Ultimate Wave, The: Tahiti 3D (IMAX)

The Ultimate Wave: Tahiti 3D is the IMAX 3-D production that showcases ten-time ASP world-surfing champion Kelly Slater and Tahitian surfing legend Raimana Van Bastolaer, as they seek to unlock the beauty and mystery of Tahiti's famed Teahupo'o. Viewers will dive into the abyss of the island's volcano and explore the beauty and culturally rich heritage of this paradise. Beneath the ocean, swimming with surfers, explore the stunning, fragile beauty of the reef habitat—a turbulent, wave-shaping interface that envelops the island and nurtures the ocean's multitudes in motion'' fish, sharks, and whales. Narrated by Michael Hanrahan. (Gary Reber)

Special features include the following vignettes: "Board Design," "Kelly," "Raimana," "Tahiti," and "Wave Science" and the featurette Ultimate Tahiti: Beyond The Wave.

This is a virtually faultless 3-D picture that does not disappoint. While there is no credit that Image Entertainment worked with Big Picture to optimize the 3-D image for home viewing, as with previous releases, this 1.78:1 1080p MVC transfer is not amiss in any performance parameter. The film was reportedly shot with four prototype stereoscopic cameras—a one-of-a-kind Gemini (35 mm VistaVision) 3D Camera, a 3D Camera Company 2K digital, a 3-D timeframe 65 mm camera, and the 35 mm high-speed "Bunny Cam" stereoscopic camera. For aerials, a fifth camera was used—the SpaceCam Systems' 2-D IMAX camera. What you see is 3-D realism that only 3D can deliver when done right. Unlike some of the previous IMAX presentations, The Ultimate Wave displays no distracting double images or ghosting artifacts, with the exception of faint glimpses in a few places that require critical viewing. The 3D is stunningly beautiful with rich, warm saturated colors that pop off the screen. The color palette is breathtaking, as is the Tahitian imagery, as seen in the coral-reef blue waters, the varied volcanic island vegetation, and the Tahitian people. The Tahitian dance at the beach is incredibly colorful. Depth and perspective perception is amazing, with images that extend forever into the screen and, at times, effectively out of the screen, such as the outriggers, surfboards, paddleboards, and waves. You feel as if you are there at the various Tahitian locations and in the water! At times, the ocean water seemingly splashes out of the screen, producing a startling effect. The undersea imagery is incredibly beautiful as well and exhibits exceptional depth perception. The filmmakers use moving CGI shapes to tell the legendary stories about Tahiti and its culture of the sea. Every object feels real, with a sense of tangible dimension and shape. This is without question one of the most beautiful 3-D experiences available on Blu-ray and demonstrates the undeniable value of 3D to create a more satisfying visceral experience. Don't miss this one! (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is a powerfully dynamic accompaniment to the reference 3-D experience. The music score is expressive of the Tahitian culture, with a sweeping percussion-tinged, tropical-flavored score that is well recorded and dynamic sounding. The music extends to the surrounds and provides a wonderful enveloping embrace. Atmospheric and sound effects perfectly support the storytelling and the varied visual segments. Their presence is, at times, aggressively directionalized and energized in the surround channels. The narration by Michael Hanrahan, Kelly Slater, and Raimana Van Bastolaer is nicely balanced against the other sound elements, with a slight forward presence that enhances intelligibility. The entire soundtrack never fails to complement the superb 3-D visuals with its holosonic® immersiveness. (Gary Reber)