Thursday, April 13, 2017

Blu-ray Review: Humpback Whales

Every day it seems the world is getting uglier because of Donald Trump and his rabid gang of racist halfwits. We’re desperately in need of beauty to offset the damage that has been done – not just to the country, but to our souls. Well, one solution I can mention is watching the gorgeous documentary film Humpback Whales. This movie was filmed for the IMAX screens, but its beauty is still tremendous even on our smaller personal televisions (but don’t you dare watch it on your phone; that is no way to watch any film).

Narrated by Ewan McGregor, Humpback Whales not only offers some incredible footage, but also plenty of information on the whales. The material on how the whales eat, particularly the information on the group feeding, is fascinating. And that footage is something I’d never seen before. The sound for this film is also remarkable, with great audio of the whales’ song. Apparently the whales that sing are all males, and, according to this documentary, humpbacks produce a greater variety of sounds than any other whale. We are treated to several examples of the sounds they make.

The footage of the mother with her newborn is magnificent. I especially love the footage of the young copying the mother’s movements. And I love the footage of those folks working to untangle a young whale from a line. Yes, the film does touch upon the history of hunting whales, but its focus is on the whales themselves, and has a very positive and uplifting tone. This film might be just the thing we need to remind us that the world is actually a good place.

This documentary is offered as a two-disc set, with 4K UHD, 3D and 2D Blu-ray editions all included. Also, there is a behind-the-scenes featurette with interviews with director Greg MacGillivray, producer Shaun MacGillivray, director of photography Brad Ohlund and others involved in the production. This special feature also includes more information on the whales’ behavior, and is approximately seventeen minutes. The film’s trailer is also included.

Humpback Whales is available now through Shout! Factory.

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