Magic of Flight (Large Format) (2-Disc WMVHD Edition), The

Loud!! The audio is presented in both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 soundtracks. The DTS track is easily the superior of the two, with broader dynamic range, pinpoint directionality, and a generally fuller and richer soundfield. Still, this is an aggressive and extremely immersive audio presentation. LFE effects are thunderous, providing a thick low end that effectively underscores the punchy aeronautic soundtrack. Surrounds are used often and aggressively, creating an immersive audio mix that thoroughly envelops the viewer. The orchestral soundtrack demonstrates fine range and clarity; only dialog levels seem a little off. Selleck's narration comes through with fine clarity and volume, while other interviewees seem to need a little more "oomph". Still, when the jets thunder by, you won't even care.

Extras:

Disc One contains the bulk of the supplemental features. Starting things off is a forty-three minute making of feature, which goes behind-the-scenes at the making of the film. Play MFF History is a seven-minute look at many of Macgillivray Freeman Films' IMAX features, with tons of footage from many of their large-screen motion pictures. About Greg MacGillivray is a text biography of the producer, director, and photographer behind The Magic of Flight and dozens of other similarly minded films. There are also trailers for Dolphins, The Magic of Flight, Stormchasers, The Living Snores (whoops! Sea, I meant...), and The Discoverers. Do It Yourself Science provides text instruction that allows kids and like-minded adults to make their own simulated plummeting helicopter with paper, scissors, and tape.

Disc Two contains the entire program, presented in Windows Media High-Definition Video (WMV HD). This feature allows you to watch The Magic of Flight in high-definition video on your PC. The following system specs are required:

• Windows XP
• Windows Media Player 9 Series
• 2.4 GHz Processor
• 384 MB of RAM
• 64MB Video Card
• a DVD-ROM Drive
• 1024x768 Screen Resolution
• 16-bit Sound Card
• Speakers

I tried this on my spiffy laptop computer. It looked... well, it looked like watching a DVD on my laptop computer. Actually, I wasn't overly impressed. There was quite a bit of compression noise; while my machine easily beat all the system requirements, I still noticed quite a bit of blocking and mosquito noise. Still at times it looked quite good; but I think future revisits of this disc will be through my set-top player.

Disc Two also has some High Definition trailers for Coral Reef Adventure, The Discoverers, Dolphins, Journey Into Amazing Caves, The Living Snooze (er... Sea, sorry), The Magic of Flight, Speed, Stormchasers, To The Limit, as well as some weblinks for some Internet content based on the feature.

Final Thoughts

While the feature is rather short, The Magic of Flight DVD is packed with some serious content: not one but two versions of the film, one of them presented in High Definition video, a forty-two minute making of feature, two sets of trailers, a seven minute retrospective on MFF history, and more. The feature itself is a visceral punch to the grundies that is sure to please fans of stuff that is fast, loud, and graceful, like Courtney Love, Roseanne Barr, and Audrey Hepburn strapped to a Saturn rocket. On the basis of content and supplements, this is one set that comes easily recommended.