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davidahallnum5
Aug 16, 20227 min read

Born to be Wild 3D Blu-ray Review

Updated: Apr 8, 2023

Born to be Wild is a 2011 wildlife IMAX documentary, narrated by Morgan Freeman, about a group of aids in Africa and Indonesia who rescue orphaned elephants and orangutans. This film is about how they care for and nurture the creatures during their childhood and release them back into the wild when they are physically and emotionally ready.

Most documentaries released in IMAX are about a dime a dozen. But the documentaries made by IMAX themselves are really something special (films on their catalog include Hubble and Under the Sea). And while Hubble still might be my personal favorite of the IMAX documentaries, Born to be Wild is certainly the most personal and emotional of the bunch.

The film starts out by having rescue aids go down into the jungle and retrieve orphaned animals that have been affected by the deterioration or cutting down of the rainforests (there is a slight environmental message here, but it's thankfully only briefly touched upon). The creatures themselves are cute to look at, obviously, when we see them moving around in their man-made habitats, whether their being fed, climbing on the rope courses (orangutans), or playing ball with their human friends (elephants). But there is also a strong and wholesome aspect of the film that emphasizes the humans and the compassion and care they are willing to give to these creatures. Even if you aren't really much of an animal person, the charity and kindness the humans display towards these animals is very inspiring. In a way, it reflects the way us humans should be seen treating each other, especially those who can't take care of themselves. It reminds me of the Bible verse Proverbs 19:17 which reads, "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." I'm pretty sure Solomon was talking about humans tending to humans in that verse. But the emphasis on caring for those who are without capacity to tend to their own needs, whether the subject is human or not, is not only heartwarming to see, but also gives a lesson for some of us to take away from in our human relationships.

But that's not the only element of the film that reflects our own human lives. Throughout the film, we grow to know and love these orangutans and elephants. And it's not hard to see why. They're just so darn cute. However, once all the tender love and care is given, the animals soon come to a point where they don't have to depend on human help and able to be freed back into the wild. Of course, they must be brought back into the wild slowly and steadily. But once they get used to the jungle again, it's time for us humans to say goodbye to them. I know they're animals without the capacity to feel emotion, but the experience is still bittersweet. And it's because that feeling is not unfamiliar to us humans. Throughout life, we find ourselves having to let people go. Whether it's with a child growing up and leaving to be on their own or having to leave someone for an extended period of time and not knowing when or if you'll ever see them again. We have our time to nurture and love others, especially those who need it the most. And that's certainly a great thing as it gives us purpose in life while giving others a chance to live a good life that without you, they probably would never have. However, all good things must eventually come to an end. It's heartbreaking to see someone we've grown to know and love leave us for good. But at the same time, we also know that's what's best for them. But that's life, and you've done your share to help them. Now all you can do is sit back and watch them move on with their own lives that you gave them to ability to live.

Born to be Wild is a short but sweet experience. It works as an informative look into what goes on with rescue aids in the jungle as they help orangutans and elephants grow back to a capable living stature. But it also engages us from an emotional level too, not just because the creatures are adorable, but because the overarching story connects with us personally. We might not understand what it's like to be out in the jungle taking care of orphaned animals, but we do know what it's like to provide and care for our loved ones, and what it's like when our job is done and we have to see them move on. It's that bittersweet and human element of the this IMAX documentary that makes it particularly special, as it not only captivates us with 3D images, but also with its allegory of our real human relationships. And even if you're not an animal lover, you'l still find it hard to leave Born to be Wild without, at the least, being touched by that.


OVERALL FILM RATING: 4.5/5



IMAX 3D documentaries are not just created to feature stunning 3D images, but to also feature them on a gigantic screen. Sadly, I didn't quite get the enormous six-story screen this movie was meant to be seen on. But even on my home screen, the 3D was still very rich and involving.

Shot natively in 3D, the amount of depth we see here is very strong. The film does have several shots, mainly from in the sky, that appear very flat. But on the ground, the 3D is fantastic. And luckily, most of this movie is on the ground. Right from the start, we get a water trough that in spite of not really being all that big, stick out of the screen plenty and also goes back into the screen plenty of ways. That really sets the tone of the film's 3D throughout, as it is very intense and lifelike. Usually, most 3D films are usually shot to make it as if you're looking through a window out and will ever so occasionally throw something out at you. But Born to be Wild doesn't go this route. Instead, it tries to put everything in the foreground so that it comes out of the screen as much as it can. This makes the final product very immersive as if the orangutans and elephants are only feet away from you. I could go on listing the many things that pop out of the screen from the grass to the animals to the the man-made structures and equipment. But I feel this would go against the purpose of the 3D direction as this is not because the filmmaker is trying to throw something out at you to keep the 3D entertaining like most other 3D films have done with gun barrels and other such objects, but rather to make you feel as if you're actually in the movie make you feel like you can reach out and pet the adorable creatures. And this is where that six-story IMAX screen would've made the 3D effects that much better.

That doesn't mean there isn't plenty of mesmerizing jungle foliage and wide landscapes going back into the screen plenty to look at. And often times, what's going on in the screen is just as interesting as what's coming out of it. As I said earlier, the 3D is very lifelike, giving everything realistic depth and space. In fact, because the 3D is so good, it brings out so much detail in the environment that the film doesn't even have to try that hard to find great angles of which to shoot the film at. Plenty of the film take place in barns and man-made structures. In 3D these locations are plenty of fun to look, with everything in its own 3D space. And when you add an animal into it, you feel the need to reach out and pet them. Even in the jungle, the depth doesn't let up (with the few exceptions I mentioned above). The trees, leaves, sunlight, and other related natural elements all are much more interesting to view with the 3D depth putting everything in different positions that make a great feast for the eyes. There are even a few river shots that look mesmerizing in 3D, going back into the screen a good ways. Vast shots aren't really the movie's strong point, but even then there are still a few, showing hills and valleys that look extremely far away.

Born to be Wild, just like most IMAX documentaries isn't just a film to be seen, but to also be immersed in and feel a part of. That's why the 3D version of the film is an absolute must if you're going to see it. And thankfully, the 3D here is consistently amazing throughout, with extreme depth making virtually every shot plenty of fun to watch. Though Born to be Wild isn't the first film to use 3D this fantastically, it goes to show that 3D doesn't just have to be used to make the image itself cooler to look at, but done right, it also make you feel as if you're in the environment where everything's taking place. And because of just how well the 3D is done, I'm going to give it a rating of 3D Dinosaur Certified Excellent. The 3D Blu-ray of this movie is certainly worth picking up. But if there's a local IMAX theater showing this movie in 3D, I highly encourage you to see it there and watch it the way it was intended.


3D RATING: EXCELLENT


Other sources that review this movie's 3D (the reviews here might not always match up with mine. But if you want a second opinion on this movie's 3D, here are some places I recommend checking out):





FINAL THOUGHTS:


Born to be Wild is not just a fantastic IMAX documentary, but also fantastic documentary in general. It not just shows you what these rescue aids do, but it delivers an emotional story that causes you to emotionally invest in these animals and to be touched by the way the relationships between them and their human caretakers reflect our own human relationships. It's done extremely well and I highly recommend that everyone, even those who don't particularly like animals, see it. And I also strongly recommend that you see this movie in 3D, as it will bring you closer to the animals and deliver an immersive experience unlike most 3D movies on the market. Although this film might not be my number one favorite IMAX documentary, story-wise or 3D wise, it comes very close. It's a 3D essential, no doubt. And if you collect 3D movies, waste no time and pick it up.





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