IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK 3D [2008 / 2010] [3D Blu-ray + 2D Blu-ray] [USA Release] Originally Created For Exhibition in IMAX Theatres!
‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK 3D’ combines exhilarating river-rafting action on America’s most iconic river with and the grandeur of the Grand Canyon to tell an engaging story of how ordinary people can make a difference for our parched planet — one that is running out of clean, fresh water.
Narrated by Academy Award® winning filmmaker, actor and noted environmentalist Robert Redford and Wade Davis. This IMAX film takes audiences on this illuminating rafting trip are two environmental heroes: world-renowned river advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and author/anthropologist/explorer Wade Davis, accompanied by their daughters Kick Kennedy and Tara Davis. They are guided by Shana Watahomigie, a member of the Havasupai tribe and the first Native American to become a National Park Ranger and river guide. A stirring score, featuring songs and music from the Grammy Award® winning Dave Matthews Band, sets the mood for this adventure that explores the issues, presents real solutions, and delivers an uplifting message of hope for future generations.
Originally conceived, photographed and released in ultra-high-resolution IMAX® 3D process. The 3D image is optimised for home viewing by scanning the original 15/70 image at an 8K resolution for this 3D Blu-ray release. This 3D Blu-ray will play on a standard Blu-ray player.
FILM FACT: The film won Best Cinematography of the Year and a Special Achievement in Filmmaking Award for the opening 3D title sequence from the Giant Screen Cinema Association. It also won a Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing by the Motion Picture Sound Editors USA and was nominated for a VES Award for Outstanding Visual Effects by the Visual Effects Society.
Cast: Tara Davis, Wade Davis, Steve Fisher, Nikki Kelly, Robert Kennedy Jr., Kick Kennedy, Kristin Kuckelman, Dale Regan, Tanya Shuman, Shana Watahomigie, Anthony Yap, Robert Redford (Narrator) and Flo Di Re (Additional narration)
Director: Greg MacGillivray
Producers: Anne Marie Hammers, Basil Moore, Chat Reynders, Christopher N. Palmer, Kathy Almon, Greg MacGillivray, Harrison Smith, Mark Krenzien and Shaun Macgillivray
Screenplay: Jack Stephens and Stephen Judson
Composers: Dave Matthews Band, Stefan Lessard and Steve Wood
Cinematography: Brad Ohlund (Director of Photography), Greg MacGillivray (Director of Photography), Jack Tankard (Director of Photography) and Ron Goodman (Aerial Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
French: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 45 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT / MacGillivray Freeman Films
Andrew's 3D Blu-ray Review: ‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK 3D’ combines exhilarating river-rafting action on America's most iconic river with and the grandeur of the Grand Canyon to tell an engaging story of how ordinary people can make a difference for our parched planet, one that is running out of clean, fresh water. Taking audiences on this illuminating rafting trip are two environmental heroes: world-renowned river advocate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and author, anthropologist and explorer Wade Davis, accompanied by their daughters Kick Kennedy and Tara Davis. They are guided by Shana Watahomigie, a member of the Havasupai tribe and the first Native American to become a National Park Ranger and river guide.
IMAX 3D, when used appropriately, can be as dynamic a visual experience as one can hope to witness. In ‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK 3D,’ this is proven from the moment go. Rushing down the rapids of the Colorado River, the film's credit sequence appears on drops of water that spray towards you. The Dave Matthews Band, a well-chosen source for the movie's soundtrack, keeps the mood upbeat, and, like the kayaks and rafts that we follow through the movie's journey, propelling forward. This IMAX film is a gorgeous stunning film and you can be assured, it looks totally spectacular, but the films topic is quite grave, especially on the impending environmental issue as well. The truth is that the Colorado River, like so many rivers around the world, is experiencing a drought that literally threatens its total existence, unless the world wakes up.
The film follows anthropologist Wade Davis and his daughter, Tara Davis, as they photograph and follow the river through the Grand Canyon. Also along for the trip are Robert Kennedy, Jr., son of the senator and a long-time environmental activist, and his daughter Kathleen Kennedy. Early in the film, Robert Kennedy, Jr. reflects on how meaningful it is to share this particular adventure with his daughter, who is just preparing to leave for college. Footage of his father taking him to the Grand Canyon when he was roughly the same age makes this moment more resonant.
The crew has as its river guide Shana Watahomigie, the first Native American to become a National Park Service river guide and ranger in the Grand Canyon, and whose ancestors have lived along the Colorado River for centuries. Her knowledge of the river at every turn is impressive. At the beginning of the film, Shana must leave her daughter, too young to make the trip, behind. However, showing these cross-generational relationships in the context of this adventure delivers a clear message: we owe it to our children to insure their access to our natural resources. Clearly, so much is in the balance. A stirring score, featuring songs and music from the Grammy Award® winning Dave Matthews Band, sets the mood for this adventure that explores the issues, presents real solutions, and delivers an uplifting message of hope for future generations.
The film is just one in a series of 10 IMAX films regarding our planet's water like ‘The Living Sea’ and ‘Dolphins’ are two others, and produced by the MacGillivray Freeman Films, a production company committed to its environmentalist message as well as to excellence in IMAX film making. In addition to the film's beautiful cinematography, its adroit editing, and the aforementioned soundtrack, Robert Redford's exceptional narration is also worth mentioning. In addition to the expertise of both Wade Davis and Robert Kennedy Jr., Robert Redford, like Al Gore, gives the film a an authenticity that can only come from someone with his level of commitment to environmentalism.
IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE MUSIC TRACK LIST
TWO STEP [Performed by Dave Matthews Band]
THE SPACE BETWEEN [Performed by Dave Matthews Band]
STEADY AS WE GO [Performed by and Dave Matthews Band]
MOTHER, FATHER [Performed by Dave Matthews Band]
3D Blu-ray Image Quality – ‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK 3D’ presents this Blu-ray Disc that certainly benefits from having gone through the process of being scanned at 8k before any blow-ups of the high definition 1080p image or processing was done for this exceptional 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The results here are truly breath-taking, with an extremely high level of perceived resolution at Blu-ray's standard 2k depth. The pixels seem denser, the source looks immaculately clean, sharp and detailed, and the colour reproduction is so vibrant it is almost like looking through a window. This presentation is evidence that the best 70mm film handled well rivals or even exceeds the best high definition recording techniques available today in terms of resolution. What really gets you in the mood before the film starts is the impressive ‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK 3D’ Titles before you start the film.
3D Blu-ray Audio Quality – With ‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK 3D,’ you get to experience an awesome 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio surround track brings with a very engaging surround sound mix and is filled with the thunderous sounds of rushing rapids throughout the soundstage and the lively music of the Dave Matthews Band mixed discretely into the five main channels is used effectively to give weight to the sound effects when necessary, and dialogue is clear and cleanly balanced in the centre channel. What is also very impressive is the female narrator at the start of the film gives you a fantastic surround audio adventure with all your speakers being used.
2D Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature Documentary: The Making of ‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK’ [2008] [480i] [1.37:1] [33:40] This is an in-depth look at the behind-the-scenes look at the making of this awesome IMAX 3D film. But of course it explains the thinking behind this spectacular film. What comes out of this brilliant documentary, is the reason why they decided to make this IMAX 3D film and it is to promote the environmental impact that humans are causing on a grand scale in depleting the Colorado River, especially the ever growing population of Las Vegas and surrounding area, where people do not realise what dangers are before them by 2020, as there could be an environmental disastrous bombshell. So to highlight the problems, Greg MacGillivray though that the IMAX 3D would be the ideal film format to show people what humans are causing so many problems and to hopefully save the Colorado River. You also get to hear about the awesome logistics in filming in the IMAX 3D format, especially how big and heavy the cameras are and how they were able to film the trip down the dangerous rapids. We also hear why Greg MacGillivray decided to use the Dave Mathews Band that features the songs and music throughout the film. So all in all this is a totally brilliant documentary and must watch. The only shame that they could not of been able to film it is the 1080p encoded image and also the 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Contributions include: Greg MacGillivray [Director/Producer]; Stephen Judson [Editor/Co-writer]; Wade Davis [Author/Anthropologist]; Tara Davis [Wade's Daughter]; Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [Environmentalist Activist]; Brad Ohlund [Director of Photography]; Rob Walker [Assistant Cameraman]; Mark Krenzien [Producer]; Stefan Lessard [Bassist, Dave Mathews Band]; Steve Wood [Composer]; Alan Markowitz [Visual Effects Producer].
Special Feature: A Message From TEVA [2008] [1080p] [1.78:1] [5:56] The TEVA company is proud to support this conservation environmental film and a company to raising awareness and stewardship of our world's natural places and have included this series "The Naturist," for your amusement and they warn you not to try this where you live. What you get to see is this guy wandering around a woodland area, who is not given any credit, shows you what not to do when it comes to enjoying the nature environment, like taking some honey from a bees hive, but gets badly stung profusely, so to counteract this he shows you how to eat poison ivy and how to apply it to your face to counteract the stings, but you get to see his face becomes a right old mess, so tells you not to try this. But you also get two other short films, on how to survive with nature, but as you will see this guy get into more serious troubles, so again the message becomes very clear, do not copy what you view on how to survive the same sort of environment.
Special Feature: Water Saving Tips from KOHLER! [2008] [1080p] [1.78:1] [2:50] This is more like an info promotional advertisment, and is introduced by David Kohler, who is the Executive Vice President informs us the best ways on saving water and that the Company has been in business for 135 years.
Special Feature: Tara's Music Video: Water [2008] [480i] [1.37:1] [4:06] Tara Davis appears in the film with her father, but we are informed that Tara Davis is a wonderful vocalist/songwriter [wow you must be joking]. Along with Tara Davis is accompanied with her band "The Engine Room" and created the song title "Water" for the ‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK’ 3D Blu-ray. Diabolically Tara Davis is so out of tune and totally flat as a pancake and I cannot understand how they allowed her into the recording studio, but the only bonus is that you clips from the ‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK’ 3D film and also some behind-the-scenes you don't get to see elsewhere and on top of all that, the sound is totally atrocious. This gets a definite thumbs down verdict from me and should have been left on the cutting room floor.
Special Feature: Sample The Film Soundtrack: Enjoy two audio tracks from the film, “Grand Canyon Railway” and “Lava Falls.” Once Greg MacGillivray began shooting ‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK’ 3D where he knew that the film would need some special and evocative music, music that could stand up to the excitement of the white-water action and convey the vital importance of the worldwide water crisis. When the Dave Mathews Band, with their indelible melodies, propulsive rhythms and moving lyrics, agreed to use some of their hits for the film, the film producers were thrilled. The Dave Mathews Band bassist Stefan Lessard and composer Steve Wood recruited Carter Beauford and Boyd Tinsley, as well as frequent collaborator Tim Reynolds, long time Dave Mathews Band friend Richard hardy, who plays the Native American flute, legendary steel guitar player Greg Leisz and guitarist Michael Hamilton. Stefan Lessard and Steve Wood play bass and keyboards, guitar and harmonica respectively. Steve Wood, who has worked on many IMAX® Theatre musical scores for film director Greg MacGillivray, and Stefan Lessard arranged and recorded variations of six Dave Mathews Band songs and together created new compositions for the film. The CD soundtrack is also available for purchase at selected IMAX® Theatres and online at www.amazon.com and they have included two audio tracks only for your listening pleasure, which are entitled "Grand Canyon Railway" and "Lava Falls."
Special Feature: About The Director Greg MacGillivray: This is a text-based biography and filmography about the film's director. Greg MacGillivray film career spans more than 40 years. As a cinematographer, he has shot more 70mm films than anyone else in history, and more than two million feet in length. Greg MacGillivray has directed and produced many of the most successful large format films of all time, including `Everest,' the highest grossing film in the giant screen industry, ‘Dolphins,' `The Living Sea' and `Coral Reef Adventure.' Greg MacGillivray has received two Academy Award® nominations and the highest honour bestowed by the Museum of Science, Boston, the Bradford Washburn Award, for his contribution to science education. In 2001, `To Fly!' was inducted into the IMAX hall of Fame, followed by `The Living Sea' six years later. To learn more about the director and MacGillivray Freeman Films, then please visit MacGillivray Freeman Films web site and you will get to view a very nice web site. What you also get with “About The Director Greg MacGillivray” is the Greg MacGillivray Filmography List and the films he has been involved with, and you start with ‘Arabia' [2010] and go through to the start of his career with ‘A Cool Wave of Color' [1964] and there are a total of 32 film titles listed and this is what you get to view:
Trailer Show: Here we get to view 16 Spectacular IMAX Theatrical Trailers and they are as follows:
The Alps [2007] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:30]
Dinosaurs Live! [2007] 1080p] [1.78:1] [1:20]
Grand Canyon Adventure + River at Risk [2008] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:42]
Hurricane on the Bayou [2006] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:33]
Journey Into Amazing Caves [2001] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:24]
Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs [2007] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:52]
Ride Around The World [2006] [480i] [4:3] [2:08]
Volcanoes of the Deep Sea [2003] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:48]
Super Speedway [2000] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:42]
Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag [2004] [1080p] [1.78:1] [00:40]
Amazon [1997] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:48]
The Living Sea [1995] [1080p] [1.78:1] [2:10]
Dolphins [2000] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:54]
Coral Reef Adventure [2004] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:44]
The Magic of Flight [1996] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:32]
Van Gogh [2009] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:34]
Finally, ‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK’ 3D is a breathtakingly filmed IMAX 3D presentation that abounds with amazing photography of some of the Earth's most precious natural resources. Though the message sometimes overwhelms the imagery, and especially reinforces the film's profound message and seems to make it all the more timely, particularly considering that the 3D imagery and especially the latest high definition technology only further enhances our natural wonders of the area and deliver the next-best sensation to actually being there. This 3D Blu-ray release of ‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK’ looks totally fantastic and is also an equally awesome sensation with the raft ride down the Colorado River and definitely this Blu-ray release deserves to be included in everyone's 3D Blu-ray collection ‘IMAX: GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE + RIVER AT RISK’ 3D is one of several IMAX 3D Blu-ray titles now making its way to 3D Blu-ray format from the folks at IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT, and it is also one of the best spectacular experience you will view. And it is also "the most pressing environmental story of our time" as the Blu-ray Cover informs us, especially maintaining our planet's fresh water supply is an important issue and it's one we should all be more mindful of. And with this Blu-ray disc's impressive 3D visuals, I find myself for the first time really eager to see what other 3D Blu-ray discs might going from with this release in the future of this genre. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
