Plot: What’s it about?
The plains of Africa are home to all sorts of animals, but the massive elephants seem to stand out above the rest. These animals are huge and powerful, trekking across the plans in search of food and water, which isn’t as simple as it sounds. In Africa’s Elephant Kingdom, we follow one herd of elephants led by Old Bull, as they travel to fulfill their most basic needs, the elements needed to survive. The land is filled with dangers of all kinds, from simple landscape problems to predators, but these giant elephants lumber ahead nonetheless, determined to discover what they’re looking for, as without it, they’re doomed. As time passes and the animals cover more ground, they’ll travel through all sorts of areas, from lush forests to barren stretches. And of course, the camera is sure to capture the beauty of the land, as well as the story of this clan of elephants and their search for the needed elements.
I like nature documentaries when done well and this one is just that, to be sure. Africa’s Elephant Kingdom has the usual informative side, but it also puts the information into an enjoyable package, which adds a lot to the experience. The “story” is told well and Avery Brooks’ narration is also good, as his voice seems natural within the film’s scope. I sometimes dislike the choice of narrators in these movies, but I think Brooks was a wise choice in this case. As with all IMAX films brought to home video, some of the impact is lost, but in the end, I think Africa’s Elephant Kingdom still holds up quite well. The very effective 3-D sequences have been removed and it’s obvious where they were located, but it never detracts from the experience. In normal IMAX fashion, the visuals are gorgeous and some of the landscape shots are breathtaking, very impressive indeed. Again, some of the punch is gone on the small screen, but if you like IMAX movies, then this one won’t disappoint, I assure you of that. This flick is highly recommended and while short like most IMAX pictures (40 minutes), Artisan has included an extensive documentary, which adds all the needed value.
Video: How does it look?
Africa’s Elephant Kingdom is presented in a full frame transfer, which is the closest aspect ratio for IMAX movies on a home theater system. This is a more than adequate transfer to be sure, but it lacks the sharpness I expected, given that the picture was made in 1997. Even so, the print used looks very clean and I have little complaints, none too serious. A few instances of edge enhancement aside, this presentation is terrific and shows bold colors, well balanced contrast, and a more than solid compression scheme.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is a good one, thanks to the thundering elephants and texture of the African landscape. I wouldn’t rank this track as one to show off your system with, but it presents the material in top form, which is what counts. I heard some good surround use at times and there’s a nice atmosphere throughout, no real complaints to be made. The narration of Avery Brooks is clean and easy to understand, while the various sound effects also surface in fine enough form. This disc also includes a Dolby 2.0 stereo option, should you need that instead.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s trailer, as well as “Making of Africa’s Elephant Kingdom,” a sixty minute behind the scenes documentary. Yes, the film runs at about forty minutes and this clocks in at around an hour, very cool indeed. This piece includes all sorts of insight, from the history of elephants in Africa, the purpose of the film itself, and various technical approaches used. I found the interviews to be very informative and of course, all the bonus elephant footage was a pleasure to view, since they were the true stars of the flick.
