Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #105212 in DVD
• Released on: 1999-03-16
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English, French, Spanish
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 40 minutes

Amazon.com
True to the IMAX tradition, Antarctica is replete with breathtaking aerial and underwater footage of the earth's highest, coldest, and driest continent. Most folks' TVs are 4,500 times smaller than an IMAX screen--too small to duplicate the acrophobic-stomach sensation that is the hallmark of the IMAX in-theater experience. All the same, like most IMAX movies, Antarctica has some of the best production values on film today. The story begins with a flock of penguins above--and below--water, and moves to gargantuan underwater ice sheets and then to a look at Antarctic climatic changes. Watch scientists locate and extract ancient ice to analyze preserved bubbles of ancient air, as well. Explorer Robert Scott makes an important contribution with his appealing voice and serene, well-articulated narrative. The DVD's special features include Spanish and French language tracks, subtitling, and Internet links if you use the disc on your computer. --Erik Macki

From the Back Cover
ANTARCTICA takes you to a continent beyond imagination. Discover a new world and learn of Antarctica's wildlife in a way never before possible. ANTARCTICA creates a sensation of truly being there -- a remarkable film experience where, through the heartfelt words of Antarctica explorer Robert Scott, you'll re-live the brutal hardships, wonders and isolation of the first men on this magnificent frontier. Join in the search for scientific clues locked in centuries-old ice...fly a helicopter over towering glacial peaks...dive through a submerged crystalline cavern in Chaos Glacier...join a company of penguins in an underwater ballet.

ANTARCTICA has been digitally remastered at The Enterprise Studios for your home library and features the incredible sound and image quality that is a trademark of the IMAX large-screen format.

CHAPTERS
1. Antarctica
2. Penguins
3. Ice Sheets
4. Climatic Changes
5. In the Cause of Science
6. The Quest Continues...

Customer Reviews

Captures the wonder and majesty of Antarctica
This 1991 documentary was created for an IMAX presentation so I seriously wondered how this video would look on my little TV scene. Of course it could never be the same, but I had nothing to worry about because this 38-minute Australian documentary definitely captures the wonder and majesty of Antarctica. I learned something too and held my breathe in awe when the camera showed how the crevices in the glaciers are sometimes covered with such a thin sheet of ice that it will not sustain the weight of a person. However, they did bring a camera down there and it was a treat to see something that had never been filmed before. Another great shot was a timed exposure of the sun as it travels around the pole. There was also excellent cinematography of seals and of penguins although I wish they had skipped the silly background music, which tried to be humorous while showing the penguins diving. There were also a few film clips from the 1948 British film "Scott of Antarctica".

I understand that the film cost $3.5 million to produce and that the film crew had to drag 2300 pounds of Imax equipment around, including one camera that never worked in the frigid temperatures. It took two Antarctic summers to film and the crew stayed at the American, French, Russian and Chinese scientific camps, getting some interesting footage of the scientists themselves and their experiments. The inevitable conclusion is that global warming is a serious threat that we cannot ignore. This is a great video for those of us who will likely never visit this coldest, driest, windiest and last unexplored place on earth. Recommended.

Great visuals, lacks information content
The footage looks great on a big screen, but unfortunetly the documentary lacks content. There are long sections where the only audio is sound effects and music. I was expecting something more on par with a National Geographic special where I would learn more about Antarctica, penguins, glaciers, etc.

Visually stunning but poorly directed
The film quality is superb, and IMAX fans will not be disappointed in the cinematography. Overall, however, the film is unfocused and lacks direction. In addition, the music soundtrack and narration is surprisingly annoying and overdramatic. If you are interested in Antarctica, I recommend this film, but you might want to turn the sound off.