Flying Monsters [DVD]

We have all come to expect a certain quality and commitment to science, from documentary films associated with David Attenborough and this is no different. Despite having no link to the BBC, this has the same underlying premises as all the great documentaries going back many years, like Planet Earth & Life .

So we are introduced to the serious science which shows how the fossil record has been discovered and analysed, starting with Mary Anning in Lyme Regis - to document the whole story of how dinosaurs took to the skies and eventualy evolved into Birds.

David is shown in various real-world locations in stunning HD and 3D - then animations are gradually introduced, to show what these creatures looked like and how they flew - developing things like hollow bones and different shaped beaks and wings.

There are some wonderful sequences where bones are animated and lifted out of their fossil base, to become first the complete skeleton in 3D and then into wire frame creatures, as well as the complete thing.

The "making of" documentary shows how the animators were allowed no licence - their creations had to be verified by scientists and experts in this field, to be the best possible representations, based on the data we have. Attenborough explains how he is proud to be involved in popularising the story of the evolution of flight and especially in 3D.

This is an entertaining film and the 3D certainly adds to this - we can see how the creatures actually moved and you get more of a sense of them being living animals, rather than projections. The overall package is nicely presented with a lenticular 3D image on the cover.

You basically get the 3D documentary and a 2D extra showing how it was made. But the latter shows the huge amount of work that went into this and the difficulties of filming in 3D, with tons of equipment. So this is a worthy addition to the Attenborough catalogue and one that is a "must-have" for anybody with a 3D TV!

Having recently bought a 3D LED TV I needed a good reliable Blueray 3D DVD to try it out and thought that a documentary like this would be a good inexpensive tester before launching into regular films. Very impressed. The 3D effect is exactly as expected and makes for enjoyable watching. Anybody that gives this a negative at any level just hasn't got their 3D TV or 3D equipment set up properly. A great 3D test and fully recommended.

This documentary is an interesting tale of the evolution of land reptiles to flying 'monsters' detailing the incremental steps that are evident through the discovery and detailed analysis of fossils around the world.

The 3D quality is very good (and apparently very difficult and expensive to film), and seeing David Attenborough in 3D is a selling point alone. The legend, as always, brings fantastic commentary and unique authority to the topic.

I recommend.

Enjoy.