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Ride Around the World Blu-ray Review |
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Ride Around the World Blu-ray
IMAX Image Entertainment | 2005 | 40 mins | Not rated | Dec 01, 2009
Ride Around the World Blu-ray ReviewImage Entertainment releases yet another worthwhile IMAX film on Blu-ray.Reviewed by Casey Broadwater, December 10, 2009 There are few things as iconically American as the archetypal cowboy. All gussied up in chaps, a broad-brimmed hat, and a crisp work-shirt with mother-of-pearl buttons, he holds a perfectly coiled lasso in his leather-gloved hand and cuts a mean profile against the setting Texan sun. He smells of wood smoke and sweat, pipe tobacco, horse musk, and beef jerky. His silhouette is the very shape of rugged, westward-heading, do-or-die individualism; the lines on his weather-beaten face a topography map of hard work and dedication. It doesn't get much more American than that. And yet, America is just about at the tail end of the cowboy trail. The evolution of the profession can actually be traced back 1,500 years to the Berber horsemen warriors of medieval Morocco. Ride Around the World takes us on a journey from the past to the present of the cowboy lifestyle, showing—in stunning IMAX cinematography—how the equipment and techniques of the Berbers have been passed down like DNA to their modern, cattle-herding descendents.
In the 6th century, the Berbers perfected the Moroccan Barb, a horse bred for intelligence, agility, and endurance. They also invented the bit, the saddle, and flat, wide stirrups, prototypes of riding accoutrements still in use today. When the Berber's conquered Spain, they brought their new horse breed and riding style with them, giving rise to the vaquero, the Spanish cowboy, who controlled their cattle with long, spear-like rods. And it just so happens that most of the vaquero were settled in the same region as the soldiers who would become conquistadors, and who would later bring cattle-herding knowledge across the Atlantic to Mexico in 1520. The Mexican vaqueros continued the evolution of horse tack, and even conjured up a few new tricks- of-the-trade of their own, including the lariat, or, as it's more commonly known, the lasso. From Mexico, cowboyism spread southward to the gauchos of Argentina and the Patagonia region of Chile, north to the American frontier and, later, to the wilds of western Canada. It's no surprise—but still amazing—that the DNA of the modern American quarter horse points to the Moroccan Barb as an ancestor. At a brisk 40 minutes, Ride Around the World stampedes fairly quickly through its history lesson—this is a 101 class in cowboy culture, not post-grad studies—but there's still a lot to learn, especially if, like me, you're unfamiliar with the 1,500-year tradition of cattle herding. For a look at how contemporary cowboys ply their trade, we're also taken to the Four Sixes ranch in Guthrie, Texas, one of the most legendary cattle ranches in the American southwest. (Apocryphal knowledge says the ranch got its name from a winning poker hand, but this is apparently unverified.) Here, we see cowboys training new horses, roping wayward cattle, driving herds across the plains, branding their steer with the 6666 logo, and protecting their cows with a new innovation: vaccinations. We're shown kindly cowgirls applying a poultice to the hoof of a wounded horse, and we meet some wizened old cowhands, one of whom, we learn in the special features on the disc, is named Boots O'Neal—Boots O'Neal!—who talks with the same weary drawl employed by Tommy Lee Jones in No Country for Old Men. The film also makes a quick sojourn up to British Columbia, where we follow a Canadian family of cowboys and girls on a cattle drive over the mountains. If I have one complaint, it's that Ride Around the World paints a picture of cowboy life that is perhaps too idealized. We see them dashing into the sunset on horse back, not mucking through horse manure, and giving helpful vaccinations, not castrating a bull or artificially inseminating a cow. There's really no sense that this is backbreaking and often dangerous labor. I suppose this is understandable through; IMAX films are typical all about the big picture—in both senses of the phrase—and Ride Around the World presents the cowboy profession as noble, close to the earth, and fulfilling on an almost-spiritual level. I'm sure there are some grumpy cowboys out there, but you won't find them here. What you will find is a short but enlightening lesson on cowboy history, some well-produced historical reenactments, and frequently stunning cinematography. Shot on location—over three years—in Morocco, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Texas, and British Columbia, Ride Around the World features some of the most impressive vistas I've seen in an IMAX film in some time. The segments in Patagonia, specifically, are overwhelmingly beautiful. With enough action to keep kids entertained and an overall production level that will satisfy adults, this really is a family friendly film. If you've got a horse lover or burgeoning cowpoke in your household, Ride Around the World would make a great stocking stuffer. Video  Even if the subject matter doesn't particularly interest me, I always look forward to reviewing IMAX films, simply to take in the frequently breathtaking large format cinematography in glorious high definition. Ride Around the World is no different, as the film is all saddled up with a 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer that delivers exactly what I expect from IMAX—a pristine, impeccably detailed image, bold colors, and a window-into-the-world sense of depth. The clarity is here is just flat-out impressive; old cowhands' weathered faces are resolved with lifelike accuracy, close-ups of horses' coats are fantastically sharp, and even the longest shots arrive with a tightly tuned image. Color depth is equally superlative. There's a slightly artificial quality to some scenes —you can tell color has been pumped up and tweaked in post-production—but I think I think it looks great. Check out the brilliant orange and purple sunsets, the fire engine red of the pickup trucks, the vivid greens and deep blues of Patagonia. Black levels are as dark as pitch, contrast is nicely cinched, and film grain stays thin and consistent throughout. There's just nothing like the look of large format film, and Ride Around the World's subject matter lends itself to moments of intense scenic beauty, represented here with stunning dimensionality. The transfer is also free from any technical shortcomings and unhindered by edge enhancement or DNR. Picture quality-conscious cowboys will be hootin' and hollerin' about this image. Audio  A larger-than-life picture calls for larger-than-life sound, and Ride Around the World's DTS- HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track has no trouble delivering, serving up a soundfield that's as clean as a Chilean stream, spacious as the plains of Texas, and as thunderous as a rolling storm front. I've reviewed a few IMAX films where the sound design seemed like an afterthought, but it's truly integral to the experience of Ride Around the World. Pick-up trucks roar through the rear speakers, horses' hooves clomp across surround channels, and pounding stampedes generate a surprising amount of LFE rumble. Horse tack clanks with iron against iron, Moroccan riders fire celebratory rifle salvos into the air, and all the sounds are detailed and appropriately placed. The music by Brain Satterwhite—marked by acoustic guitar and a plaintive, noble-sounding fiddle—is rooted up front but bled nicely into the surround speakers. For as much action as there is here, the narration is never buried in the mix, and I didn't have to touch my remote once while watching the film. Spanish-speaking viewers will also be pleased, as this disc generously includes an equally impressive Spanish language DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Supplements  Making Of (SD, 22:34) Rather than being shot specifically for inclusion on the film's DVD/Blu-ray release, this behind- the-scenes special was made for American HQRSE, a TV program dedicated to the American quarter horse. (I guess that's what the Q is for.) As such, you'll have to deal with intros/outros for commercial breaks, but other than that, the content is almost identical to what you'd find on a normal "making of" featurette. There are interviews with the crew—including the director, the DP, and the crane operator—and we also meet some of the real-life cowboys featured in the film, who have awesome names like Boots O'Neal and, I kid you not, Cotton Leathers. IMAX geeks will appreciate the focus on the cinematography, and one of the film loaders even shows off the difference between a 35mm frame and the much larger 65mm negative that runs through an IMAX camera. You'll learn almost as much about cowboys here as in the film itself. Film Trivia Quiz The instruction page for this ten-question, multiple-choice, remote-controlled quiz encourages you to have a little friendly competition with friends, but it's impossible to fail the quiz because you get as many tries as you need to guess the correct answer for each question. Trailers Includes trailers for Ride Around the World, Wild Ocean, Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs, and Dinosaurs Alive! BD-Live Functionality Final words  Ride Around the World is one of the better IMAX productions that I've seen in awhile. It tells a brief but informative story, features a lot of real-life cowboys and cowgirls, and is simply beautiful to behold on a visual level. With an excellent technical presentation and a decent "making of" documentary, this would a great gift for your favorite equestrian aficionado. Recommended. 
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