Customer Reviews

IMAX: Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I didn't see any description for this disk when writing this so here is a quick summary: The Colorado river is dwindling due to our ever expanding need for fresh water. Conservationist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and botanist Wade Davis (along with their daughters) and canyon guide Shana Watahomigie take an expedition to illustrate the need for changing the way the Colorado is exploited.

I haven't seen that many IMAX films on the Grand Canyon so I won't be able to give any real comparisons, but I will say this one does at least deliver on what I was looking for: Nice wide footage of the Grand Canyon. Although most of the footage is personal shots of the expedition you do get some really good aerial footage as well as other impressive nature shots.

The difference between this particular documentary and what I would normally expect from a Grand Canyon is that it has a conservation message tied to it. Instead of focusing solely on nature's wonder there is a lot of footage on the effects of drought and siphoning of the Colorado River. So if you are looking for a full-on nature safari this isn't exactly it. At the same time it's not like you aren't getting any absolutely amazing footage either. Just not as much as I was expecting.

Like many IMAX films coming to Blu-Ray the AVC transfer is breathtaking. Every little detail will stand out. The audio is equally immersive with the DTS HD MA 5.1 track getting you wrapped up in the sounds of the canyon all over. There is also a French DTS audio track. On the minus side there are no subtitles of any kind. There are a somewhat respectable list of extra features on this release, which I suppose it better than expected. Most of the extras are standard definition with the exception of one. Here is what you get:

- 30 Minute Making of Featurette

- Music video by Wade Davis' daughter, Tara

- Retrospective of MFF IMAX productions (in HD)

- Water saving tips and river clean up tips (sponsored by Kholer and Tava)

- Fact sheet on the Grand Canyon and Colorado River

- Trivia quiz (text)

Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk is a very worthwhile documentary that shows the real beauty of the Grand Canyon... if you don't mind the preachy parts. Of course conservationists will really appreciate the fact filled message as well as the eye candy. The IMAX theater release was also in 3-D, but I haven't heard of any releases on Blu-Ray or DVD that will take advantage of that anytime soon.

I have several IMAX dvds and had high expectations about this new Blu-ray product. I especially liked the Ganges and Mysteries of the Nile productions and expected even better footage here since they were filming the Colorado River and landscape of the Grand Canyon.

I think as a conservation film this was okay. However, if you are interested in landscapes and river rafting, I've seen so much better out there and I was disappointed in the quality and coverage. I have a new Blu-ray player and expected better from this film. I guess it loses something once out of the IMAX, 3D environment it was designed for. It almost seemed over-exposed. Too much time focusing on clever graphics. After all, this is the Grand Canyon - it is not needed and I found it slightly irritating.

I presumed the video, "Grand Canyon Adventure", to be an adventure-based, scenic video tour of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. Having never been there, I had hoped to "tour" the Canyon vicariously via this BD offering.

Sadly, it was nothing of the sort, being instead an environmentalist's message about dwindling water levels of the river itself. This was the theme of the entire video... a message about choices of water usage.

While there were several very nice shots of parts of the canyon, they were presented with a message, which detracted from the desired 'adventure' theme. I guess I should have been a more critical reader of the reviews before purchasing the video.

In conclusion, if you are interested in viewing/learning of opinions about the current "health" of the river, i.e. water levels and flow, then this video may be just right for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a nicely done tour of the canyon or of the river, as I was, then you'll want to look elsewhere.

With everything that went into producing this, i expected this to be great, but it was one long "give us all your $$$" sermon. No one is looking to pay money to be preached to about how nothing in nature lasts forever. That's all this is.

The best you can do with this is to turn the volume off while it's playing, and play your own music.

Won't buy anything else produced by Teva.

I very much enjoyed viewing this film after visiting the Grand Canyon this past Jan. it was a crash course on how serious the health of the river is. Thumbs up

This is Imax at its finest with the highest possible video quality available as there's a vast difference to me when a film is shot in HD compared to a standard definition DVD that has been upgraded/transferred to the Blu-ray format as this type of film really shows what Blu-ray is all about which is far above regular definition videos. If you love Western scenery like I do and love to see it in the highest quality, then this is for you with the conservation message being a plus.

Imax films are THE state of the art in picture and sound quality in Blu-ray discs and this disc continues that tradition!! The color is spectacular and natural and is sharp as a tack unlike many blu-ray movies where you have many scenes that look like they were shot slightly out of focus or in 720P!! (An example of this is the Planet Earth discs)I will use this as a demo disc to show off my new home theater!!

I also originally saw this film in IMAX 3D in Seattle as a parent chaperone with my son's second grade class. You know something is truly magical and amazing when it not only has all the adults in the room on the edge of their seats with mouths half agape, but a bunch of 7- and 8-year-olds in exactly the same position. Not only that, but the film's powerful message, perfectly chosen and choreographed soundtrack, and absolutely breathtaking cinematography were not lost on anyone - the kids wanted to go to the Grand Canyon and save the river afterwards. My son still talks about it nearly a year and a half later. If I could give this film more than five stars, I would. Neither you (nor your children)will be disappointed in this amazing show.

as Imax lover this is a good movie but was found to have a mark on the face of it over the lines, and have to be returned I will no doubt look again and maybe go for Blu ray in this type . Imax are very good but bit costly at times , If you want a good Grand Canyon movie then go for the Hidden Secrets that is a very good one of the canyon with nice music score I find Imax very good regards the ordinery dvd with this type of movie short but well worth having. would be nice to get a Imax dvd of New York City from high up with air views from the plane and fit a nice music score in it that goes with the city Like the naked city. I hope one day it will be done

Fabulous scenery captured with great cinematography and sound track. This doco contained a serious conservation message which was delivered in a very entertaining fashion. We're an outdoor adventure family and were greatly entertained by the fast paced action on the rapids.