Arctic Tale (HD-DVD + DVD-Video)
Picture: B/B- Sound: B- Extras: C Film: B-
Because
of their recent commercial viability, we are now in a new cycle of nature films
like nothing seen since Marlin Perkins.
Though it did not get as much attention as some productions, Paramount
and National Geographic co-produced the Adam Ravetch/Sarah Robertson HD-shot
documentary Arctic Tale (2007) being
released in both HD-DVD and DVD separately.
If Paramount has abandoned Blu-ray (for now?) they have never endorsed
the HD Combo Format either.
From ice
cold water shots to surface snow shots that are always easy on the eyes, the
brisk-but-rich 86 minutes start with a new family of polar bears and expand to
a journey worthy of National Geographic’s name as each segment adds up to a
larger portrait of life where most humans could not easily (if at all) exist on
a normal basis. One of the more
family-friendly such productions of late, especially after more than a few that
seemed designed to upset the audience on purpose, it is nice to see a program
done with some integrity that has its act together and makes for a good
show. Catch it and be pleasantly
surprised.
The 1080p
1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image looks good on HD-DVD and about as good
on the anamorphically enhance DVD-Video, but the production cannot escape the
various types of HD used and how they do not always cohere. There are enough great shots to tolerate
that, but don’t expect as smooth a presentation as the likes of Planet Earth (the BBC versions reviewed
elsewhere on this site.) The Dolby
Digital Plus 5.1 on the HD and regular Dolby 5.1 on the DVD are about the same,
with limited soundfield, some good location recording and Latifah’s narration
nicely captured. Extras include a making
of featurette, Are We There Yet? World Adventure: Polar Bear Spotting and
the theatrical trailer.
- Nicholas Sheffo
