Crimson Wing – Mystery Of the Flamingos (2008) + Oceans
(2009/Disneynature Blu-rays w/DVDs)
Picture: B-/C+ Sound: B-/C+ Extras: C+ Main Programs: B-
The
Disneynature releases have finally resumed with two new entries that are recent
theatrical releases: Crimson Wing
(2008) and Oceans (2009), which
follow the 2007 Earth release we covered a little while back at this link:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8993/Earth+(Disneynature/2007/Blu-ray+w
Melanie
Finn wrote and Matthew Aeberhand/Leander Ward co-directed Crimson Wing, a long look at the underrated, underappreciated look
at the flamingo, an amazing bird that has been trivialized, ignored more often
than you’d think and is good for more than just tourist signs, icons on
expensive property and bad plastic duplicates to decorate yards and make them
look tacky. Zabou Brietman narrates the
surprisingly pleasant, informative 75 minutes definitely worth seeing.
The same
can be said for Oceans, narrated by
former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, co-directed by Jacques Perrin and
Jacques Cluzaud. This is the 84 minutes
long US cut (other versions reportedly last up to 104 minutes) and for a
subject that has been covered often (especially of late), they have done a good
job here. The point of this one is that
key life is disappearing from the oceans, which is bad news for us, especially
when we allow manmade disasters that are not mere accidents to happen like the
BP/Halliburton fiasco that spilled millions of gallons of oil into the
Gulf. This was made before that
disgrace, but haunts it as you watch the images.
The 1080p
digital High Definition image/DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 48/24 5.1 mixes on the
Blu-ray and anamorphically enhanced/Dolby Digital 5.1 DVDs also included have
the same playback quality as each other and the previous Earth release. Crimson is 1.85 X 1 and shot on film,
though the transfer has more motion blur than expected, while Oceans is a mix of HD and film in 2.35
X 1 that is a mixed bag with slightly more blur. Both have good color and some nice shots
throughout.
Extras on
both titles include Filmmaker Animation, interactive pieces and various
trailers, with Crimson adding the Lake Norton Diaries behind the scenes
featurette, then Ocean adds Deeper In The Oceans bonus videos, a
Music Video and featurette Disney &
Nature: Preserving The World We Share.
- Nicholas Sheffo
