Africa: The Serengeti

 (1994)

Africa: The Serengeti Blu-ray offers decent video and audio, but overall it's a mediocre Blu-ray release
Africa: The Serengeti brings to life the incredible story of the greatest migration of land animals anywhere on earth. The first African epic filmed in large format, the film takes viewers on a journey with more than 1.5 million animals as they travel over 500 miles across the plains of the Serengeti, a place where life and death dramas are played daily within the most important animal sanctuary on earth.

For more about Africa: The Serengeti and the Africa: The Serengeti Blu-ray release, see the Africa: The Serengeti Blu-ray Review

Narrator: James Earl Jones
Director: George Casey

» See full cast & crew

Africa: The Serengeti Blu-ray Review

A classic IMAX documentary makes an impression on Blu-ray...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown, February 19, 2009

Stretching more than 18,000 miles across Kenya and Tanzania, the African Serengeti is home to a diverse kingdom of herbivores and carnivores, houses one of the largest wildlife preserves on the planet, and witnesses the annual migration of more than a million wildebeest across its scorched plains. Nowhere is the natural cycle of life as prevalent or breathtaking -- its calculating crocodiles, leering vultures, and prowling lions all play a crucial role in the proliferation and containment of its more docile species. In an age of online interconnectivity and global upheaval, the Serengeti still has the ability to inspire humility and wonder; in an era of civilized rule, its meticulous balance of life and death remains an overwhelming source of awe.

Uneven technical quality aside, some of the photography is simply stunning...

Released in IMAX theaters in 1994 and narrated with the languid tones of James Earl Jones' oh-so-soothing voice, Africa: The Serengeti is a 40-minute, 70mm documentary that focuses on the unexpectedly engrossing wildebeest migration that occurs there every year. It explains the animals' instinctual desire to make the perilous trek, introduces the various predators that thin the herd along the way, and ends with the climactic mass birth that eventually replenishes their numbers. As the wildebeest wind their way to destiny, lions, cheetahs, crocodiles, elephants, zebras, hyenas, vultures, hippos, and other species are investigated at length, revealing their individual roles in the migration as well as their adherence to unique natural laws. The documentary even takes the time to touch on the indigenous peoples of the plains, the inner workings and challenges of such a vast wildlife preserve, and the many ecological dangers that await the wildebeest on their journey. In all, it's a fascinating exploration of a truly amazing event that, considering its short runtime, is surprisingly thorough and extensive.

Granted, an older IMAX documentary like Africa: The Serengeti can't possibly compete with grand-scale productions like the BBC's Planet Earth, but it's still a worthwhile release in its own right. Would I have liked to see the film take three or four hours to delve into the region and its wildlife? Of course... but I have a feeling it would rob a shorter documentary of its ability to appeal to both adults and children. Africa: The Serengeti was tame enough for my four-year-old son to endure and informative enough to hold my attention as well. In that regard, it offers access to multi-generational education and entertainment that, as a parent, is a godsend.

As far as I'm concerned, Africa: The Serengeti is a rewarding and extremely affordable release that families and documentary fans will enjoy. It may feel like a single episode of a larger series, but I can't deny that I was riveted by its imagery from beginning to end.

Africa: The Serengeti Blu-ray, Video Quality

 

Africa: The Serengeti features a 1080p/VC-1 transfer that looks pretty good considering the condition of its original print. Colors are nicely saturated, primaries are warm, and blacks are decidedly resolved (albeit somewhat weak during nighttime sequences). Contrast wavers throughout, telecine wobble is present, and small speckles occasionally flicker across the screen, but each problem is the result of the source and not the technical proficiency of the transfer. The detail of the 70mm photography is uneven as well. While some shots look strikingly sharp, others are soft and suffer from clarity inconsistencies. Likewise, finer elements like grass and fur are sometimes refined, but often appear hazy and indistinct. Still, the image itself remains quite clean. Artifacting and noise are kept to a minimum, banding is a rare occurrence, and artificial sharpening has been applied judiciously. Sure, edge enhancement is visible in a handful of shots, but it isn't nearly as intrusive or distracting as I expected. All in all, Africa: The Serengeti delivers a decent picture marred only by age and the lack of a proper remastering.

Africa: The Serengeti Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 

While Africa: The Serengeti's standard Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track does make better use of the rear speakers than some other nature documentaries I've reviewed, the mix still doesn't boast any significant sonic prowess. The fertile plains are populated with the hum of insects, the moving breeze, and the distant cry of frightened wildebeest, but the soundfield is only immersive when narration isn't dominating the stage. To its credit, James Earl Jones' voice sounds strong and stable; his bass-heavy tones tapping into the LFE channel for some much-needed support. Otherwise, there aren't many noteworthy qualities to mention. A brief series of lion roars doesn't have the impact I hoped for, the snap of a crocodile's jaws is clipped and weak, and only the rumble of the stampeding wildebeest herd registers with any serious weight. Of course, the age of the original print doesn't help matters, but I still wanted more from an IMAX-birthed experience. Ah well. In the end, it's a solid track that handles what little its handed with ease.

Africa: The Serengeti Blu-ray, Special Features and Extras

 

Like previous DVD releases of the documentary, the Blu-ray edition of Africa: The Serengeti doesn't include any special features.

Africa: The Serengeti Blu-ray, Overall Score and Recommendation

 

Africa: The Serengeti isn't the sort of nature documentary whose technical specifications will capture anyone's attention. A dated and problematic MPEG-2 transfer and a standard Dolby Digital audio track certainly didn't grab hold of mine. Regardless, the documentary itself is an impressive one. Its exploration of the Serengeti plains and its focus on the annual wildebeest migration leads to jaw-dropping photography, a series of engaging facts, and a production suitable for the whole family. Give it a try... I doubt you'll regret the decision.