Amazing Ocean 3D [Blu-Ray]

To be clear, the 55-minute 3D Amazing Ocean Blu-Ray is ostensibly a technology tester and filler product to give away with new 3D players to exaggerate and promote its visual capabilities. It's the sort of thing that would be left on loop at a 3D-viewing station in a Best Buy or Wal-mart without the sound, since it advertises the technology well without featuring any controversial or problematic imagery. As such, it looks — to use one of the many enthusiastic words repeated ad nauseum during the narration — "breathtaking," or even "amazing," as the title suggests. The underwater photography is crystal-clear and the colours distinct, giving crisp dimension to the 3D image, which, in turn, makes it look as though the bubbles, small fish and debris are literally flying out of the TV screen. As such, for anyone stoned, or those just keen to make use of their recently charged 3D glasses, it's a pretty kick-ass visual feast. That said: it's probably best to turn off the sound and throw on an Enya CD or something, because the accompanying narration from Glen McCready sounds like something written by an intern on a Friday afternoon before a long weekend. Everything is "spectacular," "wonderful," "fascinating" and "astounding," even when it's little more than an image of a stingray swimming along doing nothing in particular. There isn't even anything educational about the voiceover. They point out that manatees used to be mistaken for mermaids by sailors back in "the day" (because women back in "the day" were fat, slimy and brown?) and that dolphins swim in currents because they find it "fun" (any practical reasons are presumably unimportant), but aside from knowing the names of the underwater animals, there's nothing even remotely resembling compelling information. As such, beyond the whole 3D underwater photography thing, which is impressive, there is little to sustain actual narrative, or even "edutainment," purposes. There are no supplements included with the Blu-Ray either.