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Planet Ocean
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - America - Universal Pictures Review written by and copyright: Ethan Stevenson (29th June 2013). |
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The Film
 Renowned photographer, journalist and environmentalist Yann Arthus-Bertrand joins forces with fellow Frenchman, writer, and documentary filmmaker Michael Pitiot for “Planet Ocean”, a new 93-minute documentary, and sort-of spiritual sequel to Arthus-Bertrand’s similarly themed “Home” (2009). The film explores the still relatively unknown realm of the ocean—its vibrant eco-systems and sea life—while also propagating views on how the impact humans, and how we affect climate change in particular, has damaged the delicate depths in recent years. Even more politicized, almost propagandized, than his last film, and plain putting the blame for an impending and already occurring ecological noise-dive squarely on people, “Planet Ocean” will be hard to stomach if you don’t already sit in the corner the filmmakers are coming from. I can say that with some certainty, as I happen to be largely liberal-minded, and I still found the film a difficult, dismal, watch. While “Home"” took a holistic, encompassing and globe spanning approach, attempting to contextualize the delicate relationship between humans, animals, and their effect on the vast continental and oceanic environments of the third planet from the sun—the home which all of us share, and need to take care (of)—“Planet Ocean” is ever-slightly more focused, diving into, unsurprisingly, the vast oceans that cover most of this planet. It plunges to depths already explored by better (mostly BBC produced) documentaries, and even a Disney film (“Oceans” (2009)), looking at the proverbial Seven Seas and beyond, our impact on them, and why the protection and preservation of the delicate deep is key to our survival. Although its overall message is well-meaning, the direct delivery—overwrought and overwritten narration by a poorly chosen Josh Duhamel (a David Attenborough or even Morgan Freeman he is not), which more closely resembles a sort of poetic philosophizing than anything else, juxtaposed with striking visuals—and a repeated, if never explicitly stated, rape of the ocean tone make this documentary a daunting, discouraging, experience. I doubt anyone not already part of the so-called cause will sit through it, and even then, “Planet Ocean” is still a depressing piece; one darker than “Home” and without much of the optimism presented in that picture’s last act. “Planet Ocean” is more of a continual condemnation; it’s eventual coda, and call to action, much less effective. Ultimately, “Planet Ocean” is stuck somewhere between the existential and near transcendental cinematic triptychs of Ron Fricke (“Chronos” (1985), “Baraka” (1992) and “Samsara” (2011)) and Godfrey Reggio (the Qatsi Trilogy—“Koyaanisqatsi” (1982), “Powaqqatsi” (1988) and “Naqoyqatsi” (2002)), and the more approachable output from the BBC’s nature unit. And, in failing to find a side, or even a measured middle ground, Arthus-Bertrand and Pitiot’s documentary doesn’t really work, never quite finding the right balance between educational lesson and outright dogmatic lecture. The images they’ve capture are often beautiful (sometimes hauntingly so), the bold orchestral score by Armand Amar is effective in manipulating and driving the emotional waves, and, in some passages—the one’s that throttle back the narration—its message is unburdened by an oppressive attitude and seemingly human-hating sense of blame, and quite agreeable. But “Planet Ocean” mostly plays like—especially as it nears the end—is an indictment of the ills and evils of humanity, the harm that “we” have unleashed upon the unexplored, unknown big blue from whence we came. Its solutions—a few hopeful possibilities posed in the final moments—seem empty, and little effort has been made to make them seem plausible to anyone who doesn’t already think as the directors do. The documentary is a blunt instrument used by it filmmakers to drive their point into the ocean floor, and in the end, it’s that bluntness that makes the film not particularly effective. Viewed by an outsider, it might even do more harm than actual help. Incidentally, “Planet Ocean” premiered at the Earth Summit conference in Rio de Janerio in 2012. That the film was a presentation piece pushing the beliefs of presumably every single person in attendance is somewhat befitting; the premiere must have been one back-pat after another.
Video
Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s “Home” offered a near perfect Blu-ray presentation—staggeringly sharp with impressive detail and beautifully and boldly colored. It was a great looking disc, which makes “Planet Ocean’s” inconsistent, artifact-affected, presentation that much more of a disappointment. In fairness, Universal’s 1.78:1 widescreen 1080p 24/fps AVC MPEG-4 encoded high definition presentation is at the mercy of the myriad sources used by the film crew. As is the case with many nature documentaries, a considerable amount of footage comes from lower—perhaps even standard—definition and has been upconverted to match the HD-native material. The upconverted pieces often feature the expected and always noticeable drop-off in detail. But, distressingly, much of the upconverted footage is also overwhelmed by macro-blocking, moiré and aliasing, mild edge enhancement, and some rather severe banding, which is particularly visible in any shot in the murky sea. The banding is at times atrociously bad. On the upside, colors are consistently good—bright, bold and nicely saturated—and several of the HD-native shots impress with a sharpness and clarity befitting a Blu-ray disc. Most of the issues plaguing “Planet Ocean” no doubt trace back to the source, so Universal is hardly at fault. The presentation is just, sadly, not very consistent, and often resembles a well-mastered DVD.
Audio
The English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack is better, although never quite wowed me. It’s good, within the measured expectations one should have for a documentary. Featuring intelligible narration, a sporadic use of thumping, churning environmental effects, and a lush, bombastic, and eclectic orchestral score by Armand Amar, “Planet Ocean” offers a pleasing mix. Things noticeably notch down whenever Duhamel’s narration takes center stage, making both the score and environmental effects (from the LFE-rumbling, thundering, diesel engines to crashing waves), which otherwise fitfully fills the full sound field, diminished to a point where the dialog dominates the track. Most unfortunately there is no music and effects only track; I think “Planet Ocean” would have benefited from the option. Optional dubs are available in Spanish DTS 5.1, Portuguese DTS 5.1, Czech DTS 5.1, Italian DTS 5.1, Japanese DTS 5.1 and Russian DTS 5.1. Subtitle options include English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Russian, and Swedish.
Extras
“Planet Ocean” includes a single supplement that has been broken into three parts. The separate featurettes that make up the making of take a look at how the filmmakers captured their powerful, often strikingly beautiful, footage. - “In the Skies Above Rio” (1.78:1 widescreen 480p, 6 minutes 18 seconds) featurette offers a look at the location and the film’s aerial photography in Rio de Janeiro. - “Underwater” (1.78:1 widescreen 480p, 2 minutes 21 seconds) featurette takes a peek at the crew at work in the ocean depths. - “Shanghai” (1.78:1 widescreen 480p, 5 minutes 41 seconds) featurette gives viewers a brief glimpse into the aerial shoot above the city of Shanghai.
Packaging
Universal Studios Home Entertainment releases “Planet Ocean” in a single pressed on a single, region free, BD-50; the disc is housed in an Elite keep case and includes a cardboard slip-cover in first pressings.
Overall
The beautiful, almost hypnotic, images and soundtrack, but blunt delivery of a worthy message leave “Planet Ocean” an imperfect documentary that will please few individuals not of the like-mind. It’s less a lesson, and more of a lecture, and its clear early on that the filmmakers are not particularly interested in presenting an opinion, or pushing an agenda, other than own—which is worryingly dark, depressing, and at-times left me feeling hopeless. Narrator Josh Duhamel’s is dull; a poor choice undone by overwrought writing and the fact the actor doesn’t really have a voice fit for documentary work. Universal’s Blu-ray has inconsistent video, better audio, and a passable 3-part featurette. Frankly, “Planet Ocean” is a disappointment—both as a documentary and a Blu-ray.
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