A New Reference DVD For Me!

[David Meek]

Hi everyone. Jen rented this the other night simply because we are both wildlife nuts and we were curious. All I can say is I now have a new reference DVD - especially for picture quality! It is stunningly beautiful - STUNNINGLY! If you are looking for a true visual treat, check this title out. But, do yourself a favor - give your system a good calibration before watching it. You really want it to be at its best. The sound is very nice also. There is good use of the surrounds for ambient noise, such as wind or storms. Well placed use of the directionals at times puts you right in the middle of the flocks. Surprisingly enough, your sub will get a strong workout in some scenes! Did I mention yet how amazingly beautiful this DVD is?

This is a visual documentary that focuses on migratory birds the world over. It shows them migrating to and from their summer and winter grounds, with a commentary that is sparse and unintrusive. This is not for someone wanting explosions and car chases. Some of the shots make you wonder "how the heck did they do that?", some leave you laughing and some leave you a little misty-eyed.

I could keep going on about this, but I'd rather just say: Wow!

I give it :5: out of :5: stars.

[Andrew Pratt]

Oh sounds like a title I'd enjoy also:T

[David Meek]

Oh yeah Andrew, you are a "run - don't walk" candidate for this one!

[Bam!]

Thanks for the heads up Dave!

I'll get quacking on that one :lol:

[David Meek]

Oh, the PAIN! :rollhead: That's funny BAM! :rofl:

[Lex]

I call a foul! Not only is this not really a movie, but it's educational and it's foul! I mean FOWL! I forgot the spelling, so sue me.

Lex

[aud19]

Who would have thought Andrew would show up first for this one and then Bam would show up with a bad joke?! 8O :rofl:

Jason

[David Meek]

Psssst. Somebody tell Lex it's fowl, too. :B

[Bam!]

Who would have thought Andrew would show up first for this one and then Bam would show up with a bad joke?! 8O :rofl:

Jason

Jason.... : :lol:

[glangston@socal]

Hi everyone. Jen rented this the other night simply because we are both wildlife nuts and we were curious. All I can say is I now have a new reference DVD - especially for picture quality! It is stunningly beautiful - STUNNINGLY! If you are looking for a true visual treat, check this title out. But, do yourself a favor - give your system a good calibration before watching it. You really want it to be at its best. The sound is very nice also. There is good use of the surrounds for ambient noise, such as wind or storms. Well placed use of the directionals at times puts you right in the middle of the flocks. Surprisingly enough, your sub will get a strong workout in some scenes! Did I mention yet how amazingly beautiful this DVD is?

This is a visual documentary that focuses on migratory birds the world over. It shows them migrating to and from their summer and winter grounds, with a commentary that is sparse and unintrusive. This is not for someone wanting explosions and car chases. Some of the shots make you wonder "how the heck did they do that?", some leave you laughing and some leave you a little misty-eyed.

I could keep going on about this, but I'd rather just say: Wow!

I give it :5: out of :5: stars.

..."documentary" ...."commentary that is sparse and unintrusive"
So, you're saying this is up against Fahrenheit 9-11 :rofl:

I'll check it out, maybe recommend it to my dentist who has nature stuff on a tv to distract and soothe you.

[Danbry39]

Winged Migration is a marvel. Absolutely a great film. It is amazing how much drama is packed into it. I live in an area in a migratory path and I've never looked at birds the same.

This is a GREAT film!!!

[aud19]

Jazz and I love watching nature shows (I can't wait to get Discovery HD!) so we might have to give this a gander :rofl:

Jason

[Bam!]

Well guys from you comments here I just wanted to let you know that at the quack of dawn me goes to buy it.... :lol:

I am :loser: :rofl:

[David Meek]

You bunch of loons! I'm now quailing in fear of the next fowl (foul? :W) post that I'll have to duck. If this keeps up I'll be huffin and puffin at every tern, so instead I'm off (on a lark).

: Take that. . . .

[Bam!]

If a duck says quack quack


What does a quack say ?

Duck Duck ? :huh:

[aud19]

Bam's cut off! 8O

: : : : : : :rofl:

Jason

[David Meek]

Getting back on topic. . . some of the shots left me going "how did they DO that?" based simply on the proximity to the birds themselves. One shot in particular, in chapter 18 (I believe) is of several geese flying along a roadway that flows through a forest. You are looking UP at the birds (in extreme close-up), and at the same time are so low you can see the trees and bushes towering above you AND the geese! Another is of a flight of geese flying very low along a body of water towards a major city and you are literally in between the birds. Not a big deal, eh? Well, there are NO ripples on the water from prop-wash so it's not a helicopter. And besides, what bird would be flying in formation with a chopper? So, how'd they do that? Again, it's a stunning visual - and I'm not gonna spill the beans. FWIW, the "making of" feature is almost as interesting as the film itself. Enjoy!

[David Meek]

Oh, I should mention that there are a few sad moments involved. It IS a documentary after all and we're dealing with Mother Nature here.

[George Bellefontaine]

Sad ? Well I'll be a dead duck.

[David Meek]

It's gotta be the weather. . . . :blah: :??

[aud19]

:lol: Aaah, I see the bad jokes haven't ceased. :lol:

David I'd guess they used some form of small, ultra-light glider possibly with a small engine (for maneuverability, speed, distance etc) with a cam attached to get those shots. Was there no mention of how they did it in the "making of"?

Jason

[David Meek]

Yes, there is. I HAD to watch the extras to find out how they did some of the shots. The mechanics behind some of them are pretty impressive.

[Andrew Pratt]

I agree they likely used a similar method to what Bill Lishman's being using for the Opperation Migration project in southern Ontatio with the ultralight's. He's actually located a few miles from where my parents live so the scenery from "Fly away home" is right around their place.

http://www.operationmigration.org/index.html

[glangston@socal]

Correct

They imprinted the birds. They had to to get that close to them, IOW it was intentional. A lot of the birds stayed with them and ended up in a sanctuary of sorts.

Pierre said his film was not a documentary but amazingly most people will think of it that way. Humans are fickle. :roll:

[George Bellefontaine]

Jokes aside, Tex, I think I'd like to see this film if nothing more than to see the PQ you have talked about.

[David Meek]

Pierre said his film was not a documentary but amazingly most people will think of it that way. Humans are fickle. :roll:

Not sure quite how to take that last comment.

This film was nominated for an Oscar in 2003 in the Best Documentary - Feature Films category. He may not call it a documentary, but (pun intended) if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it might just be a duck.

[glangston@socal]

Documentary

Not sure quite how to take that last comment.

This film was nominated for an Oscar in 2003 in the Best Documentary - Feature Films category. He may not call it a documentary, but (pun intended) if it quacks like a duck and walks like a duck, it might just be a duck.

I poked around at Amazon for some information and found this amateur review. He refers to another site that he says backs this premise up.

"Numerous times in numerous reviews you will read reviewers condemning this film for its lack of the basic principles of documentary filmmaking. I cannot state enough that the directors of this film never intended it to be viewed as a documentary, even going to the point to state clearly that their work was NOT such a film. So why would reviewers argue a point from which the directors themselves wished to distance themselves? Maybe ignorance, maybe selective memory; who knows, but a documentary this movie clearly is not. I have also heard several reviewers complain about the film's message. I thought as a political tool this film was extremely muted. It portrayed the realities of migratory species and the increasing difficulties that they face in an increasingly developed world. This is reality, not politics.

Much has also been said that the directors 'cheated' by imprinting birds to the camera crew to make those memorable camera shots. While this is not a revolutionary concept (Bill Lishman performed a similar task leading a flock of geese from Ontario to Virginia a few years earlier; his exploits were the loose basis for the film Fly Away Home), it is I believe the first time it has been used at this magnitude. Research is also being done to determine if this technique can be used efficiently in guiding new migration routes to help protect endangered migratory species such as the whooping crane and trumpeter swan. While it is less than ideal and certainly not natural, the process may be necessary to ensure that these animals can survive extinction. And taken in the context of this film, I believe this procedure is permissible given the principle of the film (whether intended or not). What Winged Migration instills most in the viewer, after its visual beauty is digested, is to promote awareness about not only the magnificence of these creatures, but their plight and the increasing difficulties that accompany seasonal migration.

For more information on specifics of the film, there is a good review at documentaryfilms.net

(On a side note, a few reviewers have questioned what happened to the birds after filming. In an interview with Perrin, he stated many of the birds stayed with their imprinted parents in Normandy, while others were taken to nature preserves of which the filmmakers developed a relationship with during filming.)

There is no doubt that this film will not appeal to everyone. It is over an hour of footage with little or no dialogue, and I think the pace of the film may be a problem for some. But Winged Migration is undoubtedly visually stunning; of that you can be assured. I would encourage anyone, even those who would normally be turned off by its subject matter or its message, to see the film regardless, for it is a visual delight and is well worth the time."

[NMyTree]

Thanks, I love wildlife/nature stuff.

I'm gonna' pick this one up.

[aud19]

Oh yeah, I forgot, Jazz and I rented and watched this last week. Though I wouldn't say it's the best PQ or SQ I've ever come across on DVD it was a pleasure to watch with still very good PQ/SQ. The whole thing had a wonderful feeling to it that was quite relaxing and entertaining.

One caveat though... if you want the almost magical feeling that watching this film gives you to stick around... don't watch the making of feature! :lol: Seeing what the magicians did behind the curtains brings you back to reality and takes the rose coloured glasses off the feeling of the film.

(BTW, Jazz was mad at you guys for not warning us about the couple of bad scenes! Poor little birdies...)

Jason

[Bam!]

Oh yeah, I forgot, Jazz and I rented and watched this last week. Though I wouldn't say it's the best PQ or SQ I've ever come across on DVD it was a pleasure to watch with still very good PQ/SQ. The whole thing had a wonderful feeling to it that was quite relaxing and entertaining.

One caveat though... if you want the almost magical feeling that watching this film gives you to stick around... don't watch the making of feature! :lol: Seeing what the magicians did behind the curtains brings you back to reality and takes the rose coloured glasses off the feeling of the film.

(BTW, Jazz was mad at you guys for not warning us about the couple of bad scenes! Poor little birdies...)

Jason

Like what ?

Now you know how KFC makes their dinners...

ops: :lol:

can' t help it.... ops:

[David Meek]

Oh, I should mention that there are a few sad moments involved. It IS a documentary after all and we're dealing with Mother Nature here.

Hey Jason, I tried. Sorry I wasn't more clear.

[Kingdaddy]

I bought this the other day for $9.99 used, Wow what a great picture, thanks for the recommendation, very good documentary. I really liked the Leopard Son as well, but I have yet to see a DVD of it, anyone know if it's available yet?

[David Meek]

Sorry, but I don't think it's available on DVD yet.

[aud19]

Sorry, but I don't think it's available on DVD yet.

:wtf: That's what I watched it on.... wasn't even a new release.... :lol: What did you watch it on David? Laserdisc??!! : :lol: You do know this is the DVD area of HTGuide right? :rofl:

BTW sorry I missed your suttle warning there My fault :B

Jason

[David Meek]

Jason, I was replying to Kingdaddy's question about The Leopard Son. Sorry for any confusion.

[aud19]

OH :E ops:

I'm a :loser: :rofl:

Jason

[David Meek]

Now STOP that. Repeat after me: "I am not a loser". . . . (basic psych 101)

You may be "lost", but that's another conversation. :B

Back OT.

[aud19]

:laughat: :roflmao: :roflmao:

I'll be "OK" :B 8O :B :rofl:

Jason

[NMyTree]

I really liked the Leopard Son as well, but I have yet to see a DVD of it, anyone know if it's available yet?

I have the LaserDisc :B

I still have about 60 Laserdiscs.......in my collection. Some of them look very nice. Some better...than some DVDs.

[Kingdaddy]

So how’s the laser disc transfer? I’ve only seen the VHS. This was one of my favorite documentaries, took something like 4 years to make, very good story, but I haven’t seen it since it came out.


What do you think of the movie, maybe a mini review.

[JonMarsh]

This is interesting- I have an HVD version of this title, which came with a Skyworth DVD/HVD player I was asked to evaluate. The HVD disk is supposedly 1080i native; it appears to be, because it displays best at that resolution direct out, compared with scaling to other resolutions such as 720P, XGA, or SXGA (yes, this is a scaling DVD player we're talking about here, with component AND VGA outputs. More on that later).

It is an intersesting and remarkable title visually, especially on a well calibrated system. It's a knock out, IMO, on my CRT projector, but still quite good on the NEC CRT presentation monitor, or my Samsung LCD.

Man, is Singapore humid!

~Jon

[NMyTree]

The LaserDisc transfer of Leopard Son is just okay, in my opinion. Nothing really special, but not horrible either.

I really love this movie. Sometimes a bit sad though.

It's been about 5 years since I last watched it, so in order to give a coherent review, I would have to watch it again.

Right now, I can't do that. Everything is in disarray in my Living Room, as I await my custom made component rack and TV cabinet. Once I get them in the Living Room and get everything hooked up again; I'll be more than happy to watch it again and give a mini-review.

[Kingdaddy]

Thanks NMYTree, I haven’t seen the VHS version in about 5 years my self, and like you can remember the sad part and that I liked the film a lot. I'll look forward to seeing it come out on DVD, I'm not a real doc nut but there are a few I would love to have in my collection, Wined Migration and Leopard Son are the top 2 mow. I'm glad I got Winged Migration, it's going to be a classic doc IMO.