Flying Monsters 3D Blu-ray delivers great video and solid audio in this enjoyable Blu-ray release
For thousands of years, humans have believed that there were once flying monsters. But did they really exist beyond our nightmares? 220 million years ago dinosaurs were beginning their domination of Earth. But another group of reptiles was about to make an extraordinary leap: pterosaurs were taking control of the skies. The story of how and why these mysterious creatures took to the air is more fantastical than any fiction.
Behold the mighty pterosaur, the first vertebrate to take to the air! Okay, so the pterosaur didn't look so mighty. So the winged lizard -- not to be confused with the pterodactyl or another flying dinosaur -- looked a bit silly at various stages in its development. So it was doomed to extinction because, unlike modern birds, its wings were attached to its feet. The pterosaur was a fearsome predator, one that ruled the skies of the Cretaceous, played a crucial role in early prehistoric ecosystems and, after thriving for more than 100 million years, was swallowed in the same extinction event that claimed the dinosaurs and other dominant creatures of the era. David Attenborough's Flying Monsters 3D tells the story of this "magnificent beast," its reign, and its disappearance. But does the film accomplish more in its forty minutes than most television or IMAX documentaries? Does it deliver something more substantial than an introduction to the pterosaur? Not quite.
Flying Monsters 3D has a lot to offer junior paleontologists-in-the-making: a family friendly overview of the pterosaur, its evolutionary and anatomical strides and challenges, and a slight sense of prehistoric adventure. Not enough to undermine the science Attenborough presents, mind you, but just enough to keep children (I'd guess ages 5+) glued to the screen. Adults, though, will have a more difficult time. While certainly interesting, the film is hardly fascinating, and only touches on key stages of the pterosaur's evolution. In one particularly satisfying sequence, Attenborough and author David Unwin use a computer simulation to examine the structure of the pterosaur's skeleton, tail and wings and deduce the manner in which the creature would have moved in the air and on the ground. Other sequences aren't nearly as effective, relying on a bit too much conjecture and shots of computer-generated pterosaurs being cute, cuddly and oddly approachable. Considering the documentary's Monsters moniker, fearless kids will be disappointed that Attenborough's winged lizards aren't all that monstrous.
Still, there's something to be said for short, accessible television and IMAX documentaries like Flying Monsters 3D. Its 39-minute runtime makes it ideal for some quick-hit education for the entire family, its capably animated computer-generated beasts will capture the imagination of kids, and its sprinklings of solid science will, at the least, keep parents on board for the duration. Yes, too many questions are left unanswered, some obvious questions unposed even. A number of intriguing developments are highlighted then abandoned. And the scale and speed of the different species of pterosaur isn't always clear. (We're told that the Quetzalcoatlus is the size of a giraffe, that a giant pterosaur catapulted into the air at 35mph thanks to a quadrupedal launch, but only a few shots really convey either.) But each mystery mounted, eventually inspiring my young son to do some exploring of his own, digging through books on his shelf in search of more information on the pterosaur.
The flip side? Dinosaurs best pterosaurs apparently, as his interest in the flying monsters was soon replaced by a renewed interest in the real monsters of the Cretaceous: the Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Velociraptor, Iguanodon and Carnotaurus. Ah well. Flying Monsters 3D left my son hungry for knowledge, grabbing for a book, and begging to use the internet. When it comes to short, family-oriented television or IMAX documentaries, that's good enough for me.
Flying Monsters 3D flies high with a strong, proficiently encoded 1080p/MVC MPEG-4 video presentation and a commendably engaging 3D experience. Colors, while a tad washed out, are bright and pleasant, primaries are lovely, black levels are nice and deep, and contrast is consistent throughout. A few soft shots of Attenborough at night and some spiking noise are really the only issues to be found, and artifacting, banding and aliasing, though present to a very small, almost negligible degree, aren't a hindrance. Detail is quite impressive, especially during computer generated pterosaur sequences, and every last CG hair, scale and leaf is crisp and well-defined. At times, it's perhaps a bit too sharp, as the image tends to shimmer and give way to faint video noise, even if none of it amounts to a significant distraction. The 3D experience, meanwhile, is most effective and doesn't fall prey to any major issues (other than those that haunt the 2D presentation). Depth and dimensionality are excellent (save the handful of scenes in which Attenborough sits in a dark lab or visits an archaeological dig at night), 3D elements lift off the image without a hitch, and gimmick shots are in short supply. (The filmmakers have their fun but thankfully don't send pterosaurs careening toward the screen every other second.) If your display is prone to ghosting, you may notice a bit more than usual. Just keep in mind that crosstalk typically isn't a product of a faulty encode but rather the 3D television or glasses. All things considered, Flying Monsters looks great in 3D and 2D. Take your pick and enjoy.
National Geographic's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track isn't as remarkable, even though it does well with what it's given. David Attenborough's narration is clean, clear and intelligible at all times, the croaks and chitters of the various pterosaurs are well represented, and the prehistoric jungle is bustling with immersive activity. That said, the soundfield is primarily a front-heavy one, as narration and music tend to dominate the experience and overshadow what the rear speakers have to offer. LFE output is restrained too, lending welcome weight to the leathery flap of a pterosaur's wings but leaving too much of the Cretaceous world unsupported. Neither stems from a problematic mix so much as the overly subdued, at-times airy nature of the film's sound design. Ultimately, a more direct, immersive and powerful lossless monster would have made a far greater impact, but the mix is more than adequate as is.
Q&A with David Attenborough (HD, 18 minutes): Attenborough sits down with executive producer Anthony Geffen and SkyNews presenter Dermot Murnaghan to discuss the film, its development, the pterosaur, the study of its fossils, shooting in 3D and more. The Q&A is full of great production anecdotes and scientific queries and information, but good luck not being distracted by Geffen and Murnaghan, who not only look all over the auditorium but occasionally grow disinterested in what Attenborough has to say.
Meet the Monsters (HD): A text-and-graphic-based feature that provides information on the Dimorphodon, Tapejara and Quetzalcoatlus.
No one could blame you for scoffing at the pterosaur's "monster" status after watching David Attenborough's G-rated SkyNews-turned-IMAX documentary, but that shouldn't diminish Flying Monsters 3D or its value as a short, family-oriented, educational 3D experience. Could it have been more substantial? Definitely. More engrossing? I would imagine. But if you're interested in boosting your kids' hunger for knowledge, you could do far worse. Fortunately, National Geographic's Blu-ray release won't disappoint. It's light on extras and its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track isn't the earth-shaker you might be hoping for, but its quality video presentation and 3D experience deliver. If the price is right, be sure to nab Flying Monsters 3D and enjoy an afternoon of learning with your kids.
