Customer Reviews

Alaska - Spirit of the Wild

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

and the film was so good I went out and bought more Imax films. Unfortunaley not all of the Imax films are as good as this one. This film has everything going for it the photography and naration are top notch. The film keeps moving and your never bored. DVD'S are expensive and it is easey to get hook when buy a good one. There are many good Imax films but not all of them are worth the price. This one and The Living Sea stand out above the rest in my opinion. The Adventures in Wild California is another one though it has not been release on DVD that I have seen are just excellent. On the other hand films like Niagrea,Yellowstone and The Grand Canyon are a big step down. In those films they try to tell a story and it comes off more like amatuer night. When I view an Imax film I look for spectacular images,fun and for it to be educational. The first three films I have mention fit the bill.

This IMAX video in dvd format represents a cinematic masterpiece. The breathtaking video and haunting audio truly capture the vastness and serenity of this great land. For anyone who has lived the dream of having visited Alaska, or for anyone who yearns for this frontier, "IMAX Alaska" will captivate your imagination and inspire your soul.

This is wonderful for the family. Super shots of scenery and animals (the latter with good humor as well). Charleton Heston's narration is apt and not overdone (though the volume is a bit low as compared with the otherwise excellent music soundtrack that is Aaron Copeland-esque). A very nice intro to the glories of Alaska, it even includes a bit of history on the Gold Rush.

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.

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!

The spectacular scenery and fascinating wildlife of Alaska are seen at their most intriguing in this film, which was nominated for a Best Documentary Academy Award. The history of the land from the height of the last great ice age 18,000 years ago is also explained, showing in some well made graphics how man and beast were able to cross into Alaska on the Bering Strait from Asia. With marvelous aerial photography, as well as some underneath a stampeding caribou herd, and underwater for the hatching of the salmon and swimming seals. Other animals seen hunting and at play are the brown, black and polar bear, bison, musk ox, eagle and red fox. Beavers building their homes, whales in unison making bubble circles to catch herring, sea lions, and their predators, the Inupiat (Eskimo), who survive their year around existence in the harsh environment eating seal and whale meat.

It follows this great "land of extremes" from spring to spring, a land that took the lives of hundreds of men seeking wealth during the gold rush, as well as their pack horses, shown here in some historic still photographs.
Directed by George Casey, and written by Mose Richards with clarity as well as an almost poetic grace, it is narrated by Charlton Heston, who is gifted with a voice that is always a pleasure to listen to.
Educational as well as glorious to look at, this is an excellent documentary on America's least explored state.
Total running time is 40 minutes.

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.

If you want to fill your kids with with misinformation about Alaska, this is the movie for you. The scriptwriter apparently flew by the seat of his pants, making stuff up as he went along.

The script says that the famous Iditarod dogsled race originated to commemorate the Gold Rush. Wrong. The Iditarod commemorates a desperate dogsled race against time to transport smallpox vaccine from Anchorage to Nome, where children where dying of the disease.

In another error-filled scene, the script refers to the fiercesome black bear. Clips are shown of wolves, foxes and even elk cowering and running for cover because of a black bear. They were probably running from the camera crew. Wikipedia describes black bears as omnivores whose diet relies most heavily on grasses, herbs, fruits, and mast. They also feed on carrion and insects such as carpenter ants, yellow jackets, bees, and termites, and raid bees nests for honey. They sometimes kill and eat small rodents. They seldom attack other animals unless cornered, threatened, or wounded.

People believe the stuff in these documentaries, especially children. Parents, beware of scriptwriters such as the one who wrote the narration for this film. He was intoxicated with his purple prose and made up his own drama when the real facts weren't conveniently at hand. This guy should be writing soaps, not nature documentaries.

A pox on this movie. Smallpox, if you like.

This was my first IMAX related DVD purchase. I am very impressed with both the incredible photography, and the stunning audio track. If you have 5.1 Dolby Digital, you will be richly rewarded. Covers the major wildlife species of the state, and some good stuff from the galcier fields in southern Alaska. The only complaint I have about the audio is that the narration is sometimes overshadowed by the music. But, only in small sections. Very minor complaint. I have never seen a DVD with so many different language tracks. You can even watch the video without narration only the music, and natural sounds. I wish it was longer, but most IMAX films are only about 40 minutes anyway.