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In recent years—thanks, in no small part, to Disney and the BBC—nature documentaries have made a huge comeback. Through the ever-improving HD and IMAX technologies, audiences can explore the jungles of South America and the grasslands of Africa in spectacular detail—as if they were right there, traveling with the elephants and playing with the monkeys. And, thanks to the BBC’s series, The Blue Planet, Disneynature’s upcoming Oceans, and director Howard Hall’s IMAX experience, Under the Sea, you can also explore the world’s reefs and ocean floors without investing in scuba gear.
Like Hall’s earlier films—Deep Sea (2006) and Into the Deep (1994)—Under the Sea explores life…well…under the sea. The crew travels from Papua New Guinea to the Great Barrier Reef to Indonesia to film some incredible sea creatures in their natural environment. And the result is short and sweet and simply breathtaking.
Though the main feature is just 40 minutes long, that’s more than enough time to introduce viewers to some extraordinary underwater life. You’ll see crawling sharks and all kinds of fish in disguise. You’ll have a rare encounter with sea snakes and Australian sea lions and the leafy sea dragon. And you’ll be amazed (and often amused, too) by shimmery squids, dressed-up crabs, and love struck cuttlefish.
The film’s entertainment value comes solely from its underwater celebrities—not from its narrator. Though funnyman Jim Carrey does throw in a joke or two, most of his narration is surprisingly mellow. It’s rather quiet, too—and the sound mixing sometimes makes it hard to hear what Jim’s talking about. But that doesn’t really matter. What matters is the awe-inspiring footage—its vivid picture and its vibrant colors—and even the whimsical score, which perfectly matches the film’s fun-loving tone.
Of course, no nature doc is complete without the ubiquitous reminder that the planet’s climate is changing—and, unless we act now to stop the acidification of the oceans, we could very well lose some of these spectacular sea creatures. Fortunately, though, the film keeps the preachiness to a minimum—preferring, instead, to let the creatures speak for themselves. And, really, after you see them in all their vibrant, high-definition glory, you’ll never look at the ocean the same way again.
Though the Blu-ray version of Under the Sea may not have the same 3D IMAX effects, the high-def footage is still absolutely stunning. Take a seat close to your TV, and you might even feel as though you’re right there, swimming along with the giant sharks and stingrays. If you’re fascinated by life under the sea, you won’t want to miss this breathtaking adventure.
Blu-ray Review:
The Blu-ray release of Under the Sea includes an additional DVD/digital combo disc, making the set a three-for-one deal. It also includes a handful of Blu-ray extras, including a making-of feature that will help you understand and appreciate the time- and labor-intensive underwater filmmaking process. There are also five short featurettes (originally used as webisodes), which follow the filmmakers as they barter with the locals in Papua New Guinea, swim with the Great Whites in Australia, and travel 600 miles out of their way to search for sea snakes in Indonesia.
Though the extras don’t have the same IMAX polish as the feature, they offer an even closer look at the filmmaking adventure—which makes them well worth a few extra minutes of your time.
