Cave of Forgotten Dreams 3D Blu-ray Review
MOVIE REVIEW
Cave of Forgotten Dreams is a 2010 documentary about a group of scientists, including the film's director Werner Herzog, who enter France's Chauvet Cave, a cave famous for being full of some of the earliest drawings known to man, sourced by carbon dating to have been created around 32,000 years ago. Due to the delicate nature of the drawings, the general public is not allowed entrance. And the crew that managed to gain permission from French Minister of Culture to enter the cave is only allowed to enter for six days tops and only for a maximum of four hours at a time because of the toxic levels of CO2 and radon in the cave. Despite that, and plenty of other restrictions, Werner Herzog and his small group of scientists manage to capture some fascinating footage of some of the most rare, ancient art the world has ever seen, and in 3D no less. And as we travel farther deep into Chauvet Cave, multiple people try and make sense of the artistic techniques used by prehistoric man and how through them, we can get a glimpse into the human race of the far past.
Documentaries come in all shapes and sizes, carrying different topics with different degrees of success. But some of the best ones are the ones that not only are highly informative, but also strive to make you think about life in a different manner. Cave of Forgotten Dreams is one of them. Any film can be about cave drawings and discuss what they mean and how they portray the things they portray. But Forgotten Dreams also dives into the artistic integrity of the drawings on display and why they're so important to us in the modern day. And in doing so, it raises a ton of questions about the psychology of early man, how we came to be where we are today, our connection to the past, and what art even really means to the human race. While the film doesn't exactly have all the answers to these questions, it does do a great job of conveying the weight these questions hold on us and in a way, sort of becomes a work of art in and of itself.
Usually when I write film reviews, I try and discuss how well all the filmmaking elements come together to convey a good story or experience (camera direction, pacing, music, etc.). But while Cave of Forgotten Dreams certainly has a lot to praise in that regard, this is a case where the subject matter pretty much sells itself. All Werner Herzog has to do is put it into film form. And honestly, considering the restrictions he and his crew had to work with, the fact that we got what we got is quite incredible. As mentioned before, the crew going into the cave can only do so within a short time frame. But they also have to go everywhere on a 2 foot wide aluminum rail as not to disrupt the cave structure, occasionally even crawling on it. And because the environment they're working with is beyond their control, the 3D camera rig they have set up is amateur rather than professional to cope with the narrow conditions (we'll discuss how that affects the actual 3D a bit later). And the narrator even discusses that with how small the cave is, you can expect many of the crew members to get caught up in the shot. None the less, they managed to work within the constraints and take you into the depths of the Chauvet Cave and put you up in front of a ton of histories earliest drawings. And it's a mesmerizing trip indeed.
After getting done with Cave of Forgotten Dreams and the questions it raises about art and its connection to humans of the past, I was somewhat reminded of this small stop-motion animated film that came out recently called The Inventor. I doubt hardly any of you heard of it, but it's a creative, charming, and whimsical film that we deserve more of in today's animated landscape. It follows the last few years of Leonardo da Vinci's life as he moves from France to Rome and takes his revolutionary, sometimes controversial studies with him. During this time, the movie follows him trying to find the human soul and its secrets to life, as if it's something that can be pinpointed down like the heart or the brain. But when he comes to the end of himself near the end of the film, he finds that the human soul is not something that can be found physically, but can be characterized by what it can give to others, and to those in the future. The way that message points back ultimately to Leo's life and the impact he's left on art and scientific discovery is poignant and thought-provoking. But I believe something similar can be said about the art found in Chauvet Cave.
Most all creatures live on this planet to eat, kill, and reproduce. But humans on the other hand are built for more than that. We also create, give, and use our talents to leave a lasting impact on those around us. I personally believe that kind of ingenuity comes from an intelligent Creator who made us in HIs image. But even still, it's fascinating to see how looking back into these caves from thousands of years ago, that sense of soul is still there. Anyone can communicate through words and written language, but artistry communicates a uniqueness and personality that only a true human is capable of, and it lives on through hundreds and even thousands of years. I think there's something quite genuinely profound about that. Once again, any documentary can inform, but it's the great ones that make you think.
OVERALL FILM RATING: 4.5/5
3D REVIEW
As it turns out, Werner Herzog, the director of this Cave of Forgotten Dreams, is not a very big fan of 3D. But after seeing the images that Chauvet Cave has to offer and the way they utilizes the unique shapes and contours of the walls, he believed 3D was necessary to convey that sense of artistry to the viewer. And boy, was he right. Like I said before, the camera rigs used on the journey were not fine-tuned and would not come off as professional as some major Hollywood productions. But still, what they did manage to capture is not only mesmerizing to see in 3D, but also does a great job of immersing you into this cave very few are ever allowed to visit.
I'll discuss some of the native 3D's downsides in a bit. But first, I want to discuss some of the upsides. One of the biggest ones would have to be the levels of Spy Kids 3-D levels of depth on display. It's a lot more subdued in some of the drone shots. But in the places such as the caves or on the ground where the background is clearly within reach, the 3D is extremely strong. Even during the interviews or scenes inside of research labs, including one involving a narrow aisle of cabinets, it never lets up. In fact, the film lets you know what kind of strong depth you're in for from the very first shot inside a vineyard. However, it's in the caves where the 3D shines the most. The director, of course, wanted the 3D to bring to light all the bumps, contours, and imperfections Chauvet Cave had to offer in its walls. And it does this very well. Every stalagmite and stalactite, every little hole, every pathways, and even every small rock or bone on the floor of the cave captures the eye in its own unique 3D space, inviting you to look into and feel immersed here. But of course, it's in the cave drawings where these bumps, contours, and imperfections stand out the most. Not only do they grab attention in their 3D presence like the rest of the cave does, but as some of the scientists point out, the shape and size of the walls are utilized in the art pieces themselves, making them all the more cinematic. And in 3D when it feels like you're genuinely looking at them, that makes them all the more awe-inspiring.
There are plenty of things popping out at you throughout this feature film. But it's much more in the same vein as Born to be Wild or IMAX: Hubble where the goal isn't to wow you, but to bring all these fascinating cave details closer to you. Only in one scene are 3D pop outs actually used in a "fun" way, and it's when a fellow scientist is demonstrating the way a caveman used a spear and he holds it in your direction a time or two. Besides that, though, there's still an ample amount of times the environment leaves the screen and feels like it's entirely within your reach. Of these things include cave walls (obviously), stalagmites, stalactites, people, bushes, glass cases (there's one we see an alligator swimming in and the warped view of the bottom of the alligator in the water offers an interesting 3D view), and a couple of objects that float around in front of a black backdrop. There is actually one fun 3D shot we get at the very end of the film, but the popping out isn't so much the focus as it is as that the view is eye bending, and it occurs when a drone with 3D cameras implanted into it comes in for a landing and someone grabs it.
So clearly, 3D is the intended way to see Cave of Forgotten Dreams. But is it the easiest on the eyes? Sadly, no. Like I said, the native 3D shots offer Spy Kids 3-D levels of depth. But if you remember anything about Spy Kids 3-D, you'll know that sometimes, the 3D can be so intense it's almost eye frying. Cave of Forgotten Dreams's 3D is nowhere near as unforgiving as that film, but it's amateurish 3D rigs yield results in that same vein. I don't want to entirely blame the crew for it as they were simply working with what they had. And for what we did get, it could've looked a lot worse. However, it's still worth knowing what you're getting into if you have delicate eyes. And the shaky-cam we get in several moments don't exactly help anything. Another strange aspect about the 3D is how inconsistent it is. Yes, the 3D is generally pretty strong throughout. But not every shot has the same amount of depth applied, and it can be a bit distracting at times. And just with Spy Kids 3-D, it can sometimes give the impression that people or objects in the frame don't have the proper 3D size or proportions. Finally, there are some moments where it seems like the scene was filmed in 2D and post-converted, and not the good kind of conversion either. At least several times, we get some moments where either people or the camera, or both, are moving around and the people either look like cardboard cutouts, blended with the frame, or warped like someone look a 2D image, printed it out, and put it over a mold. I take it these scenes were shot in 2D, but the director at some point decided to switch to 3D, so they decided to convert the footage they already had. But that's just speculation. This isn't a pervasive issue by any means. But in a 3D film, it comes off as a bit jarring, especially when the film claims to be shot in native 3D.
With those words of warning out of the way, though, I still highly recommend the 3D version of Cave of Forgotten Dreams. The image isn't pitch perfect, I know. But it's still being actively used in a way to enhance the movie in a way you can't get in 2D. And more often than not, it works. I'm not only mesmerized by the imagery present in Chauvet Cave, but I also feel I'm there with the crew looking directly at it, feeling that connection to the past that they are feeling. The extra dimension not only shows you the inside of the cave, but places you inside of it. Werner Herzog really knew what he was doing when he decided to shoot the film in 3D. And the results are striking. As long you're willing to put up with the issues the 3D version presents, it's still the definitive way to watch the film.
3D RATING: GREAT
OTHER SOURCES THAT REVIEW THIS MOVIE'S 3D:
Tommy Boy 3D's Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfVc5k-jbcs
FINAL THOUGHTS
Cave of Forgotten Dreams isn't just another documentary about prehistoric human history. It could've easily been simply 90 minutes of looking at very rare cave drawings. But instead, it goes the extra step and wonders what's on the other side of those drawings. What went on in the minds of those artists? How did they see the world? What did they value most? How have the methods of human expression and artistry changed over time to what we have today? And how did that artistry still stand the test of time to today? Most of what Cave of Forgotten Dreams comes to is simply speculation. But even me, a believer in creationism, still finds those questions regarding early man quite intriguing. And this film not only fuels my interest in them, but also goes to show why art is important to human society, even in modern times. For that reason alone, I highly recommend this movie. It's not just an experience of sound and sight, but of the mind and of human nature. Of course, if you're out to buy this film on Blu-ray at all, you'll have no choice but to get the 3D Blu-ray which also has the 2D version on it. But honestly, that's all the better for it. Yes, the 3D isn't the most well-executed and demands some minor caution for those who easily get disrupt by poorly handled 3D. But still, it could be a lot worse. And what we did get still gets across what the director intended, to bring the cave and the art in it into spectacular 3D light. Caves and 3D have always gone together splendidly, and Cave of Forgotten Dreams is another excellent reminder us of that. While it might not be on the same level of quality as most IMAX 3D documentaries, it still works fantastically in its own right and deserves attention from any 3D enthusiast, or viewers of this film in general.
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