GRAND CANYON: THE HIDDEN SECRETS

Pro-Logic Sound
The downmix of this title isn't that bad. Directional effects are spread out wonderfully throughout the soundstage staying mainly in the front with the rear channels used as more filler surround sound. The narration is incredibly clear with the voices coming from the center of the front soundstage with precise annunciation. Low frequency effects are not as strong as the 5.1 mix, but pack a punch all their own.

Digital Sound
One of the nice things about listening to an IMAX film sound mix is that the sound designers always go for the most enveloping experience that they can possibly create for the audience and that is exactly what this title has going for it. The 5.1 Dolby Digital mix on this title is nothing less than stellar as it creates a complete 360 degree sound field that immerses the listener in the IMAX experience. Most of "Grand Canyon's" knockout sound comes during the boat rides down the river. These are both a visceral thrill for the audience in terms of audio impact and visual impact.

The white water scenes are particularly interesting in terms of sound as the rumble of the water is overscored by a high pitched mix of the rushing white water which gives a sense of incredible realism to the scenes. Even the more quiet scenes of waterfalls moving slowly over the rocks of the canyon have a realistic sound all their own causing the listener/viewer to really get to appreciate the grandeur and subtlety of the place. The narration is particularly interesting as the voices are precise and clear and while not filled with a lot of factual information about the Grand Canyon other than its history, the writers seemed to go for a more philosophical approach to the place, which fits with the mood of the Canyon itself. The rear channels are used quite effectively as there are some nice directional moments and then there are moments where it seems the room has been filled up with rushing water as it is attacking you from all sides. Demo material is the final word on this great sound mix.

LFE Sound
While most IMAX films seem to have a very solid low end to them, "Grand Canyon" is a film that relies mainly on the higher hz levels. That's not to say that this film does not have its share of bass. The white water scenes will give any subwoofer a workout, but on the whole it is really on the white water scenes that will have a deepest impact on the viewer/listener.

Picture Quality 
I usually take pride in saying that the IMAX transfers are spectacular and while that is usually true, there is a problem with this one. It's not that the transfer is bad, in a way it might be too good a transfer. The original film element chosen for this transfer is filled with grain and dirt. There are lines that run the length of the screen at times from the film source and while this isn't bothersome on the whole, it is not as good as the other IMAX film transfers out there.

One of the problems with taking a film that usually has a single color scheme that was shot in IMAX is that when you make a transfer down to a home video medium, sometimes what looked like deep browns in the theater transfer down to more reddish/brown hues on the video medium. That seems to be one of the more inherent problems with this disc. Besides the film grain and scratches, the photography on this disc is stunning. Like the film states though, nothing compares with the grandeur of seeing the canyon with your own eyes. In IMAX, that experience is almost achieved, but if you've ever seen the canyon yourself, you know that nothing comes remotely close to experiencing it for yourself. Of course, that's true with most things. The cinematographer and director went all out in finding places few visitors ever see inside the canyon and photographed them for all of us to see. All in all, this is a pretty good video transfer with some minor flaws in terms of scratches and film grain. I also noticed a slight amount of jitter in the picture as it seemed to shake slightly which may be due to the original film element, or may be a product of the transfer.

Compression
The bit rate stayed relatively high on this disc. Video noise and color bleeding aren't a problem and pixelation was not apparent at all. My only complaint was that there needed to be a cleaner print for the transfer or some kind of digital cleaning should ahve been done in the mastering process to remove the film grain and scratches.

Features
30 minute making of Original Trailer
My Opinion/Synopsis
"Grand Canyon" is a film that appeals to everybody. While its history is explained throughout the film, the production seemed more of a meditation on the splendor and scope of the canyon itself. The camera team went and shot places that few visitors ever see inside the Grand Canyon. What is most impressive are the spectacular aerial shots which caused my stomach to start churning when I saw it in the IMAX theater originally.

This effect, while greatly minimized by the small screen, is sometimes still achieved as there is a lot of visual and auditory information to take in from one moment to the next. Even the musical score conveys the scope of the canyon with a grandness all its own. This is educational material, demo material, and all around fun for the viewer. This gets a high recommendation as it appeals to many people on different levels of interest.

review source: www.dvdmonthly.com