'IMAX: Blue Planet' - High-Def Digest review

[jed]

Peter's review of the classic IMAX flick 'Blue Planet' is up. He says Warner has put together a very nice offering for this HD DVD. The video is excellent, and the audio -- though limited by the source material -- delivers some fine moments. And although it's the only extra in the package, the inclusion of a whole other IMAX feature 'The Dream is Alive' is quite the bonus. High-def fans, your IMAX eye candy has arrived...

Full review here:
http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/imax_blueplanet.html

[jedimasterasd]

Ill be picking this one up next paycheck along with Hot Fuzz!!!

[betona]

I've seen both Blue Planet and Dream is Alive in IMAX theaters several times. Blue Planet always was your basic IMAX eye-candy movie while Dream is my all-time favorite IMAX film.

Ever.

I'd go see it right now if it was playing. I even have Dream on Laserdisc in a box somewhere in the basement. Am I the only one who values them inversely to the studio?

So I just watched this disc from Netflix yesterday, and naturally flipped to Dream first. I still love the opening with the sonic booms, and the first lift off where you hear it with no commentary, as if you're there at the pad. Sure, it's dated now, but I still love that film. Interestingly enough, my kids were mesmerized by it, too.

The transfer isn't as good as I'd expect, considering that the source material is that huge format film. In fact, PQ looks very close to what I remember the laserdisc was. The edge issues are there as well; another early Imax weakness. Interestingly enough, the first blastoff sound was slightly different from the laserdisc and film -- the older ones had a quick "whoop-boom" when the solid rocket boosters light up, while this new one just started with a "boom". How anal is it noticing that difference?

Do I still love it? Absolutely. It'll be on my Christmas list this year.

And I watched Blue Planet for a while, got bored and turned it off.