Product Details

• Actors: Maria Bello, Yu Xia, Xander Berkeley, Bill Hayes, Paul Pape
• Directors: Robert M. Young
• Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Imax
• DVD Release Date: February 1, 2005
• Run Time: 49 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0006HBV46
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #65,359 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Experience the world of the magnificent and rare Giant Panda as you travel back in time on an exciting expedition through the breathtaking splendor of 1936 China. Inspired by the true-life story of widowed New York socialite Ruth Harkness, a fiercely independent woman who dared to take up her late husband's expedition, journeying deep into the forests of China to study the Giant Panda.

DVD Features:
Featurette
Interactive Menus
Other

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice one but not about Panda, March 26, 2005

By	Himanshu Shangari (Jalandhar, Punjab, India) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The primary focus of this movie is not on Panda but it is a story of an american woman whose husband dies in china during the search of Panda and leaves his diary for her disclosing his last wish that the original face of Panda be brought forward that of being a very calm and shy creature instead of what is propagated of being a fierceful and agresssive beast. The lady undertakes the challenge and starts the adventure for Panda. She is hindered by her late husband's friend who is a hunter and is after Pandas. In her quest to save Pandas she finds her helpless when a Panda is killed by her husband's friend in the end. She then adopts the baby of the killed Panda and brings it downhills with her to show the original face of Panda to the People. And thus the need to save Panda starts from that moment onwards and today they are perserved species. This is a true story and well executed. The only thing worth noticing is that Panda comes into play only during the last 5 or 7 minutes of the movie.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful scenery!, June 2, 2005

By	Greatwood (Sugar Land, TX) - See all my reviews

China: The Panda Adventure is an IMAX film that tells a story..

So..in a sense the Pandas are a part of this story but not in the sense of a documentary. The story is set in 1936 and is based on a true story involving Ruth Harkness who has arrived in China to take care of the business affairs of her late husband. Her husband, it seems was a great admirer of the Giant Panda and in his journal he writes a beautiful story about his experiences with them..This leads Ruth to seek these Pandas out to see for herself..As the story unfolds we see the beauty and majesty of China..The cinematography is outstanding and the music fits the film quite well..

Ruth is played by the lovely Maria Bello and there is an additional documentary about the making of this film is which she talks about her reasons for wanting to do this film and her fascination with the Panda..

All in all..this film is a nice way to spend the evening with your family..but be warned..it's more of a story involving the Panda and not a documentary..

8 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful looking, but somewhat slow-moving, January 23, 2005

By	Staci L. Wilson "Author: Animal Movies Guide ... (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After noted adventurer and wildlife researcher William Harkness dies in the field in 1936, his socialite wife Ruth (Maria Bello) leaves New York and sets off for the mysterious bamboo forests of China, where she dares to take up the expedition and disprove the commonly held belief that the Giant Panda is a fierce and dangerous predator. Made for the IMAX screen, this movie was filmed on location using real pandas, including several adorable cubs. Based upon the memoir by Ruth Harkness, The Lady and the Pandas.

Staci Layne Wilson