Customer Reviews

Ultimate G's (3-D) (Large Format)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Once again Imax has tried to combine a story with spectacular photography. I would think by know I would have learn my lesson. But you mention the word Imax combine with the Grand Canyon,Lake Powell and aerial photography I took the bait. This story is so simple that it takes away from the film. I feel if you do not have an interesting story to tell why try. Instead of going the educational or thrill route they went with a story that was hard to get through once let alone twice. Why Imax could settle for a plot like this when they are consistently A+ in the photo and sound department is a wonder to me. There standards can be so high on one end and at the bottom of the scale on the other. Imax has produce quite a few good films. But for my money those are films that are educatonal or have thrilling photography. This film has some of the photography but it allso has a story that will put you to sleep.

I got this thinking it was only 3D IMAX shots, but was actually incorporated a story to make it a sort-of movie. Yes, the actors are average (and unknowns) and the story is cheesy but the 3D is absolutely incredible especially if you like flying. Just don't expect too much and you will be pleased. Oh, and the surround sound is top notch too, but IMAX movies have been good at that. A plus it that it is something the kids will enjoy (and is G rated).

I recently picked up a couple of the newer IMAX 3D releases, and also had a chance to get an advanced copy of "Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream." I truly had no preconceived notions going into the film--with the title, I expected plenty of flying, stunts, and aerial vistas. While my experience with these films has ranged from great (The Ultimate Wave: Tahiti) to fair (Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs) to not-so-good (Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia), nothing had prepared me for this foray into a fiction based narrative. I know we're starved for exciting 3D adventures, but this one is serviceable for the kiddies only. Dramatically inert and inept, no amount of 3D flying can save this lackluster love story--yes folks, this one's a romance!

Narrative: For curiosity factor alone, a pre-teen Michael Cera is certainly an interesting draw. He plays a young boy who yearns to fly and, with the help of his steadfast gal pal, builds some disastrous mechanisms of flight. Before we can charge the parents with child endangerment, however, the story fast forwards to the present. The two are still friends and fly together in prop planes, but a boyhood rival tries some suave moves on the girl and a flight competition is staged for manly boasting rights. Then there's flying--finally! And love, too. The story is so wooden and stiff, it's almost painful. And I don't know what kind of message the film goes for as it makes the rival, an armed forces pilot, a cheater as well. Pretty distasteful actually.

Features: This is actually the first of the IMAX 3D films I've gotten with no special features. Granted, the features can be underwhelming--but this one only has trailers for other better looking films!

3D: OK, I know this is all anyone really cares about--but I'm telling you, you'd have to be pretty hard up for 3D to overlook the narrative deficiencies of this film. This is natural and clear 3D. Nothing is attempting to pop you in the face. The aerial sequences over the Grand Canyon, however, are lovely and the extra dimension does provide a singular beauty. The flying scenes, absent from the first half of the picture, are the only really effective use of the 3D technology. But mind you, there is no flying in the first 20 minutes of this 40 minute film and all the aerial shots are done from a small prop plane--so I don't really get the "Ultimate G" title which might have led me to believe in a speedier or more powerful mode of transport. Altogether unimpressive, I'm not even sure this would hold a child's interest without liberal use of the fast forward button. KGHarris, 3/11.

Rating this on the movie alone, I would give it only 1 star. It's a bad story and really boring. I only purchased it to see the 3-D version, using the special glasses that you must buy seperate. The 3-D effect is really good. Not as fully dimentional as the other DVD's available for the 3-D system, but still works very well. As with the other three 3-D Slingshot DVD's available, the sound is really good too.
Overall, the movie itself is poor, but the visuals (in 3-D) and the sound (DTS) is very good. I would recommend checking out the Ultimate 3-D Collection (which includes the glasses and the three other 3-D DVD's, that is listed at Amazon.com) before purchasing Ultimate G's.

My ratings are based mainly on the QUALITY OF THE 3D, not the video content.

This review is for the 3D blu-ray version - The old 2001 Slingshot 3D DVD for picture tube TVs was actually better.

Like many of the IMAX films the 3D is over done. In this film it is just too big of a difference in the right and left views (excess parallax). More sensitive people may feel eye strain or get headaches from watching this movie. The excess may even cause some ghosting on active glasses systems.

I counted 4 out of screen effects. There are 2 out of screen effects that extend 10% of the way, from the screen to the viewer. One at 20% and 1 at 25%.

If the 3D in other IMAX films were OK for you, this one might be.

MY 3D RATING = FAIR (poor, fair, good, very good, excellent)

Note: As far as the percentages go, everyone's eyes are different. What I see at 25% you may see at 15% or 35%. To fully realize how far something is out of the screen for you, pause on an effect and direct a partner with an extended finger to the tip of what you are seeing. You may be surprised.

Click on `See all my reviews' for the lowdown on other 3Ds

I love flying (have a few ratings). I love 3-d (have lots of 3-d movies). I bought this even though the ratings were low, all I can say is they weren't low enough. (1 star is too much)

This 3D Blu-ray has the potential to be wonderful, but it falls short. Most of the 3D effect has ghosting throughout most of the video. Its like everything is out of focus. Also, the plot is silly and pointless. Save your money.

Do not expect to see those three Extra 300 aircraft flying in formation in the movie! I bought the movie for that but it is for the cover only, 3D is good, actual flying and the landscape gorgeous, theme and acting terrible, I think they built the movie around those two flying scenes, a waste of money.

I truly had no preconceived notions going into the film--with the title and its creation as an IMAX 3-D product, I expected plenty of flying, stunts, and aerial vistas. While my experience with these films has ranged from great (The Ultimate Wave: Tahiti) to fair (Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs) to not-so-good (Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia), nothing had prepared me for this foray into a fiction based narrative. In fact, there is virtually NO flying in the film's first half. I know we're starved for exciting 3-D adventures, but this one is serviceable for the kiddies only--and without the 3-D component, there isn't much point. Dramatically inert and inept, no amount of flying (3-D or otherwise) can save this lackluster love story--yes folks, this one's a romance!

For curiosity factor alone, a pre-teen Michael Cera is certainly an interesting draw. He plays a young boy who yearns to fly and, with the help of his steadfast gal pal, builds some disastrous mechanisms of flight. Before we can charge the parents with child endangerment, however, the story fast forwards to the present. The two are still friends and fly together in prop planes, but a boyhood rival tries some suave moves on the girl and a flight competition is staged for manly boasting rights. Then there's flying--finally! And love, too. The story is so wooden and stiff, it's almost painful. And I don't know what kind of message the film goes for as it makes the rival, an armed forces pilot, a cheater as well. Pretty distasteful actually.

Designed for kids, this 40 minute feature really doesn't represent the best the medium (IMAX or 3-D) has to offer. I gave this 2 stars with 3-D, as a strict narrative--I can't even muster up that much enthusiasm. KGHarris, 6/11.

In 2d........forget it!
In 3d, "Ultimate G's" is watchable, but its just not as special as movies like "Haunted Castle" or "Alien Adventure". There are some pretty cool flying sequences, but the 3d effect of watching planes flying in the air just isn't as thrilling as some of the "rollercoaster" affects in the two movies previously described.

Ultimately, the 3d version of "Ultimate G's" doesn't cross the barrier into adult entertainment. It's good to watch once or so in 3D, but kids will probably find it more satisfying than adults (especially for repeat viewings).

I'm glad to have this movie in my 3d collection, even if its not the best. If you are looking for an AWESOME 3d movie and haven't seen any of the mentioned films in this review.....I would suggest "Alien Adventure" and "Haunted Castle".

"Ultimate G's" is good-just not great. The computer and digitally animated 3D movies (Ultimate G's is a live story with real actors, planes, etc..) are really where the ultimate action is at!