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Wings of Life
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - America - Buena Vista Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Anthony Arrigo (12th January 2014). |
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The Film
 Disney has always been a studio at the forefront of nature documentation, showcasing wonders from around the globe as far back as 1948, when “Walt Disney’s True-Life Adventures” was created. Since that time, the company has been responsible for dozens of award-winning short films and documentaries covering a wide range of subjects. In more recent years, the company began Disneynature, an independent arm of the parent corporation dedicated to producing features about wildlife. Located in Paris, France (the only Disney subsidiary located outside the United States), the studio has produced half a dozen theatrically-released features, including the commercial and critical hits “Earth” (2007) and “Oceans” (2010). A recent acquisition, “Wings of Life” (2011), takes a look at organic commerce on a minute scale. The this documentary ostensibly looks at the winged creatures that populate – and pollenate – our planet, the truth is the focus is primarily on pollination and how spores find a way to be transferred around the world. As narrated by Meryl Streep, this is an utterly fascinating examination of how the smallest facets of the planet work tirelessly, every day, to ensure the proliferation of all species. It’s breathtaking. Assuming the role of whatever plant the film is focused on, narrator Meryl Streep takes us inside the “mind” of plants and trees, gaining us a clearer understanding of how their reproductive patterns work and what their contributions mean to the world. For instance, in the role of a Honey Orchid, viewers learn how the flower uses a honey bucket to lure in bees, which are then trapped in a sticky pool. The only method for escape is to climb through a tight passage within the flower, whereupon the bee is held in place and sacks of pollen are affixed to his legs. The bee is secured until the natural adhesive dries, at which point it is released and sent off to spread the flower’s seed across the forest. The efforts that some plants must go through just to ensure the spread of their seed are simply incredible. The story bounces around the globe, focusing on desert cacti, forest pine trees, almond trees and other fauna that rely on bats, bees, birds, and butterflies to keep them going. The story isn’t what makes this a compelling documentary, of course. It’s all about the amazing slow-motion photography. Hummingbirds seem to float in mid-air, their wings moving at a relatively glacial pace than usual, as they gear up to fight one another in the forest. Most spectacularly, there are numerous shots of monarch butterfly swarms, cascading through the air and trees like wind. Their numbers and movements are so breathtaking that it can be easy to think what you’re seeing is a creation of man, but this is all real. Bees pollenate flowers on such a tiny scale that seeing these actions up close and in such crystal clarity will make anyone marvel at the wonders of how nature works. Each process is so intricate, with any slight deviation leading toward an assured catastrophe, and, yet, almost all of these delicate maneuvers go off without a hitch because this is how things are done. The film wisely declines to make much of a political or social statement, though there is a brief bit at the end placing the blame for loss of species on man. And it isn’t that the film is wrong to do so, since we are the ones who cause the destruction, after all, but it just feels so incongruous in a film that is primarily focused on beauty. We are all aware of the ugly realities of life, so having a reminder slapped on the screen doesn’t do anything but register a grim truth. It is important for children to understand that decisions we make now will echo for future generations, but the film never makes an argument for what we can do to make those changes. You can’t present a problem and not offer a solution, though thankfully the soapbox segment is wrapped up quickly enough not to detract from the overall picture. As interesting as the subject is, there is a sense of ennui that occurs within the first thirty minutes. Maybe it’s Streep’s bland narration, maybe it’s the droll reverence with which these inanimate organisms are given life, but the picture starts to feel draggy when it should be more captivating for viewers. I think it was a mistake to have Streep narrate from the perspective of the tree/plant/etc. we’re seeing instead of just providing a simple voiceover explaining what it is we should know. It creates this odd, almost sexualized relationship between her and the animals she counts on to spread her seeds. I mean, I suppose in many ways that relationship is vaguely sexual in nature, but the way in which the film presents it is almost off-putting. “Wings of Life” has a good core message surrounded by jaw-dropping visuals; the narration just gets in the way sometimes.
Video
There’s not a bad thing to be said about the 1.85:1 1080p 24/fps AVC MPEG-4 encoded image. It’s more or less perfect right from the get-go, featuring one lush, saturated environment after the other that leaps off the screen with impressive clarity and pop. There is a very fine grain structure present throughout that never becomes noisy or thick. The level of detail present in each sequence is exquisite, with some close-ups providing a look at insects and animals you’ve probably never witnessed in such a perfect state before. Bees’ eyes exhibit this gorgeous blue/golden combination that matches up with their coloration, and you can see the individual grids in the pattern of their eyes .Many of the images you will see here would be impossible to make out with the naked eye in the wild, making their inclusion here all the more impressive. A few background shots showed minor softness, and some night time scenes had a bit of black crush going on, but overall this is one of the finest images Blu-ray has to offer and any home theater enthusiast will be pleased with the results.
Audio
The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound track (48kHz/24-bit) doesn’t do much to impress, though I doubt that’s of much concern to viewers watching a documentary on flowers. Streep’s narration is given a solid weight in the mix, never becoming soft or lost despite changes in her tone or fluctuation. The serene score sets a peaceful mood, lingering in the background and never doing much more than providing some ambiance to the proceedings. Rears come into play nicely during more active scenes, such as when the camera pans out over a waterfall and the streaming sounds immerse the viewer in the shot. Bass is supportive and warm, but there are never any moments when it plays heavily. Also included are French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound tracks. Subtitles are available in English for the hearing impaired, French, and Spanish.
Extras
The disc includes one lone extra, which is basically a promo trailer. DISC ONE: BLU-RAY “Disneynature protects & sneak peek of “Bears” promo runs for 2 minutes and 41 seconds, this mentions how Disneynature helps conservation efforts before showing a brief glimpse of their latest feature on bears, due in April 2014. DISC TWO: DVD This is a DVD copy of the feature film.
Packaging
The two-disc set comes housed in a standard Blu-ray keep case, with each disc housed on a hub opposite the other. A slip-cover is included for initial pressings.
Overall
“Wings of Life” provides a sumptuous visual treat for fans of nature documentaries, but the narration style used by Meryl Streep is a little curious. Still, this is full of wonderful footage and absolutely worthy of your time.
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