Amazon.com

Until you've seen NASCAR: The IMAX Experience, you haven't really seen NASCAR. Even without the advantage of a gigantic IMAX screen and 70-millimeter 3-D projection, this 48-minute IMAX film is a perfect primer for newcomers to the sport of stock-car racing. Like all IMAX films it's aimed at a mainstream audience (hardcore NASCAR fans won't learn anything new here), so it covers a broad spectrum of general history, technical information, and pure high-speed adrenaline, from NASCAR's origins in 1947 to the oval-track highlights of the 2003 season. While Lonesome Dove director Simon Wincer captures the action (including some amazing mid-pack and cockpit footage during actual races), Kiefer Sutherland narrates an informative survey of season-long activities, from car building and safety measures at Mooresville, North Carolina, to pit-crew practice, transportation logistics, constant danger and its effect on drivers' wives and families, and the aerodynamics of drafting. Interesting trivia (each tire costs $389!) is included along with driver profiles and a compilation of memorable race finishes, but it's the IMAX footage that makes this a thrill-a-minute DVD, perfect for anyone who's just beginning to enjoy the world's fastest (and fastest-growing) sport. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Don't Buy It..
Unlike some of the other detractors of this DVD. I don't care about it not being 3-D or whatever.I was let down in a big way.I am not a big NASCAR fan, but I do live&breathe motorsport , so I thought "what the heck,this looks good". While it served as a decent documetary,with interesting facts and so on. I felt the "action" portion of the program is what let me down.Simon Wincer missed the mark as far a I'm concerned.The hodge-podge editing of multiple tracks/events as one raceday seemed contrived. Just my humble opinion.

a visual knockout but it could have had more racing footage


There would be no point in denying that "NASCAR: The IMAX Experience" loses a little something in its transference to the small screen.However, it's still an eye-popping documentary for both diehard racing fans and those viewers who know little or nothing about the sport - although the hardcore aficionados might wish there had been a little less talk on the soundtrack and a little more action on the racetrack to make the experience a more compelling and complete one.

This comes as a bit of a surprise, especially considering the fact that the film was originally shot in the 3-D IMAX format.One might reasonably expect that the movie would be little more than a succession of speeding cars and hurtling objects aimed directly at the stunned eyes of the audience.Not so, for the movie actually spends far more time on the nuts-and-bolts, behind-the-scenes aspects of NASCAR than on the racing itself.The film provides a brief background on the organization's less-than-savory moonshine roots, then proceeds to fill us in on various aspects of the sport itself, including the construction, specifications and testing of the cars, the training of the pit crews, the loyalty of the fans, etc.It also takes time out to honor the memory of the late racing great Dale Earnhardt, although due to the film's rather meager 49 minute running time, the tribute, like virtually everything else in the movie, comes across as a little more halfhearted and perfunctory than, perhaps, in all good conscience, it should.

To get most of the racing shots, director Simon Wincer strapped his camera crew into vehicles of their own in order to provide audiences with an experience as close to the real thing as possible. The majority of these sequences come in the last ten minutes or so of the film.As with all IMAX productions, the clarity and beauty of the picture is, indeed, a wonder to behold, with the colors literally leaping off the screen in many-hued splendor.Even without 3-D glasses and a two-story sized screen, this is a great visual experience. Now if they could have just shown a little more racing...

Vrrrroooooommm !!!!!!!!!
Wow.From Boogedy, Boogedy, Boogedy to the Star Spangled Banner (which gives me chills when i watch it) this movie ROCKS!!! I loved to get up close with the racers and feeling like you are actually along for the ride! The quality of this movie is unlike any other I have seen...I am so impressed with this DVD! NASCAR fans-- I HIGHLY recommend it!!! You wont be disappointed.

Exciting and Enjoyable
As a huge NASCAR fan, we had to rush out and see this IMAX film.While I had never seen something like this before, the experience itself was fascinating.The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the driving scenes had to be created using special equipment.It's not like they filmed this during an actual Daytona 500. Even if I had known this BEFORE going to see it, I still would have gone...because it was a rather cool experience.I'm not quite sure how you will get the same effect at home - unless, of course, you have a heck of surround sound system and a mammoth TV!

No 3D??!!
I don't understand why they couldn't have released this in 3D.The Imax movie, Santa vs the Snowman, was and so was Spy Kids 3D.Other than that, it's as great as the four times I went to see it in the theatre. ... Read more

Description

Explore the mysterious Amazon through the amazing IMAX (R) experience and celebrate the beauty, vitality and wonder of this magical rain forest, which is disappearing at an alarming rate. Filmmakers overcame many difficulties to photograph this rarely seen tropical landscape and present it with all the visual power associated with IMAX. Narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Linda Hunt, this unique collaboration between an American scientist and a tribal shaman on a mission to find rare medicinal plants will amaze and astound you. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Rick Duim idiotic review
Rick Duim has no idea what he is talking about.

#1. you do not register any personal information with Microsoft or anyone else when you register to watch WM9 HD material. You do not fill in any forms or anything of the sort. When you put the disc in, it checks to make sure the disc you are attempting to play is a legitimate copy and that is it. After your 1 week viewing period is up, it just checks once again to make sure your copy is legal, and gives you another week, you could do this forever! There is no limit to how often or how long you watch the material.

#2. This is true High Definition video. It looks STUNNING! If you have a computer powerful enough to play it it is WORTH IT! There are DVD players coming out at the end of the summer that can also play WM9 HD material, so you will not need a computer. I use a HD projector on a 14 foot wide screen to view my WM9 material, and it is better than going to the movies.

Until HD DVDs come out (probably not for 2-3 years or longer) there is not really very many options to use your HD display with HD material. Regardless, the movie is great in HD or not, so get it for the movie itself, and if you want to see it in High Definition, at least you have the option.

Microsoft marketing
Avoid any high def disks that require Microsoft Media Player. My previous experience with one of these (Step into Liquid) required registration just to view it. And the registration was limited to a week! I refuse to register anything with MS, just on principle. Don't know if you have to register Amazon to view it or not, but I am against a format based on one companies proprietary format AND the obvious marketing crap that's going on. Your mileage may differ... ... Read more

Description

A collection of space documentaries filmed in the expansive IMAX format: Hail Columbia, The Dream is Alive, Blue Planet, Destiny in Space, and Mission to MIR. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Simply beautiful & inspiring!
These DVD's contain some of the finest video of space and of our planet Earth. Taken over many missions and years by the astronauts in high-definition IMAX film, there are some truly georgeous and inspirational shots here.

It's a fantastic collection, and really should be in every video library! I love each tape but am particularly fond of "Destiny in Space". Also includes footage from the Russian MIR space station.

IMAX films are almost always 4:3 format
That's because IMAX theaters are that same 4:3 format. To get widescreen you'd have to either lose picture on the top and bottom, or stretch the screen out over two blocks.

IMAX Space Collection in standard format
I love the IMAX films but was disappointed that these DVD's were in standard 4:3, not widescreen 16:9 or 2.35:1.
Also, the audio naration is often drowned-out by the background music and is hard to hear.
Otherwise, the shots and scenes are outstanding.

disapointing
If you want to get a lot of brilliant space and launch shots, you won't find them here. The best parts of these movies could fit on one disc. "Dream" and "Destiny" are the better ones.
It's kind of creepy watching all of this taking place onboard Challenger.

Space Dome remembered
This is the perfect way to remember our Saturday nights that we spent taking the kids to eat chicken fingers and then to space dome to see destiny in space or the dream is alive. This is one level 2 counselor that wishes the management of the Space and Rocket Center hadn't driven me away. Bring the Duce back!!! ... Read more

Reviews (114)

How do they....DO that?
Since reading "Into Thin Air", I have become a virtual Everest '96 hound, and this is my first quarry. The IMAX team's goal on Everest was to film David Breashear's expedition in that fateful year, focusing primarily on Ed Viesturs, a seasoned climber from the States, and Araceli Segarra, in her quest to be the first Spanish woman to reach the summit. A lot of attention, deservedly so, is paid as well to Jangbu Sherpa, son of Tenzing Sherpa who accompanied Sir Edmund Hilary in his premier trip to the summit.

And watching these climbers was riveting--ascending sheer sheets of ice, yards high, that look as though they are leaning in towards the climber; crossing bottomless chasms by placing an aluminum work ladder from one side to the other, and using it as a bridge; and feeling (in part through the excellent cinematography) the pull the mountain exerts on them to continue on. But I was floored, completely, by the thought of the cinematic team following along, all the way to the top, regardless of the weight and awkwardness of the equipment. For example, in the aforementioned aluminum ladder scene, shots seem to be taken from each side of the chasm. Had they carried that heavy equipment accross that ladder? And, once they came down from such a difficult and draining climb, they still managed to piece together a marvelous film.

The cinematography, once again, is gorgeous. Shots of the mountain convey not only its beauty, but its terrifying danger, as ice and whirling snow tower over the climbers, as a rescue helicopter wavers, uncertainly, as Liam Nelson explains the scientific impossibility of a helicopter to work in such thin air (it does). Seeing the Icefall alone, I think, was worth the price I paid for the video.

Warning: If you get this movie expecting it to be a documentary covering the Adventure Consultants and Mountain Madness Expeditions, chronicled in "Into Thin Air", you will be disappointed. The IMAX expedition was unrelated to the others, and of course the crew could not predict that those expeditions might yield more interesting, if tragic, results. But the teams do interact with each other when it becomes clear that members are facing unexpected danger. I enjoyed "meeting" many of the folks I had read about.

Finally, "Everest", the film, stands on its own. With a terrific story in Araceli Segarra, wonderful images from Utah and Spain as well as Nepal, and a score assisted by George Harrison melodies, it provides a great armchair journey to the top of the world.

The Harsh realities of Everest
This quote from: mkirkland5@email.msn.com from Champaign, IL "totally portrays Everest as your basic summer vacation". A viewer from Santa Barbara, CA. , May 21, 1999 called Everest a "Fantasy flick" IMAX has only extended the far-fetched dream of Everest to the masses of unexperienced people who might be led to think that climbing Everest is not an exceptional feat. I read these reviews before watching the movie and I can honestly say: The only fantasy in the film is the life the viewer from Santa Barbara is living in. Oh my god, where do I begin? This flick is filled with nothing but harsh atrocities and unbelievable camera angles. Camera crews managed to capture portions of the worst disaster in the history of Mt. Everest. This includes the last conversation between Rob Hall and his wife (7 months pregnant) as they named their unborn baby before Hall's untimely death. If that didn't pull at your heart then you don't have a pulse. The team was forced to cross icy crevices over 25 feet in length over a makeshift aluminum ladder pulled together with some blue rope. Beck (part of Hall's party), nearly lost his life. Instead he wound up losing both hands to frostbite, half of his nose, and two of his toes. And they even had the gruesome before and after closeup photos to punctuate. The loss of life of half of Hall's party. The use of oxygen canisters due to the lack of oxygen. The grueling bike training over the desert. You call this your "basic summer vacation"?!? I'd like to know what do during your summer vacations mkirkland! Then again, maybe not. This film is harsh, period. Anyone who says otherwise like the boneheads above are full of it. I really do not appreciate irresponsible reviews. I, like many others, actually read these reviews and use them to judge whether or not to see a flick.

This film explores the depths of the human soul...
I am professional outdoor/aerial photographer from Alaska who has seen grandeur of mother nature which would make most people cry in utter awe. This movie reminds me of spending quality time at Denali (Mt. McKinley) climber's basecamp at 7,300 feet. With 14,000 to 20,320 foot peaks and the constant rumbling of avalanches all around you, you get a sense of "total sensory overload". This DVD is as real as big mountains get when placed onto the big silver screen or your home TV. The "extra" parts to the DVD make it even more worth buying!

This movie is also a godsend for the tourism in Nepal and Himalayan Region. The sheer maginitude of the Himalayas is shown here on this movie is as deep as the human spirt and as tall as the sky. However, to see this visuals from the elevation these climbers see it, you risk AMS, HAPE, HACE, snow blindness, avalanches and/or most certainly death for any small mistake in judgement.

David Breashers deserves a medal of international honour for making such a masterpiece of a documentary. In addition, I wish pay a great tribute to the late George Harrison for making such awe-inspiring and chilling music scores for the backdrop of this movie. If you were moved this movie on DVD, you owe it to yourself to buy the audio CD soundtrack as well. Every you go where Mother Nature shows off her wonders, take the CD with you and get inspired. When you listen to the audio CD, you can visualize the raw beauty of the Everest region and seens from the DVD in your mind.

May the climbers from the 1996 Everest Disaster rest in peace. Also to all potential Everest climbers, you need to learn from these climbers fatal mistakes before you become a statistic yourself. As Ed Viesturs says regarding risk and climbing, "Getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory".

My last words for this review are, "Always respect the power of Mother Nature"....and when out in nature "leave no trace"..

Fatal Attraction
The images in this film are absolutely stunning--crisp, colorful, and so real that they barely seem one-dimensional. The deadly beauty of Everest comes through loud and clear: sheer ice falls; huge chasms that must be crossed by way of precarious stepladders flung across them; avalanches; blizzards; subzero degree temperatures; sheer drops on either side of narrow, narrow trails. One can feels frozen and short of breath watching this film.

But the beauty notwithstanding, what especially intrigues me about the film is the obsession that the mountaineers have to scale Everest. Part of the story of the film details the multiple deaths in a party trapped in a storm on Everest's slope. The leader of the party had a seven-month pregnant wife; all the other slain climbers had loved ones they left behind; the survivors placed rescuers--helicopter pilots and other mountaineers--in jeopardy. Is so much death and threat of death worthwhile? Isn't there a certain point where responsibility for others trumps a desire to stand on the "top of the world"? The film doesn't explore these questions, nor the issue of why so many people have such a compulsion to scale Everest. I wish it had, because I found myself both captivated by the mountain's beauty and angered by the wanton disregard for life displayed by the climbers.

A Collector's Item
I have 7 Everest DVD's and this is definitely at the top end of the collection. All the extras on the DVD also make very interesting viewing and you cannot help but feel total admiration for anyone who attempts the Everest challenge, whether it is being a cook at Base camp or oen of the elite that actually manages to reach the summit. I recommend this to anyone old enough to understand it. Great stuff!! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Great Movie - not so great picture quality
This dvd was the first one I bought. It shows the vast lands of the serengeti in the most beautiful colors. You learn a lot about the animals and the nature. However, I wasn't very impressed of the picture quality. You notice that this is a DVD from the early days and it is even an old IMAX movie. But the overall impression is really positive.

Wonderful "real" animals movie
My 2.5 yr old loves dinosaurs. We own and watched all of the Land Before Time series, and Disney's Dinosaur movie. She would watch them over and over again. I purchased IMAX: Africa - The Serengeti because I wanted to expose her to some "real" animals. She loved it! She's watched it daily since we got it. We were also able to find a playset with all the animals in the Serengeti and she enjoys playing with them while watching the movie. She likes having her own wildebeast, zebra, gazelle, etc. Now I'm looking for a "real" animals software to complement the Dinosaur 3D Adventure (also 5 stars!)...

Must have DVD!
This is one of the DVDs in my collection that gets played over and over again. It is such a wonderful film. If you have a large screen television or better yet, a front projector, this is a must have. It is so beautiful. The narration, the cinematography, the music, the story, the nature are wonderful.

Wonderful
I so enjoyed this film. It was beautifully photographed and narrated.

Wonderful experence
A well done film, Beautifuly done. A bit short, (40 min) ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Another visual feast!
I love nature and I love my high-end audio-video system...The IMAX series discs offer like minded people to get a trully awesome visual eye-feast.The narration by C.Heston fits the somber,harsh yet beautiful imagery of this DVD.I know some people complain that for the money its to short.However,the thrill of seeing such sharp,clear,pristine views in my view,makes up for it.And,until more networks broadcast true HDTV programs,this is the best us nature lovers can get!

Visual masterpiece. Alaska gets to be explained and enjoyed.
Sometimes the impresive achievements of the Imax and dvd technologies exceed the quality of the content of a certain documentary. This is not the case. If any, this video keeps us longing for more, much more. Since the beginning of this highly entertaining video we feel commited to watch one of the untamed scenaries of our world. Virgin Landscapes (rivers and mountains that are yet to be named), wild and funny animals (such as the black bear taking a bath, the humpback whales bubblenetting, the wild polar bear cubs and the stubborn salmon) and an extreme weather that changes the sorrounding scenary on a daily basis are described and tought with either the lightness of humour, or the concern of a nature fan. If you like to watch beautiful images over and over, buy this dvd.

Alaska: Spirit of the Wild
I wasn't sure what to expect when I purchased this and now, having watched it, I'm so glad that I did. A:SotW is entertaining and enlightening... with breaktaking scenery and unexpected humor, courtesy of the Alaskan wildlife. (there's a scene with a black bear that's absolutely hilarious.) Charlton Heston's narration doesn't annoy or interfere with the scenes as some narrators do... I highly recommend this DVD become part of your collection, if only for the sheer beauty of the Alaskan landscape that is shown.

This is as true as possible
I am an aerial/landscape photographer living in Alaska and some aerial scenes in this movie remind me of my photoshoots and fights through steep valleys. In IMAX format, it's almost spellbounding! With the size of Alaska as large as 1/2 of the contiguous 48 lower states, it's hard to document everything 'wild' about Alaska in a short 40+ minute film. However I will give the film-makers credit for doing a fantastic job of showing the audiences the differences of seasons while integrating the wildlife aspect of this great state. This film will do wonders for the eco-tourism of Alaska. The aerial scenes taken from Denali National Park via K2 Aviation (the red small aircraft) are especially inspiring. Come on up and visit us in Alaska everyone and get ready to be inspired like you've never been inspired.

Breathtaking!
I was attracted to the movie by my wife who is a big polar bear memorabillia collector. Though it's only an hour in length, it's scenic beauty will blow you away. Can you imagine what it looks like on an IMAX movie screen? WOW! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Without question, 3-D technology has come a long way since the days ofred and green cardboard glasses, and The Ultimate 3-D Collectionis ample proof. Included in the set are three roughly 30-minuteanimated features (AlienAdventure, Encounter in the ThirdDimension, and Haunted Castle) andthe H3D "i-glasses" hardware you need to enjoy them: a small processingbox to insert between your DVD player and your TV, two sets of viewinggoggles, and all the cabling you need to put it together. By and large,the sense of real depth conveyed by each feature is astoundinglyconvincing, especially during the many point-of-view fantasy sequences;crags and dinosaur limbs seem to jut halfway between the screen and yourviewing position. Be warned, though, that the discs' image and colorresolutions vary from poor (Alien Adventure) to mediocre(Encounter in the Third Dimension) to quite good (HauntedCastle).

Encounter, originally produced to showcase "large-format" 3-D(i.e., a towering IMAX screen), features fun snippets of old films andeven a few stereographic still photos. None of these fills the screen orlasts very long, however, and the process reverts to standard 2-Dimaging in pause mode. While more live-action footage would have beengreat, Haunted Castle is a real treat. The only disc with anactual story line (a rock & roll reworking of the Faust tale,with credible music to boot), Haunted Castle creates the mostconvincing sense of depth through real-life elements like trees andtorches. The sound on all discs is excellent, enhancing the sense ofdepth with seamless DTS surround mixes that work well even inheadphones. This is an impressive set, and with 3-D technology thisgood, there's a strong chance the included goggles and processor willsee more 3-D action going forward. --Michael Mikesell ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Nothing Else Like It!!!!
Turn out the lights, don your 3-d glasses, and get ready for an AMAZING experience that is unlike anything you have ever seen in your living room! Let me start out by saying the glasses are top-notch technology...complete shutter 3-d glasses...no old-fashioned red and blue cardboard here! And for those of you that are amusement-park goers, darkride fanatics, and basically fans of blockbuster entertainment...you will LOVE this box set!! Start off with the introduction to 3-d with "Through the 3rd Dimension" and let your eyes relax and start focusing on how 3-d brings the illusion to reality! Although it's got some corny dialog and b-movie acting, you'll be treated to oldtime movies and clips from when 3-d was invented, some clips from theme park attractions like T2 and Mine Cart, and a whole simulator ride that lasts for a few minutes!! Next you've got "Haunted Castle", a 3-d visual darkride! Now ignore the pointless story and look at the incredible visuals because this is an adventure that truely brings you INTO the scene...once you step through the door after hearing the "devil" give you his offer of fame and fortune GET READY for breathtaking graphics, loud 5.1 surround sound, and twists and turns that take you through everywhere from haunted churches, spooky caves, and dungeons filled with 3-d realistic skeletons that are locked in cages that actually LOOK like actual cages...the depth is there and everything!! Over 25 minutes of dropdead 3-d visuals and maybe 10 minutes of lame filler...still an AMAZING RIDE!! And then last but not least is "Alien Adventure" where once again the story is stupid but the actual simulator rides are INCREDIBLE! You are treated to 4 different rides at this new high-tech amusement park...an Artic ride that shoots you down a crazy tobaggan ride through the snow...a Magic Carpet ride that takes you through a magical journey inside of dark tunnels and Indiana Jones-type passageways complete with incredible 3-d effects and splendid music...a simulator ride on a kid's roller coaster that he built in his room complete with toys, loops, MASSIVE details, and lift hills with realistic inclines and stomach churning drops...and finally an underwater ride that is complete amusement park real! Starting in an actual amusement park complete with lights, a ferris wheel, carousel music, and signs on both sides of the car! After dropping into the water you'll experience a trip through a pirate ship, bubbles that can FEEL, a tiki island with a roller-coaster-like hill, and 3-d DETAILS that bring you into the scene...there is so much amazing visuals on these dvds that you can watch them over and over and see different little details you missed before!! PLUS all in computer-generated 3-d theme park style!! It's quite an amazing journey and the glasses just make it even better...if you lift them during one of the rides and take a look at the screen you'll see just how flat the regular tv screen looks! This is a 3-d adventure that everyone out there should experience and it's somewhat pricey but the visuals you'll watch more than make up for it!!! Pick this up and get ready for an INCREDIBLE 3-D RIDE EXPERIENCE!!!!

3D or not 3D that is the question
I first saw "Encounters..." at the local Imax 18 months ago and was so impressed by the 3D that I swore that "one day I would have this at home". Now I have and (apart from not having a 3 storey high TV) am thoroughly satisfied. It is a bonus that the kit works with more than the supplied DVDs :)

The movies are little more than a showcase of the talents of a 3D ride company - which is openly acknowledged in the extras. Accepting the nature of the software, you can't fail to be impressed by the quality of the mainly CGI images rendered in screen popping 3D.

But where is the scene with the owl and the police car from the Imax "encounters..."?

One tip I will offer...

Most people sit quite close to the screen to get a more immersive feel - after all exceeding your field of vision is the whole idea of the Imax originals.

Everyone I've shown this to has agreed that the 3D improves with distance. So get a headphone extension lead, dim the lights and sit further back. Yeah the picture is smaller, but it's also deeper ;)

Six to Eight Foot (two to three metres) works brilliantly on my 28" TV.

Incidentally, one addendum to the review by megadume and the comment on the official site of the glasses that shutter glasses Don't work with 100hz and/or digital TVs.

I own a Sony KV-28WSU 100hz Digital Plus TV (it says so on the front) and the 3D works brilliantly - the above comment delayed my purchase by a few weeks until I had checked it out.

A brilliant pack, a brilliant price, now we need more films!

P.S. There is another.... Ultimate Gs is the fourth 3D DVD

A quality product
The first thing you should understand about this package is that it's not a set of videos of cheezy 3d movies using red/blue 3d glasses. The package includes a pair of LCD shutter glasses which enable you to view full color 3D on your TV, and a synchronization box which connects the glasses to your DVD player. The glasses are attached by wire. (The wires were nicely long and an extension was included in my pack.) You may find that things look a bit darker than usual while viewing through the glasses... increasing the brightness of your TV and turning down the lights should make things look normally bright again.

The 3D effect is excellent. The enclosed three DVDs were essentially designed to show off the 3D more than anything else. "Encounter in the Third Dimension" is a pseudo-documentary about 3D technology. It's not very interesting, but has nice visuals. "Alien Adventure" is strictly an excuse to have lots of nice 3D animated scenes of an amusement park. "Haunted Castle" has a frame story to make an excuse to have a long stream of animated scenes of a haunted house. Of the three, Haunted Castle is the best, with superb animation and excellent 3D effects.

This set is a great way to get started with 3D video. I found the hardware to be a quality product as well. I liked it enough that I sent a set to my cousins for christmas.

Fantastic
Astonishing. You have to see it to believe. Just turn off the lights, seat back and have fun. And Amazon delivery is realy great.

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Ultimate 3-D colection is 3-D right in your face!My favorite DVD is Encounter in the Third Dimension with Elvira - Mistress of the Dark{Casandra Peterson} and Stuwart Patkin.There is a part where a bug comes right at you.Plus you get to see part of T2:3D.Alein Adventure is full of amusment park rides.Tip:If you live in Arlington,TX,you'll know Kid Coaster{it's on the DVD!}. Haunted Castle is about a rock star{and opera singer}named Jonny.You have to get this collection NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Astounding
IF YOUR INTERESTED, AT ALL, IN THE COMPLEX WEB OF OUR EXISTENCE, WATCH THIS FILM.

Solarmax
Solarmax is an amazing accomplishment in presenting extremely clear images of the sun in various wavelengths and of the northern lights IN MOTION. I never knew before this movie that the norhtern lights move about quickly. Faint fast moving light is very difficult to capture on film, and their techniqes are the result of years of work in this field.
In addition to being science that is accessable to everyday people, Solarmax tells the story of peoples relationship to the sun through visiting various archeological sites and telling the story of the people who built them. The photography and music is extremely moving.
The producer and directors comments and just as compelling and interesting as the core movie itself. Also there is a 1960's featurette included on the northern lights that is enjoyable too.
I highly, HIGHLY recommend this movie to anyone interested in astronomy, northern lights, science or archeology. I only wish I had been able to see it in the IMAX big screen theatre. As it is I've watched it at least 12 times!!!!

A Journey to the Sun and Back
This digitally-mastered video is what high-definition is. The pictures are real and look so clear and crisp and the story is just plain genius. "SolarMax" looks at the Sun in a new way, using images from SoHo, a satellite made to photograph the sun. This movie is a definite 5-star because it not only gives you a close look and great information on the sun, but it also shows how cultures have used the sun in many different ways. This movie is great fun for the whole family! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Originally filmed in IMAX format, The Discoverers features some astoundingly spectacular footage all centering around the act of discovery. The story of the great navigator Magellan's search for a passage to the Pacific is presented with film of spectacular sunsets and scenery, and a visit to a re-creation of Sir Isaac Newton's laboratory while he refracts lightwith lamps and prisms is equally beautiful. The various vignettes, which range from a child and her father discovering paintings of bison painted on cave ceilings thousands of years ago to a scientist on a team analyzing data sent back from a probe sent to the planet Venus, don't proceed in a linear path. But that's the whole idea. The production was inspired by the Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Discoverers by Daniel J. Boorstin, and the goal was to put the viewer alongside those who explore the unknown as they experience the joyous moments of discovery. There is some serious science presented in the course of the film, but fear not, it's all presented in a highly entertaining manner. All that's required is to simply sitback and immerse yourself in the utterly gorgeous cinematography. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Awful... !!@
The picture quality is not as good as the other titles.... and the storyline is ridiculous....Don;t waste your money on this one...

I "Discovered"... not to buy this.
I didn't know there's such thing as a bad IMAX movie until I came across this.

Not the greatest of the IMAX titles
I have pretty much all of the WMVHD disks (including the more obscure ones like Muffin Man and Step Into Liquid).The film transfer of this title isn't as crisp as the other IMAX titles, and in general, the cinematography is not as stunning.Still nice, but it just doesn't compare to the others.The story line is a little campy, but they do a good job of covering a lot of ground, from 1600's to the future, showing how explorers risk everything to break new ground.

The film is an accurate reflection of the book...
... a disjointed, disjuncted pastiche.

An even worse book of the same ilk is Connections by James Burke.

Lost Discoverers
I purchased this DVD as a teaching aid. It is worthless from a pedagogical point of view. It is nothing more than a pastiche of disconnected topics. It displays none of the intelligence nor logic of Boorstein's book. It's not even very entertaining-- a colossal waste of time, money, and film. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great flick
I enjoyed this movie a lot... went to the IMAX theater 3 times to see it! The cinematography is terrific... some totally unbelievable views. Made me want to go and climb the thing (sabbatical coming next summer)! Anyone who likes the mountains/hiking/climbing should see it... go to the IMAX to see it first, then order the DVD.

I agree that they could have spent more time showing the climbers personal experiences. There was a "Naked Planet" special on Kili that was on PBS a couple of years ago, that did it much better.

Just a few clarifications to som of the other reviews: the approach is via the Machame Route, but the summit climb is via the Great Western Breach, which is the most difficult trekking route on the mountain. The route that is known as the Coca-cola route, is the Marangu route, which is the most popular route on the mountain, that also has the highest failure rate, because it ascends too fast.

Unrealistic Hollywood-type hype
This DVD makes climbing Kili look like a hike in the park, and those who think it is, should try summitting via Arrow Glacier. It does have beautiful scenic shots, though.

Great for planning or remembering
Having seen this film after climbing Kili I found it brought back great memories and I would recommend it for those having climbed and planning to climb. Potential climbers should not expect trekking tips but will get a sense of the mountain. I think that the more critical reviews of this film are unfair. The implication that anyone could summit given 6 weeks and a staff of 150 is true, but planned properly most normal people can as well. It should also be noted that film maker -David Breashears- has reached the summit of Everest at least 4 times so how 'clean' the climbers look needs to be kept in context. Kili is not a technical climb, in fact it's a relatively simple hike, whose challenge stems from each individuals reaction to the altitude. That accessibility makes Kili everyman's mountain. From age 12 to 72, if you have the bug to summit and impressive peak, are reasonably fit, and brave enough travel to the other side of the world, then Kili is the perfect adventure for you and this film should only serve to whet your appetite.

Worth buying if you are going to climb Kilimanjaro
I climbed Kilimanjaro in November 2002 via the Machame route, which this film depicts. (One of the other reviewers referes to the Machame route as the "Coca-Cola" route, that is the Marangu route. I think it was a oversight.)

I found the film to bring back a lot of memories and did a good job of capturing the sights of the mountain. If you are climbing Kilimanjaro, it's a no-brainer. Buy this movie.

The movie does not do a good job at showing the difficulty of the climb. But, that's not why you should be buying this movie. If my memory serves me, it was filmed over 6 weeks and with a support crew of 150 people. My 82 year old grandmother could climb Kilimanjaro at that pace.

The reason to watch this movie is to learn about the mountain and so see some of the stunning sights. Breashears does and excellent job capturing the mountain's beauty.

Great visuals and questionable story
I write this review as a recent trekker who successfully reached the top twice while leading groups up the easier Machame or Coca Cola Route. I saw the film with wonderful anticipation and was struck by the sheer majesty of the mountain, its surroundings and people-all nicely portrayed in the film. The images brought back wonderful memories of the two climbs and the sheer joy of reaching the top.

The film, however, was most disappointing because it did not convey the magnitude of the support team that went along with us carrying our food, water, cooking utensils and bedding. Only once or twice in the film did you catch a glimpse of the support team. We trekked with nearly three support personnel for each trekker. The accurate portrayal of the support team would have given real meaning to the scope of the climb.

The climbers themselves, for the most part, looked as if they stepped just out of the shower. This again tended to diminish the seriousness and difficulty of their accomplishment. At breathtaking altitude ,the pardon the pun, I rarely saw them gasping for air or working hard to reach the top.

Perhaps, I was not in the same shape as these people, but I must confess that after seeing more than 200 trekkers over the two climbs (we shared meals and stories at the base camps and passed each other going up and down the mountain), few if any looked as sparkling as these trekkers.

The story of the climbers appeared contrived and the scenery wondrous. My hats off to the individuals who made it to the top. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Did you know that chimpanzees and humans have 98 percent of their DNA incommon? You will after watching this absorbing 75-minute (including extras)documentary, featuring and partially narrated by renowned researcher JaneGoodall, who's been on the chimps' case for more than four decades. We see theseAfrican apes on the ground and in trees, playing, grooming, teaching, evenkilling one another. The scenes of them "fishing" for termites and ants using astick for a pole make for extraordinary viewing; indeed, the film's principalmessage is that they and we are very much alike. And while the small screencan't capture the full majesty of what began as an IMAX film, one can sense thealmost palpable three-dimensionality of the original. The DVD is also loadedwith bonus features, including a 15-minute behind-the-scenes look at thefilmmaking process and more. This is great stuff. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Too Preachy
Pretty good primate documentary. Cool parts include black and white footage of a young Jane Goodall interacting with the same chimps she visits now. [Weak] parts include the obligatory guilt-inducing checkbook-opening "don't let us go extinct" chapter at the end. Complete with Goodall lecturing a racially mixed class of schoolchildren about conservation. I'm not against racially mixed classes of schoolchildren, and I'm not against saving the apes, but I watch movies to escape rather than be reminded of reality.

There are lots and lots of cute chimps playing (with a really cool baboon/chimp playing together section), but not too much in the way of science. This may be what you want, of course.

Knowledge+Understanding=Caring
What a tribute to Dr. Jane's work and the "kindred souls" she is deparately seeking to save from extinction. This IMAX edition captures the "soul" of both Dr Jane and the wild chimpanzees and will surely capture the hearts of all viewers (of any age). Sound and picture are breathtaking and will bring Gombe into your den or living room. But there is something even more important....
Now do two things (1) get this DVD right away and share it with your family, friends, students etc. and then (2) contact the Jane Goodall Institute (Roots & Shoots for the little ones in your life) and help save this species "So Like Us" for our children and their children's children.

Fabulous Production, Important Subject!
A hundred years ago chimpanzies numbered between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 in 25 African countries. Now "there are no more than 150,000 left," according to Dr. Jane Goodall.

This shocking fact underlies David Lickley's IMAX documentary about Jane Goodall and her groundbreaking research. Her remarkable 43-year career (and counting!) studying the wild chimps at Gombe National Park in Tanzania has led to several important discoveries, causing Science (capital S) to have to redefine what separates Mankind from the other animals. Goodall's own quiet tenacity has been tested as she must now spend most of her time advocating for the very survival of man's closest living relative.

The ultra-high-definition IMAX format provides a gorgeous transfer to DVD format, in both sound and image. Close-up images of the individuals at Gombe, as well as panoramic recordings of the sounds of the rainforest, make this a treat for the eyes and ears. Goodall herself does nearly all of the narration. South African musician Johnny Clegg provides several songs which integrate seamlessly into Amin Bhatia's orchestral score. Mini-featurettes on the DVD describe the difficulty of filming the notoriously-shy chimpanzies in remote Africa with the bulky IMAX cameras -- which can shoot for only 3-minutes at a time. Another featurette describes the recording of the music, including lots of rare shots of Clegg in the studio. Lickley's DVD commentary provides a ton of additional information missing from the original IMAX production.

All in all, this is a wonderful package in every regard. ... 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

Amazon.com

The power of tornadoes, hurricanes, hailstorms, and other severe weather serve as a reminder that, despite technological advances, there are elements of nature that still have us at their mercy. Stormchasers follows the meteorologists who put their lives in danger to chart and research severe storms. A group of scientists drive hundreds of miles per day to chase down tornadoes in the Midwest, lingering until the last possible second when they actually encounter a twister. Weather Service personnel send an airplane through the middle of Hurricane Emily, with everything that can be shaken loose inside the plane tethered down for the rough ride. The "making of" segment of Stormchasers documents the crew's hair-raising experiences as they placed themselves directly in the path of danger and doubted their own sanity for doing so. Interestingly, the filmmakers were forced to manufacture a monsoon when shooting in India; the results were convincing indeed. Originally shot in large format for IMAX theaters, Stormchasers gives the formation of menacing storms a beautifully lyrical quality and goes a long way toward explaining the weather phenomena that shape our lives. --Jerry Renshaw ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Good
This is good for what it is - a short IMAX film about stormchasing. Most IMAX films are 45 minutes or less, so a viewer should not be expecting a real-life two hour version of Twister. It also covers a lot of material, so it doesn't go into depth. Also, the team fails to see tornadoes and then when they get one, they run out of film (this often happens in IMAX because they can only shoot something like 90 seconds at a time). Overall, though, pretty good.

Great Sound Does Not Cut It!
As a severe storm lover, I eagerly awaited this DVD. The opening sceen starts out wonderful with beautiful DTS sound. Then it quickly goes down hill from there. It interviews a few "Hurricance Experts" and chasers, shows video of them flying through the eyewall of Hurricane Emily. From there, well it really does not show much more on Hurricanes. Then Tornadoes are discussed. Video of only one tornado and the chase! I was disappointed! I was expecting lightning, towering thunderstorms and a few more tornado videos. If you want an excellent storm video, get National Geographic's "Natures Fury". It is superb compared to this. More footage and great sound.

IMAX Stormchasers
I was very disappointed with this video.There was little actual storm footage.Mostly about the weather equipment.

Great sound, good video, little content!
I'm not sure if it was the huge screen, or what, but when I saw this feature in Omnimax it was much more impressive! The video is good, the sound is awesome on a surround sound system, but there is little storm footage. If I wanted to watch the people who chase storms, I could turn on TLC or the Discovery channel.

Spend your money on Twister if you're looking for a storm flick! Sure the tornados are Hollywood-made but at least you get to see them for more than 60 seconds!! This DVD ...! I want my money back!

Lame footage, great sound
I expected to see some spectaular footage of storms, tornadoes and hurricanes, especially considering the creditionals of the director.Instead we are shown some pretty lame footage and some barely interesting descriptions of the methods and equipment the stormchasers use.Sound was pretty good with the right setup, but at 38mins you do want to be "blown away" by the content.This just does not deliver.Check out "Everest" if you want to buy an IMAX DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Without question, 3-D technology has come a long way since the days ofred and green cardboard glasses, and Haunted Castle offersdelectable proof. This half-hour digitally animatedfeature--also available in The Ultimate 3-DCollection, which includes two other films and the H3D"i-glasses" hardware needed to generate the 3-D imaging--tells the storyof a young rock star facing the Faustian offer to sell his soul for fameand fortune.

The tale is a foil for the effects, of course, but a decent foil withabove-par music and excellent animation and effects, from torches totrees, gargoyles to guitars. The sound is terrific, enhancing the senseof depth with a seamless DTS surround-sound mix that works well even inheadphones. --Michael Mikesell ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Amazing Stuff
Out of watching about ten different IMAX movies this is my favorite one. The visuals are amazing and the music is breathtaking. The story is ok but for IMAX movie standards its really good. Besides that I think that is a terrific product.

Incredible DVD, but the music makes it
I first saw Haunted Castle as a feature at the IMAX in New Orleans, LA. The imagery alone was enough to astound, but the music that follows the story added a dimension that no pop-up graphics could. The band which supplies the music, Arid, also performs a live set at the end. The lead singer Jasper stars as the film's lead character in a sticky situation. You will love this DVD, even if only for the music. And guaranteed you'll be left wondering who that enchanted voice (and face) belongs to long after the credits roll.

movie Fine 3D Ain't
I bought this movie to watch it in 3d on a front projection system with a 6 foot wide screem . I bought the recommended 3d equipment to see it, and while it almost works it was disappointing. They need to get the bugs out. You can watch this movie in 2D and its entertaining but it would really be impressive in the 3d mode it was intended for. I am sending the equipment back and the three other movies that came with it..If this equipment is improved I'd like to try it again.

Can you say¿ obsessed?
The first time I heard about this movie was on IMAX. I'm like cool, Haunted Castle. So I went and saw it and it was the best I had to see it again. When I first heard it was on DVD I'm like, hurry hurry- I need to get this. I got it and it was the best. My only complaint is you can't view it in 3D unless you have a what-chu-macall-it video system. This is the tightest DVD.

Stunning effects, stunning music
Haunted Castle is a beautifully crafted movie with stunning graphics and 3D effects. It's fun and entertaining, especially when compared with other, more conventional 3D movies.

But the sparkling gem in this movie is the music, most of which is provided by Arid. Their music can only be described as beautifully melodic and enchanting - pure magic!

I guarantee you'll want to check out their album once you've heard their music in Haunted Castle.

And if you want to learn more about them, check out AridCentral on the web. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Extremely short, disappointing, and intellectually insulting
While I realize that this DVD is IMAX and therefore intended for broad audiences who may or may not be familiar with scientific terminology, I do feel this offering has been too dumbed down to be enjoyable for adults. I would recommend it for an elementary or junior high school class-- maybe even an introduction to astronomy class, but for someone who wants to see space, this is not the DVD to buy. "Cosmic Voyage" is a misleading title, as there is very little space to be seen and far too much on-the-ground footage. Equally appalling is the 36 minute duration of the video. This is far too short a time in which to adequately cover all the concepts the back of the DVD box promises. All in all, I was bored and frustrated at the amount of money paid for something so short and unimpressive.

Great Educational Video
I've bought several Imax DVDs over the last year, and I've found all of them impressive. This one is no different in the impression department, but I felt that the overall tone of the video was directed much more towards education than the previous videos. The text or the narration (performed wonderfully by Morgan Freeman) sounds like it was written for one of those old videos we were forced to watch in science class as kids. While I always found those videos to be so poorly produced they became boring - this film has such amazing video that you become engrossed in the movie, even with the educational tone. I would have given it 4 stars because of the educational feel, but after thinking about it for a few minutes, I decided that it still deserved 5. If you have children, I doubt you could find a better movie to inspire them with science. If I were a science teacher today, I'd start the term with this video to motivate students who might otherwise shy away from sceince.

Sure, outstanding picture quality in a bloody boring 'movie'
This is IMAX: Big screen Imax geeks have their 5.0 Dolby DTS , 6.7, 9.8, Super Duper Bit, Super Duper Duper Bit, Monster wolf, Hi Fi, super Hi fi, 9.99999999999999999 Mega Hurtz .....
Oh, the movie. What movie, man? Check out my woofers!
Let's go rent Earthquake and Airport 77!

At the Speed of Light...
This movie is a brief one, which hurls you from the earth into the universe at the speed of light, then in a millisecond, you are yanked back to the smallest particles on earth. This movie is too short, and certainly not spectacular enough to make you feel as if it was worth your money. It doesn't cover enough information about the universe, nor anything else. It barely spends any time with animations of the universe, and shows too many scenes of regular earth dwelling places and things, such as the scene in Venice, a supposed lead up to nothing, which takes up half of the movie. And the animations aren't that great, I've seen better on the Discovery channel. This movie gets you thirsty for science, and leaves you uneducated, and longing for more. If there is another movie out there, I suggest buying it over this one.

YAWNNNnnnnnn
I thought this DVD was a real BORE! In fact I have watched it twice and dozed off both times. This is a DVD for a classroom (science) at a high school, or junior high level. I was hoping to see some great space footage but instead got second rate animations and graphics. (Although I agree with one of the other reviewers M. Freeman is good narrator)
In the special features area of the DVD, hearing the producers, writers, artists EXTOL what a cutting edge, masterpeice, thrill, etc etc this is ....PLEASE give me a break. SAVE your money...do yourself a favor and purchase IMAX 'Blue Planet' or 'Dream is Alive'! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Best UW Documentary ever
I buy and watch a lot of underwater documentaries but I have to admit this is but far the best of them so far. Cocos Island has always been my dream diving spot in the world. These guys put together a fantastic video. Quality of the shots are incredible. I strongly recommend anyone who is interested in underwater life.

Interesting story
Amazing photography. Make sure you watch the special features on how they made it.
Also - if you have younger children - check out Captain Jon Explores the Ocean, also available on DVD from Amazon.

Not as "sharkful" as I'd like
When I pounce on a DVD titled "Island of the Sharks," I expect your typical documentary footage of film crews going into shark cages underwater, and luring sharks to break the surface and chomp on sides of beef dangled over the side of the boat. That didn't turn out to be the case here.

A better title for this DVD might have been simply "Cocos Island," because while the hammerheads of this island are shown, they are by no means the main attraction. It's a good documentary in and of itself, with amazing IMAX photography and a look at the many varities of marine life that inhabit the coral reef around the island. It just wasn't what I was expecting, based on the title.

Island of the Sharks is FAR more then a Shark movie
Island of the Sharks is more about Cocos Island then the amazing schools of sharks that surround this remote island's plankton rich waters. Howard Hall/IMAX crew used the services of the best dive operation (UnderseaHunter...) to capture the underwater beauty of this remote "island oasis" 300 miles SSW of Costa Rica. As fate would have it, El Nino and La Nina cycled during the filming of this movie. They captured the powerful changes that nature wrought through fabulous imagery, and through patience and perseverance managed to capture on IMAX animal behavior that can not be adequately described within this text. The scenes of bait balls created by Marlins is simply spectacular, the schools of hammerheads are filmed with great perspective shots, the night hunts of the White Tip sharks are thrilling, and the overall attention to the details/descriptions of the environment make this a very special movie. The haunting coral bleaching caused by El Nino followed by the spectacular recovery during La Nina is truly one of natures most spectacular events. The photography is superb, the narration adequate. For those interested in the underwater world, those who have been scuba diving at Cocos, or for those simply curious about the natural world, this is one IMAX film NOT to be missed. Hats off to Avi Klapfer and his UnderseaHunter operation for supporting this type of work.

very pleasing
i loved it. it was interesting. it was cool too. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Worth getting for the "Making of documentary"!
My wife and I saw this IMAX movie back in 1998 when it debuted on the IMAX screens. You lose a bit of the impact seeing it just on a TV, although I get the feeling that it will look pretty awesome on an HDTV.

Anyway, the IMAX film follows an elephant clan through one season, having to weather drought, etc. There's a heartbreaking scene where the clan comes across another female elephant whose calf has died.

But the real reason to get this DVD is for the "Making of" documentary. This is fascinating! It's chock full of details about IMAX, like the fact that one single frame of an IMAX film is the equivalent of two 70 mm frames put together; it's got about **ten** times the level of detail that a 35 mm frame has. Not only that, the documentary shows how they got the elephants used to their presence so that they could film them. It explains how the sound that you hear isn't actually contemporaneous with the picture, because the IMAX camera is so loud it would drown out a lot of ambient sound.

Africa,s Elephant Kingdom
Beautiful photography. A charming look into the lives of these African leviathans. A disc the whole family will enjoy.

This DVD is as big as the elephants in it !!!!!
The documentary isn't the only great thing on this DVD... you should see the "Making off"... Great images (I don't think someone will ever get on film an elephant charging as the one on this documentary - I saw this film in a theatre in Cape Town and I'm still holding my breath). The story is Ok...
If you love elephants or Africa... this is a must have !!!!!

Nice Film
but it really depends on the level of interest you have in elephants. Even though the photography is good; my interest in elephant's seem to have peak with this film. After a second viewing I was a little bored. I think a better balance Imax film is Africa: The Serengeti which has some spectacular photography and moves at a faster pace. This film conentrates on elephants and if you have a big interest in this subject you should be happy. There are some nice shots and one sequence were they use time lapse photography of a thunder storm was a highlight. But that sequence lasted for just 30 seconds. To be fair my interest in elephants is limited. My interest in Imax films is high. For me this film is a good rental but not one to buy. ... Read more