"You’re there at the right place and the right time."

So How Does This Transfer Hold Up?

VIDEO
Another great documentary from slingshot made for Imax screening. This has some of the most spectacular macro (close up) nature footage I have seen in quiet a while. The most outstanding being footage of a Male seahorse giving birth to hundreds of live young all less than a quarter inch long.

The transfer shows some very grainy scene’s at the beginning and then gradually progresses onto nice sharp images. Once again it appears as though it is a collection of different bits and pieces from different films. There is quite a prevalence of dust marks throughout the film.

The colour gradients and scenery shots are quiet spectacular and I can imagine would be almost breathtaking in an Imax cinema. It was noticeable at times the amount of curve in the image.

There was practically no ailiasing or shimmering to speak of which was nice for a change.

I found one other problem though… if in the middle of the film and you want to go back to the menu, you can’t, you can only get a chapter selection menu. The only way to get back the main menu is to reload the disc in the player. Maybe just a problem with the Samsung though.

AUDIO
The Dolby 5.1 audio track is also quite impressive. The very first noticeable thing though is that the surround channels have been recorded at a much lower level and I had to turn up the volume considerably in the rears. Lucky I did, as some of the surround effects are great. There is a lot of wind effects and trees rustling etc which you wouldn’t want to miss, they make the whole room come alive. Little use of the base channel though.

Another very impressive feature with the audio is the menu option to select "Music and Ambience" instead of the informative narration. I did watch this in both modes, but It seemed to lose a lot without the narration… unless you knew what you were looking at you would get quite lost at times.

The musical score, which I can’t find anyone to credit for, was just lovely, very nice and mellow.

EXTRAS
As usual lately extras are few and far between. The main menu is another two options, two colours deal. Really not well thought out at all. I liked the little paw prints for selection icons though. A few obligatory Imax trailers, and the DVD rom functions for the slingshot website.

Review Equipment
TV: GE 68cm (16:9 selectable)
DVD: Samsung DVD907 (via S-Video)
Receiver/Proc: Sansui A505/Sony Amp & Yamaha DSP-E390
Speakers:-
Fronts: Wharfdale Diamond R6 (on a pair of custom made stands you'd KILL for)
Centre: Venturi
Rears: Sony bookshelf

- Reviewed 24th February 2000