BlueGreen (2009/Cinema Libre DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C     Extras: C     Documentary: C+

 

 

At first when you see the DVD case of and hear of Ben Keller’s BlueGreen (2010), you expect a nature documentary or maybe another entry into the world of surfing, but it turns out to be a special interest piece about “a connection to our ocean” as the 78 minute piece deals with how connected people are connected with water, even going as far as to compare water and blood!

 

I give the makers credit for coming up with something different and this is not some surreal “head trip” program, though some of the moments seem like that until their digitalness and “media cold” sensibilities are shown, but it is worth a look for those interested in said subject, though you could say it becomes almost fetishistic (for use of a better word) over the water.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image has some good, colorful footage, but outside of overdone video effects (some of which offer digital blocking that is not good), you get some minor aliasing errors and other tape limits throughout.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is harsh, with the music and sound effects more often than not (no pun intended) drowning out the narrative and interview segments, suggesting this was mixed on a PC of some kind, so be careful of playback levels and audio switching of this nearly stereo mix.

 

Extras include the soundtrack in DVD-ROM form, Northeast Visions Surf Footage and Extended Interviews with subjects from the film including Pro Surfer Keith Malloy, Jim Moriarty (CEO of Surfrider Foundation) and Rabbi Nachum Shifren aka The Surfing Rabbi.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo