Cheap Africa: The Serengeti (IMAX) (1994)

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This documentary of the vast Serengeti which spans from Tanzania to Kenya is a visual feast, and follows the incredible migration of the million wildebeest and several thousand zebra that journey from the dust of the southern drought to the vegetation in the northern regions. Along the way they pass by many predators, with some of the herd falling prey to them. We also see many diverse species of the area, among them a baboon community, the majestic beauty of a herd of elephants, and many scenes of maternal love that are endearing, even with the ungainly and massive black rhino.

We see a hungry cheetah dash after a gazelle, the lions at play and as rulers of the plains, visit with the handsome Masai tribe, and view the incredible vistas from a hot air balloon. The most memorable scene in the film is on the wildebeest's return to the south, where they must get across a river flooded by the rain. The crocodiles lie in wait for this event, and many from the herd also perish from exhaustion. The size and scope of this river crossing makes it an image one will never forget. The cinematography by Andrew Kitzanuk is spectacular, and makes this one of the best documentaries I have seen for sheer viewing spectacle on the subject of African wildlife.

Written, directed and produced by George Cassey, the emphasis is on the poetry of the land, rather than a long list of facts and figures. Narrated by James Earl Jones, his sonorous voice is always easy on the ears, as he says things like "Life streams across a land suspended in time." Also nice to listen to is the lovely score by Hans Zimmer and George Cadebe, which includes some haunting vocals.

Recommended viewing for any animal and nature enthusiast, the total running time is 39 minutes.

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How could you go wrong with James Earl Jones doing the narration? I have the standard version of this disc. It was one of the earliest to transfer to dvd. It came in a cd size case (eventually the size of the case was enlarged to prevent confusion with cds). Having both versions made it possible to do a comparison. What a difference the high definition (Blue Ray) version makes. It's like night and day. The HD version is much sharper, clearer and colorful, just what you would expect from the new HD format. I wanted to toss the sd version in the trash but I'll keep it to show folks the difference between HD and SD movies.

The sd version had so much LFE (bass) that I had to turn the sub down quite a bit. In fact, it has too much LFE. The Blue Ray disc has a much appreciated toned down version. As far as the movie goes, it does an excellent job of showing the great migration of animals in Africa. I am a big fan of "nature documentaries." and this is one of the best. It is not too long or too short but when I get into a good documentary such as this, I always wish it wouldn't end.

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This movie is ok for a documentary. It is meant to show life on the serenghiti and has James Earl Jones narrating. However, this movie showcases, primarily, the great, annual Wildebeast migratation. I know how important this migration is to all life on the African plains, but come on! It spends only about 5 minutes, randomly, on other animals. What about the display of male African elephants during breeding season? Or Jaguars carting food in trees to hide from other predators? How about the structured but seemingly chaotic feeding of Crocs? Nope, wildebeast dominate this movie. If you want a movie on migration, this is it. If you want a movie that showcases a variety of animals and behavior, look somewhere else.

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I saw this movie just after returning from the Serengeti, and I sat there for the entire show without stirring. I had tears at scenes, and utter amazement at others. Brilliant movie, spectacular scenery exactly what I saw when I was there, and very moving. I loved it and recommend it to anyone who is interested.

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This is one of the DVDs in my collection that gets played over and over again. It is such a wonderful film. If you have a large screen television or better yet, a front projector, this is a must have. It is so beautiful. The narration, the cinematography, the music, the story, the nature are wonderful.