BLU-RAY REVIEW

IMAX: Ocean Wonderland 3D

Featured In Issue 170, October 2012

3D Picture4
Picture4
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):
2017718
(MPAA Rating):
Not Rated
(Rating Reason):
(Retail Price):
$39.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
41
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2003
(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, DTS 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, Ocean Wonderland 3D takes you on a stunning visual diving adventure to the heart of the ocean: the coral reefs. Enter the magical and beautiful, yet endangered and fragile world of the coral reef: from Australia's Great Barrier Reef to the Bahamas. Discover the vast bio-diversity and the crucial role played by coral reefs within the marine ecosystem as they provide a habitat and food for a wide variety of fish species, all while maintaining the health of our planet. (Tricia Spears)

There are no special features.

The 1.78:1 1080p MVC 3D picture was shot natively in 70 mm IMAX dual-strip and portends a natural depth perspective throughout. The picture presents a spatially dimensional undersea world at times against seemingly endless blackness. An amazing aspect is the sense of depth, with small fish and dolphins darting out of the screen and coral reefs floating in space, 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, athough at times close-ups of coral reefs manage better. 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 small fish and coral reef at times up close. 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 Sharks 3D Blu-ray Disc is recommended as well. (Gary Reber)

As with the companion Sharks 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)