IMAX: DINOSAURS ALIVE! [2007 / 2010] [3D Blu-ray + 2D Blu-ray] [USA Release] Uncover the Mysteries Buried beneath Our Feat! Originally Created for Exhibition in IMAX Theatres!
Join the world's preeminent palaeontologists in this eye-popping IMAX adventure as they uncover some of history's most astonishing dinosaur finds. Travel across the exotic dunes of the Gobi Desert and along the sandstone buttes of New Mexico as scientists make brand-new discoveries about dinosaur behaviour, their environments and find what could be the oldest dinosaur ever unearthed in North America. With stunningly realistic and scientifically accurate CGI, you'll see these amazing creatures come alive . . . in a big way! Narrated by Michael Douglas.
Cast: Michael Douglas (Narrator), Sterling Nesbitt and Alan H. Turner
Director: Bayley Silleck and David Clark
Producers: David Clark, Don Kempf and Keero Singh Birla
Screenplay: David Clark
Composer: Michel Cusson
Cinematography: William Reeve, C.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
French: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and
Spanish: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: None
Running Time: 39 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Image Entertainment, Inc.
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: IMAX: DINOSAURS ALIVE! [2007] is for me personally something I cannot get enough of these types of Dinosaur films, especially in awesome 3D IMAX image presentation, because there is a constant flow of new information enough to fuel filmmakers until the final species are uncovered . . . and then more are found, and now this IMAX film presentation has really given you some awesome and the ultimate realistic experience of IMAX – DINOSAURS ALIVE! in 3D IMAX.
Michael Douglas narrates this near on 40 minute IMAX feature film, and focuses mainly on the discovery of the prehistoric creatures. Shots of the Gobi desert and New Mexico locales are impressive, the sprawling aerial photography setting a grand stage along with the whole experience.
Viewers will certainly want to sit down and enjoy viewing IMAX: DINOSAURS ALIVE! 3D Blu-ray, which is something to view that, is totally awesome. Much of the 3D IMAX film is set in the modern day period, where palaeontologists are seen digging through the rocks and the sand to find bones, while a spinning CGI dinosaur model briefly details their find. Occasionally, you’ll see some action, especially an Oviraptor protecting their eggs, or a T-Rex descendant hunting for the ultimate kill. These scenes are very brief, and surely made for the 3D effects more than anything. A few of the modern scenes go for the terms of “shocking” 3D effects, a graduate student tossing a hunk of dirt at the camera for example.
Michael Douglas’s narration is fine, although probably not enough to keep the young ones glued to their seats while they become anxious for the main attraction. Dinosaurs Alive came out in 2007, and at time the CGI effects ca sometimes be rather stiff then, but when we view an effective chase scene through a jungle environment it is a lot of fun. Besides it being only 39 minutes long, you will probably learn a lot from this 3D IMAX film.
Blu-ray 3D Image Quality – Image Entertainment, Inc., brings you this 3D IMAX 65 mm film format in something that always looks absolutely staggering on the big screen in terms of detail. In terms of this Blu-ray disc, the 1080p resolution is as good as you would expect by the Blu-ray format, but not in a negative way, but the 1.78:1 aspect ratio helps to enhance the image presentation. Some of the aerial shots or the panorama images of the desert environments show some slight halos effects on the horizon, but not detrimental image wise, while the CGI dinosaurs stick out most drastically. So all in all this not too bad a Blu-ray presentation, like some critics might lead you to believe it is not.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Image Entertainment, Inc., brings you this 3D IMAX 65 mm film format that is awesome in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio presentations, and you experience some really terrifying loud, forceful sounds, and also feature some terrific surround sound experiences. It carries fantastic range and clarity, remaining dim during dialogue-driven sequences and coming alive when it is designed too really rattle the windows of your lounge, so make sure the neighbours are out. Michael Douglas’s narration is crisp and tight, and sounds very natural. Aside from the films dramatic music score, the surrounds are of only ambient effects, save for a few spurts of action. The chase sequence at around 31:50 you hear some rustling of leaves and the patter of small dinosaur feet scampering about effectively. The majority of the time, the dinosaurs remain in front of the viewer, and as such, the sound design does too. A slight smidgen of loud bass sounds adds some hefty oomph from the larger roars from the dinosaurs which is quite effective.
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: The Making of DINOSAURS ALIVE! [2007] [1080p] [1.78:1] [26:41] If you are like me, a massive fan of these 3D IMAX films, then this special feature takes a very interesting look at how they set out to shoot this IMAX – DINOSAURS ALIVE! 3D film. This short documentary reveals the amount of extensive work that goes into filming this 3D IMAX film and the awesome logistics of hauling around all of the heavy equipment, as well as we see the crew carrying the huge IMAX 3D Camera in very difficult remote locations, as well as filming in extreme heat and having problems with blowing sands. We see them filming in Mongolia and especially the Gobi Desert, as well in New Mexico at the legendary “Ghost Ranch,” and also their final location shoot in the famous Redwood Forest in California. Viewers will get to see how the CGI dinosaurs were created and incorporated into the 3D IMAX film with well over 300 people. It was also good to watch for anyone who is interested in the filmmaking process. One bit of fascinating facts we get to learn about, and that is the cost of shooting in 35mm 3D, is around $11 per second! Contributors include: Bayley Silleck [Director], David Clark [Director], Peter Skovsbo [VFX Executive Producer], Mark Dubeau [Art Directpr] and Michael Douglas [Narrator].
Special Feature: Meet The Creatures: This is a very educational special feature for anyone looking to brush up on their Dinosaur history. Pick one of the Dinosaurs on view, and you can read lots of in-depth information about that specific prehistoric animal, and you can also watch the related clips from the IMAX film. The prehistoric creatures you can check out are: PROTOCERAPTOPS; SEISMOSAURUS; PTEROSAURUS; TARCHIA; TARBOSAURUS; OVIRAPTOR; VELOCIRAPTOR; CONFUCIUSAURUS; COELOPHYSIS, EFFIGIA; REDONASAURUS and POSTOSUCHUS.
IMAX Blu-ray Trailers: Here we get to view the following IMAX trailers for the Blu-ray format, and as a bonus you get to view two of them in the 3D format and they are as follows: WILD OCEANS [2010] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:46]; WILD OCEAN 3D [2010] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:46]; MUMMIES: SECRETS OF THE PHARAOHS [2011] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1: 54]; MUMMIES: SECRETS OF THE PHARAOHS 3D [2011] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1: 52]; RIDE AROUND THE WORLD [2011] [1080i] [1.37:1] [1: 52] and DINOSAURS ALIVE! [2007] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1: 22].
Special Feature: BD-LIVE: BD Live is a feature of new Blu-ray 2.0 that allows the user to connect to the Internet and download extra features that gives additional dynamicHD content and even copies the contents for their PSP game console. To view these extra features, your Blu-ray player has to be connected to the internet and especially make sure the latest firmware has been installed.
Finally, IMAX: DINOSAURS ALIVE! is a documentary style film created exclusively for exhibition at IMAX cinemas. I never saw the film in an IMAX cinema, but I am glad now I get to view it via this awesome 3D Blu-ray disc format. The IMAX film does include some exciting moments with the awesome CGI special effects, but also plenty of scenes consisted of fossil exhibitions and palaeontologists exploring. The CGI scenes were also clearly made for the 3D Blu-ray experience. With the addition of awe inspiring 3D visuals, a very good making-of documentary, and an educational Meet the Creatures feature, I would encourage Blu-ray 3D enthusiasts to take a good look at this one and consider a purchase. Overall, this is a really good “Real 3D” Blu-ray release. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
