BLU-RAY REVIEW

IMAX: Sharks 3D

Featured In Issue 170, October 2012

3D Picture4
Picture3.5
Sound3.5
WSR Score4
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Universal Studios Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
61118892
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$39.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
42
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2004
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
06/07/11
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Jean-Jacques Mantello
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD High Resolution 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

Presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau, Sharks 3D offers audiences an astonishing up-close encounter with the lions and tigers of the ocean. Come face to face with a multitude of shark species, including the Great White, Hammerhead, and the Whale shark. Witness sharks as they really are; not malicious man-eating creatures but wild, fascinating, and endangered animals that have been in existence millions of years before dinosaurs roamed the earth. (Tricia Spears)

There are no special features.

The 1.78:1 1080p MVC 3D picture is shot natively in 70 mm IMAX dual-strip and presents an incredibly natural imagery of the world of sharks. An amazing aspect is the sense of depth, with small fish darting out of the screen, for an impressively convincing dimensional experience. Divers will appreciate the realistic undersea murky filtering that dense water volumes create, with few purely clear shots few and far between. Everything, therefore, is natural looking and not exaggerated. Scenes with intense sunlight light up the affair, and the color palette livens as well. Colors then appear lifelike, though, still diluted at times. Resolution during close-ups is quite good and reveals fine creature textures. The 3D is impressive from the perspective of natural depth, with the sense of being in the water with the sharks at times up close. The realism that is projected at times startles as the sharks float out of screen. Crosstalk ghosting is not problematic or annoying, with hardly a noticeable presence. Overall, this is a fine 3D documentary that explores a world unfamiliar. The companion Ocean Wonderland 3D Blu-ray Disc is recommended as well. (Gary Reber)

As with the companion Ocean Wonderland 3D Blu-ray Disc, the non-lossless DTS-HD High Resolution 5.1-channel soundtrack is comprised of an orchestral music score that immerses the soundfield with an aggressive surround presence. The .1 LFE channel is generally restrained throughout, except to provide a low-frequency foundation to the music. Geoffrey Bateman's narration is the other sound element, which is always intelligible and nicely balanced against the music score. The result is a pleasant and comfortable sonic experience that nicely complements the deep undersea world of the sharks. (Gary Reber)