Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D Blu-ray offers solid video and superb audio in this enjoyable Blu-ray release
In 3-D, "Ultimate G's" has some pretty cool flying sequences, with the 3-D effect of watching planes flying in the air.
For more about Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D and the Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D Blu-ray release, see the Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D Blu-ray Review published by Martin Liebman on March 22, 2011 where this Blu-ray release scored 3.5 out of 5.
We've got to let him spread his wings a little bit.
Man has always wanted to achieve heights greater than his body or, in this case, gravity, allows. Fortunately, he has the mind to accomplish tasks,
solve problems, and create better and more efficient ways of doing things that are otherwise difficult or impossible thanks to the physical limitations
of
the species and the world in which he lives. Man's problem-solving skills may be honed by textbooks -- learning from the works and experiences of
others -- but it's his ability to dream; to envision an accomplished task; to imagine an easier way of doing something; and to yearn for a life made
easier
through rearranging general elements A, B, and C to to form a unique result; that drives innovation, invention, new technologies, and the formation
of things that defy the limitations of human nature. Whether man's dreams lead to cures for diseases, new ways to make money, travel faster, or
soar
through the clouds, it's that dream and the resultant desire that make things happen. Technology does not progress and inventions do not get
made
through magic dust, nor do they grow on trees. They begin as a dream, fermenting in the mind, and man uses both his skills and builds on the
works and
experiences of others to make his dreams a reality. In Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream, a young boy's dream to fly leads him to sharpen
his
mind by using what's available to him to try and build a machine capable of allowing him to fly. Ultimately, his dreams and hard work pay off
through a life dedicated to
aviation.
It's a story about living a dream and man's ability to aspire to heights that otherwise appear impossible and improbable but that become reality
thanks
to ingenuity, persistence, and the never-ending dream.
A boy and his dreams.
Young Zac (Michael Cera, Year One) just wants to fly. He's obsessed with building some
contraption that will get him off the ground, no matter the risks to his personal safety. His best friend Laura (Emma Campbell) is his partner in
crime, lending her technical expertise and emotional support to each of Zac's projects. Zac's mother is worried for his safety, but his father is a little
more understanding. When Zac crashes a bicycle/glider hybrid, his father sits him down and teaches him the real nuts and bolts behind the
science of aviation. All grown up, Zac has become a pilot and Laura an expert mechanic. Zac gives Laura flying lessons, but their
relationship is strained when an Air Force jock and one of Zac's childhood menaces, Carl (Frayne McCarthy), shows up for an aerial challenge to prove
who amongst them is the best pilot.
Generally, Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D is another outstanding IMAX title; it's big, electric, and features some innovative and visually
impressive 3D visuals. The aerial 3D footage is spectacular; whether shots from inside the cockpit or taken from another aircraft flying alongside the
planes, the film does a fantastic job of bringing the audience to the brink of the skies and as close to the action as is currently possible. Additionally,
it's
a bit different than the traditional "infotainment" sort of films that usually find their way into IMAX theaters. Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream
3D is not really an Aerial Documentary but instead a compact little movie about a young boy who dreams of flying in his youth and the
fulfillment
of that dream in adulthood. The film builds a nice little narrative that's almost painfully simplistic; it's developed only as far as it needs to be and it
works well enough as a standalone story, but what's here is certainly good enough to serve as the plot for a feature-length picture. Though it might
be
short in length, there's just enough heartfelt honesty, drama, and even a bit of movie magic worked
in
to make this a surprising little picture, one that comes not necessarily as expected, but instead as a welcome experience away from more traditional
documentary fare.
Where Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D falters is in the stiffness of the performances and the emptiness of the writing. The film stars a
very young Michael Cera who does a fair job in playing a wide-eyed young boy with a dream as big as the sky, but the performances in general play
as fairly stilted and forced. Part of the blame, it would seem, comes from a script limited by time constraints. At well under 40 minutes,
Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D barely has room to stretch, let alone spread its wings; only the most basic of dialogue and character
interaction come into play. With that in mind, it's hard to pinpoint whether Director Keith Melton's film wants to tell a story or show off some
impressive visuals. While
both are quite good, the story has little time to develop and the visuals, too, could use some more breathing room and a bit less in the way of sheer
repetitiveness. Still, the movie is quite fun; the story manages to create a fair bit of emotion and its rooting in an honest feel-good heart and soul is
evident.
The theme of living dreams -- more than one, in fact, but best to leave the second a surprise -- is well-represented even through the condensed
runtime and flat characters. It's a good, well-meaning movie that could have been more, but as it is, Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D is
well worth a watch.
Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D has something of a worn and dated appearance about it, but the film still looks quite good, and the 3D
elements are in
excellent shape. As to the boring stuff first, this IMAX picture reveals fair detailing across the board, but it's not nearly as crisp and defined as the best
3D
images, particularly those of a more recent vintage. In fact, several scenes appear downright soft, but general detailing is adequate, whether various
terrains around Zac's childhood house, skin
textures, or general odds and ends seen throughout the movie. Colors take on a slightly dulled appearance; this picture is anything but vibrant, but
brighter hues such as greens and the colors of fall foliage hold up well enough, while the more earth-flavored colors of the Grand Canyon area can look
quite
handsome. The image sports average blacks and honest flesh tones. Image Entertainment's 1080p transfer offers a fair film-like texture. The usual
2D-style attributes are in fair shape, but the transfer really shines in 3D content delivery.
Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D features a practically seamless 3D presentation. The image is occasionally accompanied by a bit of
"ghosting"-like shadows and characters sometimes appear unnaturally vertically stretched, but the general appearance is otherwise up to par. The
image yields a natural sense of depth; objects are wonderfully spaced, and while there aren't many "jump out of the screen" type elements,
the image handles general visuals very well. Whether a ramp meant to be used as a launching pad that seems to stretch far back into the screen or
the
visible spacing between airplanes and the ground or even airplanes and the sky behind them, Image Entertainment's Blu-ray 3D transfer offers up a
nearly seamless sense of space. The film's opening titles are in a Superman-blue color; they don't streak onto the screen, but they do
appear
to hover off of it for one of the films best general 3D effects. Footage from inside the cockpits of aircraft -- whether looking at the pilot or out of the
plane towards the nose as it seems to poke the back of the screen -- is also quite impressive. This isn't the best Blu-ray 3D image out there, but
aviation fans will certainly enjoy what is the first movie of its kind to come to 1080p 3D.
Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D soars onto Blu-ray with an immersive and energetic DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. It's very loud,
very
clear, and very fun; whether dealing in ambient noises or the heft of a prop plane cutting through the sky, Image Entertainment's soundtrack handles
the film's every element with ease, incorporating both the front and back channels to build a complete sonic experience. Listeners will enjoy pinpoint
accuracy, sound placement, and precise movement across the soundstage; effects maneuver through the speakers naturally, and those that stay in
place enjoy wonderful precision. Whether more mundane elements such as a ticking clock or bicycle tires running over gravel, or more pronounced
effects like
spinning propellers or the crashing of one of young Zac's flying contraptions, there's never a dull moment or one that's unclear or lacking in any way.
Music is handled naturally and smoothly around the soundstage, and dialogue never misses a beat. Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D sounds
wonderful on Blu-ray; this immersive lossless soundtrack is the perfect companion to the film's 3D visuals.
Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D is something a little different than most IMAX features; rather than serve as another run-of-the-mill
documentary, it's actually a condensed film that explores the power of dreams and the human determination to succeed. The acting may be a bit iffy
and
the film might be too short to fully explore the story, but this is a fun little picture that's full of heart and built around a perceptible honesty that more
than makes up for its various shortcomings. Plus, the 3D visuals are quite good. Image Entertainment has really seized the reigns and become a leader
on the Blu-ray 3D landscape. They're releasing plenty of IMAX 3D titles, and while Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D might lack the polish of
the
studio's other releases, the film is fine and the technical merits are certainly nothing to sneeze at. It's too bad there are no supplements, but
considering the aggressive pricing, good film, fine 3D visuals, and hearty lossless soundtrack, Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D comes highly
recommended.
Image has announced four Imax 3D titles for Blu-ray release in March, three of them part of its agreement with Big Picture Digital Productions. On March 1, the studio will release Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia and The Ultimate Wave: Tahiti. Then, on March 29, ...
Ultimate G's: Zac's Flying Dream 3D Blu-ray Screenshots
