Description

Fasten your seatbelt and get ready for the ride of your life! Super Speedway puts you in the driver's seat of an Indy-type race car tearing up asphalt at speeds of over 230 miles per hour. Follow the excitement and drama of championship auto racing with narrator and celebrated actor Paul Newman, and join racing star Michael Andretti and his legendary father, Mario, as they craft a state-of-the-art race car. Then, follow the pulse-pounding action of Michael's high-speed quest for victory as he pushes the limits of the new car at the PPG CART World Series. So start your engines - Super Speedway is about to begin! Ever wonder "how did they do that?" The Making of 'Super Speedway', shot on High-Definition Video, takes you behind the scenes. ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Not just for racing fans
I was initially put off by the title and the artwork on this DVD, believing it was aimed at hard-core racing fans. After reading numerous reviews praising the quality of the sound and images, I decided to buy it as a "show me why DVD is so great" disk. And in that regard, I certainly wasn't disappointed; it is a spectacular showcase DVD.

What I didn't expect is how much I enjoyed the human interest story of the Andretti family. The movie takes you into their world, and places racing in perspective: technological, historical, and social. The story arc gently draws you to the racing track, immerses you in the raw excitement of driving at over 200 MPH, and then eases you back out to the real world, your heart still pounding. While the cars are unquestionably exciting, this isn't just about sitting in the cockpit. It's really about the people who do this, from the driver all the way back to the car's designers.

In the "Behind the Scenes" video (an outstanding piece in its own right), the director points out that you couldn't invent a story like this, that no one would believe it. Without giving away anything, the finale of Super Speedway is more touching, more emotional than any Hollywood fiction. Highly recommended.

A waste of money and time.
Boy was I disappointed when I watched this! IMAX films are generally designed to wow viewers in their exclusive massive theaters with hundreds of speakers and a monster sound system. But the story-line, dialog and every other aspect of the films are are pretty sterile, contrived and basically boring. Well take away the big theater and what you get is the lame story and only a glimpse of the films visual and audio impact. (Yes, I've got all the cool stuff, 42" TV, DTS, 200W/channel...blah blah blah). There lots of IMAX-y shots that start at a distance then slowly zoom in. In the IMAX theater the crowd goes ooh and ahh. At home you go huh? And don't expect any real racing excitment. They show a few random clips of a race, then wha-la the winners are spraying champagne. The dialog is presented as if it's genuine, but it's obviously scripted. The test track footage is pretty cool and the engine sounds are good but inconsistent,they have to turn them down so you can hear the lame dialog. Mario Andretti is of course way-cool, he can't help it. And if you're into it (I'm not) there's a handful of old clips of horrific crashes, most of which someone was killed (neat huh). These are not filmed in IMAX. I haven't watched the making-of bit yet but I'm sure it's more interesting than the main feature.

Simply Amazing!
This DVD is a must have for your home theater. I bought it on the recommendations here on the website and was not disappointed. The clarity is amazing. I am using an Optoma H56 projector onto a 92" Da-Lite screen and it is one of the sharpest programs I have ever seen. Nearly HD. The sound is even more mind boggling. The music and the sound effects are great.

Incredible footage...
This is an incredible DVD. The images are absolutely the cleanest. As clean as you can get on an HDTV without an actual HDTV signal - almost 3D. The racing and testing footage was spectacular. I have an Hitachi 65" HDTV(WS) but the DTS and 16:9 function would not work on this DVD - each time I selected 16:9 WS and DTS it would lockup the DVD. I watched it in 4:3 fullframe in the 16:9 std mode on the TV and the audio in DD 5.1 EX with no problem. That is the beauty of Hitachi WS televisions. They will take a fullscreen 1.33:1 and expand the image without distortion in the 16:9 std mode - although I prefer movies in WS. Do not use the 4:3 expanded mode - it creates distortion. I have no idea why the 16:9 WS function would not work along with the DTS audio and I tried it several times. I am returning it for another. I know there is nothing wrong with my system because we watched Cheryl Crow - Rockin the Globe in DTS before watching SuperSpeedway and the Eagles Hell Freezes Over in DTS after that - it must be the DVD disk. If you like racing - it gives an incredible feel - at times "almost" as if you were actually driving...

Simply Awesome!!!
This is a must see DVD. It's everything the previous reports have to say about it. It's simply AWESOME if you do indeed want to show off your HD surround sound system get this DVD NOW. The visual and audio propertys are breathtaking. Every audio visual dealer should be required to use this DVD as a selling point for its products. Very highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Originally intended for IMAX theaters, this documentary follows a family of beavers as they lay claim to a dam and build a place to live.The animals live as extended families, complete with uncles and aunts, and with their instinctive engineering skills build complex dams and apartments for themselves.What could be a mundane nature documentary, though, is made lyrical by its score, lighting, and camera work.It's a rare documentary that can be sweet but not cloying, with plenty to hold the interest of kids and adults alike. Beavers' accompanying making-of film answers some of the inevitable questions and reveals that the project was an incredibly arduous task.The film was made in the mid-1980s and involved lugging around the cumbersome IMAX camera in the wilderness, as well as weeks of waiting for the beavers to actually do something. Set against the breathtaking beauty of the Canadian Rockies, this is an incredible example of nature photography and a rewarding little film about our bucktoothed rodent friends and their innate construction drive.--Jerry Renshaw ... Read more

Reviews (8)

EXTRAORDINARY!!
A very pleasant surprise. We laughed and cried... A masterpiece!

This One is Fun!! Time and Money Well Spent...
This is just great cinema! The visual imagery and superior 5.1 DDSS tell a great story about these fascinating creatures. The narration is kept to a minimum, though the compositions of Eldon Ratheburn add a dimension in music enriching this production. Andy Kitzanuk's photography with the vision of Stephen Low truly make the beavers 'spectacular'. Every minute of this film is dramatic in sight, sound, or story. The humor is just spontaneous. I can't fathom the effort, time and money that went to making this production. "The Making of..." sequence begins to touch on that. It is well worth the effort.
As an IMAX junkie, a father of two, and someone who loves nature, BEAVERS is time well spent. The kids love it, though I must admit, I have watched it more!! Few films in my DVD library are as entertaining for a group of professional thirtysomething adults too. I can't find a bad review on this one, and there is a definite reason. Enjoy it!!

Best IMAX movie I've seen
If you like nature videos, you'll love this one! I've got about 15 IMAX DVD's and this is my favourite one! I was amazed at how good the video quality is. Everything is very bright, crisp, and clear.

The DVD comes with extras, such as the making of this movie.

The only down side to this IMAX movie is that it is very short. It's approximately 30 minutes long.

Movie making at its best and most noble.
In looking for the top rated IMAX DVDs to get for Christmas this one repeatedly came up as a five star just about everywhere I looked, and was never less than four stars. If you're an IMAX fan, outdoor/animal lover, or just want very high quality entertainment for your home, then you must consider adding this film to your collection. Its not just a kids film either, all of the adults in our family enjoy it just as much as the kids do.

Remarkable
This is by far the best IMAX film I've seen. Informative and humorous....a great selection for adults and children.... a must have for your collection! ... Read more

Description

The depths of the ocean remain one of the last great mysteries on Earth. Far below the waves is an incredible place teeming with life, but few people have seen it... until now. For the first time you can be there, 12,000 feet below the ocean's surface, inside an unparalleled undersea volcanic world filled with strange creatures and dramatic landscapes. You've never seen anything like this as a brand-new lighting technology far superior to anything that's ever been used before illuminates this secret realm. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A New Re-Edited Updated and SHORTER Version of TITANICA
I have seen 3 versions of this Imax film. The first was the 90 min long videotape version. The second was the 45 minute theatre version, (as it was shown in Australia), which was basically a cut down version of the video, concentrating on the ocean floor and looking at the wreck, and this newly re-edited 67 minute DVD version. When I purchased the DVD I thought I was getting a DVD copy of the 90 min videotape version. This DVD is a completely re-edited and updated and DIFFERENT version of both the video and the theatrical versions I saw. The video of Titanica is a complete Imax film. The DVD contains numerous new interviews, all shot on video(! ), lots of old photos and film footage from the era, and while it contains Imax film footage, it doesn't end up looking and feeling and sounding like an Imax film. (And some of the Imax film included on this DVD is quiet scartchy in parts). All that said, it is a good update and does tell the story of the Titanic quiet well. Which is the main diffence between this DVD and the video. The video tells the story of the Titanic from the point of view of the Russian/Americam/Imax expedition sent in to film it, and spends a lot of time on the ocean floor, the DVD is more an overall account of the Titanic with the expedition included in the story. Its a great supplement to the video version, but not really as good. If you can afford it, try to get both, if not, go for the 90 minute videotape version, its far more intersting, the comparsion of the Russian and American attitudes to the Titanic site far more revealing and it has a lot more of that incredible Imax footage which gives you more of the feeling of actually being at the bottom of the Atlantic. I would have preferred to see the new footage either added to the original cut of the 90 minute video version or as an additional feature included on the DVD or perhaps BOTH versions could have been included on the DVD. And nothing against Mr.Leonard Nimoy but why was he allowed to say "In Search Of ..."; and why did this DVD version need to have its narration re-recorded; Cedric Smith did a fine job on the video version.

What happened?
I remember loving the IMAX release of Titanica, and I finally picked up the DVD. Now, I didn't expect the visuals to match those of the big screen (that's why IMAX is what it is), but I was appalled by the "blue-light special" editing job. While the original theatrical release was some 90 minutes long, this DVD was only an hour long, yet it somehow boasted "additional footage"! The result is a version of Titanica-lite that skips a LOT of footage, both underwater as well as biological and scientific insights courtesy of the Russian crew. This is very, very disappointing, seeing as this now feels like half a documentary.

excellemt film
Lots of interstign things you never knew or seen before

I agree with the others, save your money
Seeing as I normally ignore reviews and form my own opnion, I got burned bad here buying this DVD. Its watchable, but nothing special. The vaunted IMAX pictures really look nothing different than what we've seen before, and in fact spends more time above the surface or just in the debris field than actually pictures of the ship. If there was any footage of inside the ship, I must have blinked and missed it.
About the only new thing I observed from this was how much a ghoul Ralph White is, and his comments as he wants to pillage the ship I'm amazed they didnt edit out.
Its almost worth buying this DVD to hear his Russian divemate chide him for wanting to open lugguage on the ocean floor "But zat does not belong to you!"

10% substance - 90% pure boredom!
When I bought the VHS version of Titanica I was 99% certain that when I got it home and played it from start to finish there would be only a small fraction of the running time of the video actually on the ocean floor showing shots of the ship... Why do I always have to be so right?

I knew, obviously, that the images would be very small compared with those on the big screen, but that alone would not have bothered me that much. It was the fact that about 90% of the tape showed things that occurred ON TOP OF THE WATER (getting prepared for the dive, meeting the different characters and their backgrounds, etc.), and the other 10% or so showing actual images of the Titanic below on the ocean floor that really deflated me.

Can't SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE simply take cameras down to the ship and for a solid hour or hour-and-a-half keep the cameras rolling, surveying the entire ship for those of us who yearn to just take a slow, thorough observational tour of the ship in its entirety as it lies in the eerie depths of the North Atlantic? The scenes unfolding could be accompanied by occasional commentary/narration as to what specific points are being shown as the camera moves VERY SLOWLY about. Is this asking too much?

Personally, I think the best video I've come across so far (can anyone recommend any other?) of the entire Titanic story, including shots of her where she lies on the ocean floor, is the National Geographic/Robert Ballard - "Secrets of the Titanic." I think this video has achieved the right balance of the building, voyage, and discovery of the Titanic, and the awesome photos the video has of her down at the bottom of the ocean. What do you all think? ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

One of the best directors of IMAX films, Stephen Low (Titanica) has always been a race fan. After obtaining permission from CART, a governing body of Indy car racing and Newman/Haas racing (a Championship team co-owned by Paul Newman), Low found his stars for Super Speedway: the racing Andrettis, father Mario and son Michael. Mounting cameras fore and aft on the Andrettis' cars, IMAX offers a better vantage point than an ESPN camera, at a superior grade of clarity. Add to that the excellent sound and you can "feel" the bumps on the asphalt as the cars zoom in and out of corners. The large format can turn a pit stop into a dramatic 12 seconds as we see the driver's eyes dart away from his cockpit for a few brief seconds. We watch Michael Andretti on oval tracks and exciting road courses going over hills and sharp turns. There's even a spin--probably staged--from an angle we've never seen before.

Although true race conditions were impossible (the camera is just too bulky), Low sneakily edits his film to stretch the imagination. On race day, several Indy cars drove alongside the camera car hours before the main event, passing and drafting each other with crowds whizzing past them. When edited with footage of the race, it feels like the real thing. Low takes a few off-beat choices in setting up his story. The first image is the biggest chicken you've ever seen. The last shot is a '50s car (lovingly restored during the film) racing through perfect golden foliage on an autumn day. It gives his movie of modern technology a wonderful sense of nostalgia. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Not just for racing fans
I was initially put off by the title and the artwork on this DVD, believing it was aimed at hard-core racing fans. After reading numerous reviews praising the quality of the sound and images, I decided to buy it as a "show me why DVD is so great" disk. And in that regard, I certainly wasn't disappointed; it is a spectacular showcase DVD.

What I didn't expect is how much I enjoyed the human interest story of the Andretti family. The movie takes you into their world, and places racing in perspective: technological, historical, and social. The story arc gently draws you to the racing track, immerses you in the raw excitement of driving at over 200 MPH, and then eases you back out to the real world, your heart still pounding. While the cars are unquestionably exciting, this isn't just about sitting in the cockpit. It's really about the people who do this, from the driver all the way back to the car's designers.

In the "Behind the Scenes" video (an outstanding piece in its own right), the director points out that you couldn't invent a story like this, that no one would believe it. Without giving away anything, the finale of Super Speedway is more touching, more emotional than any Hollywood fiction. Highly recommended.

A waste of money and time.
Boy was I disappointed when I watched this! IMAX films are generally designed to wow viewers in their exclusive massive theaters with hundreds of speakers and a monster sound system. But the story-line, dialog and every other aspect of the films are are pretty sterile, contrived and basically boring. Well take away the big theater and what you get is the lame story and only a glimpse of the films visual and audio impact. (Yes, I've got all the cool stuff, 42" TV, DTS, 200W/channel...blah blah blah). There lots of IMAX-y shots that start at a distance then slowly zoom in. In the IMAX theater the crowd goes ooh and ahh. At home you go huh? And don't expect any real racing excitment. They show a few random clips of a race, then wha-la the winners are spraying champagne. The dialog is presented as if it's genuine, but it's obviously scripted. The test track footage is pretty cool and the engine sounds are good but inconsistent,they have to turn them down so you can hear the lame dialog. Mario Andretti is of course way-cool, he can't help it. And if you're into it (I'm not) there's a handful of old clips of horrific crashes, most of which someone was killed (neat huh). These are not filmed in IMAX. I haven't watched the making-of bit yet but I'm sure it's more interesting than the main feature.

Simply Amazing!
This DVD is a must have for your home theater. I bought it on the recommendations here on the website and was not disappointed. The clarity is amazing. I am using an Optoma H56 projector onto a 92" Da-Lite screen and it is one of the sharpest programs I have ever seen. Nearly HD. The sound is even more mind boggling. The music and the sound effects are great.

Incredible footage...
This is an incredible DVD. The images are absolutely the cleanest. As clean as you can get on an HDTV without an actual HDTV signal - almost 3D. The racing and testing footage was spectacular. I have an Hitachi 65" HDTV(WS) but the DTS and 16:9 function would not work on this DVD - each time I selected 16:9 WS and DTS it would lockup the DVD. I watched it in 4:3 fullframe in the 16:9 std mode on the TV and the audio in DD 5.1 EX with no problem. That is the beauty of Hitachi WS televisions. They will take a fullscreen 1.33:1 and expand the image without distortion in the 16:9 std mode - although I prefer movies in WS. Do not use the 4:3 expanded mode - it creates distortion. I have no idea why the 16:9 WS function would not work along with the DTS audio and I tried it several times. I am returning it for another. I know there is nothing wrong with my system because we watched Cheryl Crow - Rockin the Globe in DTS before watching SuperSpeedway and the Eagles Hell Freezes Over in DTS after that - it must be the DVD disk. If you like racing - it gives an incredible feel - at times "almost" as if you were actually driving...

Simply Awesome!!!
This is a must see DVD. It's everything the previous reports have to say about it. It's simply AWESOME if you do indeed want to show off your HD surround sound system get this DVD NOW. The visual and audio propertys are breathtaking. Every audio visual dealer should be required to use this DVD as a selling point for its products. Very highly recommended. ... Read more