beautiful. The 3D really achieves a visual brilliance and dimension that is spectacular. (Gary Reber)

The Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is nicely executed, led by a sweeping and spectacular orchestral score by James Horner that spans the soundstage wide and deep and extends aggressively into the surrounds. Atmospherics are nicely nuanced, but also can be quite dynamic, such as herds of horses and gazelles with wolf packs in pursuit, as are sound effects such as gunfire and explosions. Every sonic nuance is captured. Fidelity is excellent. Deep bass in the .1 LFE channel occurs in the music score as well as during great storms. Dialogue is clear, with good spatial integration, and English subtitles at the bottom of the picture frame. This is a wonderful, often holosonic® soundtrack that is dynamic sounding and hugely dimensional. It will not disappoint. (Gary Reber)