Born To Be Wild: THE HTF 3D ADDICT REVIEW (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

What can I say? I love 3D! From the moment I began watching 3D content in my home I quickly discovered that I needed more content. I suspect that those of you just purchasing your first 3D hardware will acquire the same ferocious appetite. That's why I became the HTF 3D ADDICT. I personally love images that pop off the screen and come inches away from your face without becoming overly gimmicky. However, I certainly appreciate the nature documentaries that offer beautiful depth and separation. These are not necessarily reviews of the film themselves. I am not going to concentrate on story or supplements -- you can find the 2D reviews elsewhere on this forum. My job is to let you know exactly what kind of 3D experience to expect from the titles that are being released. As I will be receiving a handful of new product from the studios expect to see more title coverage.

BORN TO BE WILD 3D


Studio: Warner Bros.

Product Release: April 17, 2012

Ratio: 1.85:1

Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD MA; French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital

Running Time: 41 Minutes

Rating: G





ON A SCALE 0-5

Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 5

3D Separation: 5

3D In Yo' Face Factor: 4



For those of you like myself who own 3D displays, you

have probably have noticed the lack of intriguing content

being released to the Blu-ray over the past few months.

It has certainly felt, to me, that there has been a drought of

appealing titles for enthusiasts to sink their teeth into. Well,

folks, I am very proud to announce that there has been a

new IMAX Blu-ray released over the past week that is certain

to bring some fresh air to this format, certain to revive the

passion in all of us to who want to enjoy the very best content

that can be brought to our 3D screens.

Born To Be Wild is a delightful documentary that explores

the bond between humans and animals. Narrated by Morgan

Freeman, this narrative brings viewers to nurseries in Kenya

and Borneo where we witness the remarkable efforts of two

elderly women, Daphne M. Sheldrick and Biruté Mary Galdikas,

who raise orphaned elephants and orangutans. These animals

have had their families killed by poachers and now it is up to

Sheldrick and Galdikas to foster them until they are no longer

in need of human help. After all, these are animals that were

born to be wild.


From start to finish, Born To Be Wild manages to captivate

the senses thanks to Cinematographer David Douglas' stunning

photography of the regions and its inhabitants. Of course, the

main focus of this film is the abundance of baby elephants and

orangutans who will certainly delight adolescent and adult

audiences alike. Highlights here are a group of elephants playing

soccer and an orangutan named Ombray who gets into all sorts

of mischief and clings to his human friend while riding a motorcycle.

Though there is very little educational material to be found here,

the movie remains innocently adorable, playful and friendly throughout

which makes for perfect family entertainment.

Born To Be Wild is an amazing spectacle to behold at home in

3D It is one of the most utterly gorgeous presentations I have

seen in this format to date. The picture is as razor sharp as it gets,

allowing the eyes to feast upon a remarkable level of detail that is

so life-like, that one feels immediately immersed in it. This is

truly one of those "reach out and touch it" kind of experiences

thanks to the complete absence of any artifacts or compression.

Colors look amazingly rich -- most evident in shots of deep blue sky,

lush green forest and the reds, oranges and browns found within the

landscape. Overall, there is spectacular color stability to be found here.

All the grandstanding I have done about this transfer thus far is

now elevated to the "nth degree" with a 3D presentation that

tops the very best of IMAX Blu-ray offerings. First, it should be

noted that this documentary was specifically choreographed for

the format. For that reason, shots are carefully constructed in a

manner that there are always objects in the foreground, middle and

background. This careful consideration to photography gives every

scene an outstanding level of natural depth and realism.


While the documentary doesn't spend its time throwing objects out

at the audience, I was still very pleased to see several instances

of pop-outs (most notably an open hinged door) that gave me the
WOW moments I craved. Best of all, the entire presentation seemed

to be void of any sort of crosstalk/ghosting. For this reason, one

can expect to remain completely immersed in the visual experience

without any distractions.

Elevating the visuals is a completely engulfing 5.1 DTS-MA surround

track that turns any living room into a living forest. I was completely

impressed with the level of detail in the jungle and rainforest ambience

that contributed to filling the rears with an impressive array of insect

noise and panning effects.


Born To Be Wild arrives as a 3D Blu-ray combo package. Both

Blu-ray 3D and 2D versions of the feature reside on the same disc

with an additional copy on DVD. Also included is an Ultraviolet code

that allows you to freely stream or download this title to your computer

or compatible device. The Blu-ray combo packaging is encased in

a lenticular cardboard slipcover.


There are 6 webisode special features included on the Blu-ray disc.



CONCLUSION

While there's nothing particularly extraordinary about Born To Be

Wild other than its spectacular 3D imagery, its that one factor alone

that makes this a highly worthy purchase. For as far as IMAX 3D

presentations are concerned, Born To Be Wild can be placed at the

very top of the list as the very best available on the format.


Unfortunately, the the Blu-ray is grossly overpriced for its 41 minute

presentation. It's apparent the studios are still price gouging on a

format still rising from its infancy. I was fortunate enough to snag

this for $25 during a limited Amazon price drop, would highly

recommend everyone wait for that opportunity to repeat itself.



Images are for illustrative purpose only not representative of the picture quality of this disc.


Equipment


LG 60PX950 THX Certified 3D display

Oppo BDP-93 3D Blu-ray Player

Denon 3311CI Receiver

Atlantic Technology H-PAS AT-1 fronts, 4400 center; 4200 rear speakers

SV Sound Subwoofer