Product Description

From the makers of Everest comes a powerful and cautionary film about the threat to one of America's most iconic landscapes.

GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE: RIVER AT RISK follows the great Colorado River as it reveals the most pressing environmental story of our time - the world's growing shortage of fresh water. Join environmental advocates Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Wade Davis as they set out with their daughters, traveling deep into the Grand Canyon and down the river that runs through it. Your pulse will quicken as you are invited to join this thrilling ride downriver through raging rapids and breathtaking canyons. With stunning photography and sweeping aerial shots the renowned filmmakers capture all the majesty of the Colorado and The Grand Canyon in the largest film format ever made...

Narrated by Academy Award-winning filmmaker, actor and noted environmentalist Robert Redford. Featuring the songs and music from the GRAMMY Award-winning Dave Matthews Band.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17080 in DVD
• Brand: Image Entertainment
• Released on: 2009-02-24
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
• Original language: English, French
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 45 minutes

Features

• From the makers of Everest comes a powerful and cautionary film about the threat to one of America's most iconic landscapes? GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE: RIVER AT RISK follows the great Colorado River as it reveals the most pressing environmental story of our time - the world's growing shortage of fresh water. Join environmental advocates Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Wade Davis as they set out

Customer Reviews

Beautiful yet preacy
I didn't see any description for this disk when writing this so here is a quick summary: The Colorado river is dwindling due to our ever expanding need for fresh water. Conservationist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and botanist Wade Davis (along with their daughters) and canyon guide Shana Watahomigie take an expedition to illustrate the need for changing the way the Colorado is exploited.

I haven't seen that many IMAX films on the Grand Canyon so I won't be able to give any real comparisons, but I will say this one does at least deliver on what I was looking for: Nice wide footage of the Grand Canyon. Although most of the footage is personal shots of the expedition you do get some really good aerial footage as well as other impressive nature shots.

The difference between this particular documentary and what I would normally expect from a Grand Canyon is that it has a conservation message tied to it. Instead of focusing solely on nature's wonder there is a lot of footage on the effects of drought and siphoning of the Colorado River. So if you are looking for a full-on nature safari this isn't exactly it. At the same time it's not like you aren't getting any absolutely amazing footage either. Just not as much as I was expecting.

Like many IMAX films coming to Blu-Ray the AVC transfer is breathtaking. Every little detail will stand out. The audio is equally immersive with the DTS HD MA 5.1 track getting you wrapped up in the sounds of the canyon all over. There is also a French DTS audio track. On the minus side there are no subtitles of any kind. There are a somewhat respectable list of extra features on this release, which I suppose it better than expected. Most of the extras are standard definition with the exception of one. Here is what you get:

- 30 Minute Making of Featurette

- Music video by Wade Davis' daughter, Tara

- Retrospective of MFF IMAX productions (in HD)

- Water saving tips and river clean up tips (sponsored by Kholer and Tava)

- Fact sheet on the Grand Canyon and Colorado River

- Trivia quiz (text)

Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk is a very worthwhile documentary that shows the real beauty of the Grand Canyon... if you don't mind the preachy parts. Of course conservationists will really appreciate the fact filled message as well as the eye candy. The IMAX theater release was also in 3-D, but I haven't heard of any releases on Blu-Ray or DVD that will take advantage of that anytime soon.

Best BluRay Disc Ever!
I originally saw this movie in an IMAX Theater and was blown away by the entire production. The views, the sound, and the narrative are truly fantastic. This is still true for the BRD version. I watch this disc almost daily and I can't get enough of it. If you like the BBC Planet Earth discs, you'll surely love the Grand Canyon Adventure. The Dave Matthews Band soundtrack rocks too!

Probably better in IMAX theaters
I have several IMAX dvds and had high expectations about this new Blu-ray product. I especially liked the Ganges and Mysteries of the Nile productions and expected even better footage here since they were filming the Colorado River and landscape of the Grand Canyon.

I think as a conservation film this was okay. However, if you are interested in landscapes and river rafting, I've seen so much better out there and I was disappointed in the quality and coverage. I have a new Blu-ray player and expected better from this film. I guess it loses something once out of the IMAX, 3D environment it was designed for. It almost seemed over-exposed. Too much time focusing on clever graphics. After all, this is the Grand Canyon - it is not needed and I found it slightly irritating.