- Joined
- Jul 3, 1997
- Messages
- 66,561
- Real Name
- 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.
The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D
Studio: Image
Product Release: March 1, 2011
Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: English, French, Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1
Running Time: 45Minutes
Rating: NR
ON A SCALE 0-5
Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 5
3D Separation: 5
3D In Yo' Face Factor: 3
Another winner from Imax!
The next wave could be the worst wave or the
best ride of your life.
It has been a long two months without anything new to
watch in 3D. I suppose you could call the latest batch
of Image releases the very first "wave" of the 3D titles
for the new year. I was very excited to have the opportunity
to sit down, put on my glasses, and immerse myself in
a new 3D release.
Going into this review I was a little apprehensive about
what I would experience. After all, the initial 3D releases
I reviewed from IMAGE were pretty much hit and miss --
either being very good, or amongst the worst 3D I have
seen to date. In this case, The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D
hits the mark in ranking within the very best of the Image
offerings.
As someone who is as totally unfamiliar with surfing, I
was delighted to find it to be the perfect subject matter
for an immersive 3D experience. The Ultimate Wave Tahiti
joins 10-time ASP world surfing champion Kelly Slater
and Tahitian surfing legend Raimana Van Bastolaer as
they seek to ride the ultimate waves of Tahiti's famed
Teahupo'o.
For those that think this is just another surfing documentary,
think again. The Ultimate Wave Tahiti takes us on a
wondrous journey across the island's volcanic paradise and
beneath the depths of the ocean where you'll explore the
stunning, fragile beauty of the reef's habitat.
If you have ever wondered what makes the perfect wave,
you'll come to learn that it's a combination of wind, tides
and distant storms. You'll also discover that these "demonic
waves" are the heaviest in the world, giving its riders a
rush of facing death and surviving. No doubt, these
dangerous waves of Teahupo'o continue to claim lives
yearly.
Beautifully photographed and expertly staged for 3D,
I found The Ultimate Wave Tahiti to be a highly enjoyable
watch. The Imax cameras ride the waves alongside the
surfers from above and below the water surface, giving
the viewer the ultimate POV experience against the
beautiful backdrop of Tahiti with its lush, green volcanic
peaks all brought out in amazing 1080p clarity.
The footage taken below the ocean surface is very
tranquil and beautiful. The cameras capture various
life within the coral reef including fish, sting ray, sharks
and whales. These images are breathtaking, rivaling
those presented in Warner's Deep Sea and Under The
Sea 3D presentations.
The overall 3D quality is top-notch. There is a
tremendous sense of separation. Clarity is at its
fullest here with images that remain consistently
stunning throughout -- including footage shot
underwater. Colors are vivid and true to form.
Is there "In Yo' Face" moments to be had here?
You bet! Surfboards, body parts and coral reef
are just some of the things that poke out from
the screen. And, because this documentary
was specifically staged for 3D you'll find footage
cleverly filmed behind branches and flowers that
provide an amazing sense of depth foreground
to back.
Saw only seconds of ghosting in what would be
a scene where it would be expected. In this case,
a campfire dance by night were small traces of
double imaging could be found in tree branches
above. If you blinked, you missed it.
The film's soundtrack may not be the punchiest
I have ever heard but truly, it's an immersive
experience all its own. There's defined audio
separation across all the channels and the
surrounds add ample support to water activity (from
above and below) that make you feel as if you
are in the middle of all the action.
CONCLUSION
As you can plainly see, I have nothing but raves
for The Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D. It ranks as one
of the better IMAX 3D documentaries available.
Additionally, it's now available for under $15 which,
in my opinion, falls into the acceptable range of what
a 45 minute 3D documentary should be priced at.
Certainly your decision on whether to purchase will
depend on your interest on the subject, but I was
rather surprised how much I enjoyed this IMAX
feature knowing nothing of the subject matter.
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