ALPS, THE (CLIMB OF YOUR LIFE): IMAX - Blu-ray review

The Alps: IMAX is the first IMAX feature that I've seen in a home setting. I was worried that the experience would be diminished considerably compared to what I've seen in IMAX theatres. However, once you get caught up in the movie, you basically forget that you're not in an IMAX theatre.

This is due in large part to the fact that IMAX footage is so difficult to obtain that filmmakers use long takes and slow camera movements so that the breathtaking scope of what's being observed can be absorbed properly by viewers' eyes. There are loving pans and "beauty shots" of people bungee jumping in front of huge dams, people climbing on unforgiving mountains, and trains snaking their way through twisty rail lines.

The Alps follows a mountain climber and his family's journey through various Swiss locales as the climber prepares for an ascent of the Eiger, an ice-and-rock wall that is particularly difficult to scale. The documentary uses the trip to survey various glaciers and other sights, including the famous Matterhorn mountain. Finally, the filmmakers follow the climber and his associates all the way up to the Eiger's summit

Although these "adventure" documentaries inevitably have a touch of Rocky underdog vibes, you don't feel like you're watching cheesy schmaltz. After all, these are real people doing genuinely dangerous things. They're not thrill seekers looking for adrenaline rushes. Rather, they're trying to deal with complex feelings about man's relationship with the natural world, especially as humanity is increasingly alienated from natural surroundings and activities such as farming or bathing outdoors.

Considering that it's rather expensive to take a family or a bunch of students to see an IMAX movie, Image Entertainment's line of affordable IMAX Blu-ray titles is a huge boon to documentary enthusiasts, parents, and educators. You get top-notch video, surprisingly robust audio, and substantive extras to complement family-friendly films that instill respect for nature and learning.

Video:
The 1.78:1 1080p image is modified from IMAX's native 1.44:1 aspect ratio. While this is an understandable change due to the switch to 16x9 displays, some purists may still be upset. Although much of the majesty of watching an IMAX film is lost in a home environment, the quality is still there. The images are extraordinarily sharp, detailed, clean, and clear. If you ever needed to be persuaded that 70mm film kicks digital video's ass, then you should just experience this disc for yourself.

Audio:
The DTS-HD MA 5.1 English primary audio track is quite wonderful, too. Narrator Michael Gambon's deeply resonant voice is carried by both the center channel and the subwoofer. Indeed, the subwoofer frequently booms due to zooming trains and deadly avalanches. The rears appear to use the same stems, though there is sufficient surround activity to create a sense of immersion and depth. Fans of Queen will really dig the mix as it presents soulful guitar melodies in aching clarity.

Extras:
First up is "The Making of The Alps", which, at 39 minutes, is nearly as long as the main feature. You get to see several sequences in the film stock's original 1.44:1 ratio, though the quality is not as stunning as the final presentation.

"Film Trivia Quiz" is a multiple choice test of what you've learned from the movie.

"Learn More!" is a list of facts about the Alps.

"About Switzerland" is a set of two montages, one for the summer and the other for the winter. Presumably, these are deleted scenes/shots that didn't make it into the final cut.

"MacGillivray Freeman Films" is a brief introduction to the production company that has made most of the best-known IMAX documentaries.

"About Greg MacGillivray" is a brief text bio of one of the founders of MacGillivray Freeman Films.

Finally, there are several trailers, and you can access BD-Live features via the disc's "Dynamic Connection" portal.

--Miscellaneous--
The double-sided cover art has chapter listings on the inside.