Humpback Whales UHD and 3D Blu-ray Review

Shout Factory continues to release some noteworthy films created for IMAX screens in the UHD disc format, and MacGillivray Freeman’s Humpback Whales is no exception, and makes for another terrific demo disc for the new format.

The Production: 4/5

At one time hunted to the brink of extinction, with the help of humans and nations banning whaling, these giant sea-faring mammals have made something of a comeback. Documentary film maker Greg MacGillivray captures the grace of these behemoths in his Humpback Whales, filmed in the 15-perf/65mm IMAX 3D format, particularly in one of the opening shots where the image has been flipped upside down, providing the illusion of flying above the water. Ewan MacGregor narrates the film, as we travel to Alaska, Hawaii, and the small island of Tonga where this species of whale migrate to and from. During the film’s brief 40 minute running time, we learn how man nearly hunted the humpbacks to extinction, how these animals communicate through their often mystical and beautiful songs, how they care for their young (after a 12-month pregnancy), how they feed, how oceanographers and other marine scientists are helping to educate the world in saving wales, how they are still in danger (even though most nations have banned hunting) through pollution and boats disrupting their migratory paths, and how everyone can pitch in and help save these creatures. MacGillivray is no stranger to the IMAX documentary, having directed the Oscar-nominated Dolphins and The Living Sea, and according to his biography, holds the record for exposing the most 70mm film stock and the first documentarian to pass the $1 billion box office mark. Humpback Whales is yet another achievement for the director, an entertaining and beautifully photographed documentary on the species that became the heroes in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

Video: 5/5

3D Rating: 3.5/5

Photographed for the most part in 15-perf/65mm IMAX, Humpback Whales arrives in a nice 4K UHD and 3D Blu-ray combo pack from Shout Factory. The UHD disc allows viewers the option to watch with or without HDR. Regardless of which version you choose, the disc is definitely demo-worthy material. Colors are vibrant and natural, with very noticeable gradations of blue during many of the underwater sequences. Detail is phenomenal, thanks to both the higher resolution of the source material and the 2160p resolution of UHD. The distinct textures of the whales’ skin, especially the ribbing and barnacles. Depth of field is also improved, particularly during shots filmed above water. Contrast is also excellent, with no noticeable crushed blacks or blooming whites.

The Blu-ray contains the film in both 2D and 3D, and , unfortunately, the 3D, in its implementation, was disappointing, but may have more to do with the subject matter and the distance of the cameras to their subject in order to capture them on film in their natural environments. For much of the film, there is a sense of depth where much of the action appears somewhat behind the front plane, but it is often minimal. However, there are a few brief shots where it appears that a flipper just barely pierces the screen, but nothing really jaw-dropping. Still, it is nice that Shout Factory made the effort to include a 3D version in this package.

Audio: 5/5

The UHD and Blu-ray contain the same Dolby Atmos soundtrack, which contains a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core. This is a very immersive track, even when played back in a 5.1 configuration with additional front height speakers and Pro-Logic IIz enabled. The score by Steve Wood with Calum Graham (and featuring Best Day of My Life performed by American Authors) is spread evenly across all channels. There are a few panning effects during the opening title sequence, and LFE gets a chance to perform when the whales breach and crash down on the water. Narration is directed almost exclusively to the center channel, and never gets lost in the mix.

Special Features: 3/5

The Special Features are available on both discs.

Making of Humpback Whales (1080p; 17:07): A short documentary on the making of the documentary, it offers some insight on how many of the shots were created, as well as a very brief glimpse at scoring the film and recording the narration.

Trailers (1080p): Six trailers for other IMAX films released or soon to be released in 4K UHD from Shout! Factory are included: The Last Reef (1:35), Wonders of the Arctic (1:41), Rocky Mountain Express (1:26), Journey to Space (1:06), Humpback Whales (1:53), and Flight of the Butterflies (1:10).

Digital Copy: A certificate is included with a code and instructions on how to redeem a Digital Copy of the film to download to your IOS, Android, Windows, or MAC device. It should be noted that this is not via iTunes or UltraViolet.

Overall: 4/5

A fascinating documentary on Humpback Whales that can also serve as a demo disc to show off the capabilities of your new UHD display and UHD Blu-ray player, and also includes the film in 1080p 3D.

Todd Erwin

Todd Erwin has been a reviewer at Home Theater Forum since 2008. His love of movies began as a young child, first showing Super 8 movies in his backyard during the summer to friends and neighbors at age 10. He also received his first movie camera that year, a hand-crank Wollensak 8mm with three fixed lenses. In 1980, he graduated to "talkies" with his award-winning short The Ape-Man, followed by the cult favorite The Adventures of Terrific Man two years later. Other films include Myth or Fact: The Talbert Terror and Warren's Revenge (which is currently being restored). In addition to movie reviews, Todd has written many articles for Home Theater Forum centering mostly on streaming as well as an occasional hardware review, is the host of his own video podcast Streaming News & Views on YouTube and is a frequent guest on the Home Theater United podcast.