Media

Home Theater Movie Renter's Guide - October, 2011

"African Cats" (Blu-ray) - Reviewed by Jim Milton

Synopsis

From Disneynature, the studio that brought you Earth and Oceans, comes the epic journey African Cats. Set against one of the wildest places on Earth, you'll experience the extraordinary adventure of two families as they strive to make a home in an untamed land. Stunning high-definition images take your breath away as you come face-to-face with these majestic kings of the savanna and their true-life love, humor, and determination. Blending family bonds with the power and majesty of the wild, it's an exciting, awe-inspiring experience that will touch your heart.

Commentary

How does Disney do it? The camera techniques used allow remarkable close-ups in this film. You can easily spot the tiny fly on a lion's whiskers. How can the cameramen get that close and not have these big cats notice them? There's also a lot of slow-motion photography that shows the supple muscles in a lion's shoulders when the cats are on the hunt. The film focuses on a pride of lions overseen by Fang, a male with a broken tooth, and the lionesses and cubs that make up his family. It also follows the life of Sita, a young female cheetah and her litter of five cubs that are just as cute as, well, kittens. This film is not a real life version of The Lion King and doesn't shy away from the danger. Some of these cats will die, either from ill health or predators, so be prepared to talk to your kids about that “circle of life” thing. But despite the very real perils of nature, the film entertains and will keep your eyes glued to the screen. To sum it all up, "Wow!".

Technical

The HD quality is incredible! Disney always does a great job with their films and this one is no exception. Every hair, blade of grass, specks of sand and buzzing insect are all caught in great detail here. The close-ups of these creatures reveals tons of details both of the animals themselves or their surroundings. You can not get this close to them at the zoo, let alone in the wild. There are plenty of aerial shots and panoramic views of the Serengeti that are wonderfully rendered. This film is demo quality, both in picture and sound. Wait till you hear the deep and powerful roar of the lions.

Extras

Filmmaker Annotations - Interactive Experience Takes You Behind The Scenes With The Filmmakers And Conservationists , "The World I Knew" by Jordin Sparks Music Video plus bonus features with “BD Live”.