Mystery of the Maya

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing IMAX title
Review: I have watched many of the IMAX films that have been released on DVD. This one stands out as one of the most disappointing ones I have seen. I actually fell asleep watching it - and I wasn't particularly tired. The film starts out with a great flyover of the coastline with a Mayan temple. After that it quickly loses that special IMAX expectation of panoramic shots and "grandness."

I found the storyline quite tiring and merely a distraction to what was being taught. While educational, if the focus on close ups and limited camera visual scope is what the authors wanted to get across then standard video footage would have been enough. The dilution of the IMAX expectation knocked off at least 2 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Good if you've been to the sites; otherwise IMAX fluff
Review: I rented "Mystery of the Maya" after returning from a visit to Tulum and Chichén Itzá. This DVD provided a few interesting tidbits and some good shots of the ruins. But for the most part it's typical IMAX fluff: a brief (40 min.) documentary on a subject that deserves much more, with in-depth history sacrificed for a few random facts and sweeping cinematography (the latter of which doesn't translate to the small screen). The major faults of this production are that it doesn't identify the ruins as it shows them, nor does it give much substantial information. For instance, "Mystery of the Maya" didn't even discuss the theories as to why the Mayans suddenly abandoned these spectacular sites.

In the end, this DVD is good if you've been to some of these sites, but don't watch it before a trip expecting to get some great insider information for your visit.

Rating:
Summary: Sub Standard for IMAX - but educational
Review: I'm an IMAX fan, so I was a bit disappointed in the limited use of the format and cinematagraphy in The Mystery Of The Maya. It's not that it is a bad documentary; it is indeed quite educational. The problem is that it is just a documentary, without the IMAX eye candy that causes folks to buy big screen sets and pilgramage to BIG screen theatres with each new release. Compare this to Blue Planet or Everest at 5 stars and it's hard to come up with more than 1 star.

Rating:
Summary: Being fair
Review: This documentary is below the image IMAX standard, don't buy it if what you want is to see spectacular landscapes shots, but if what you want is a good introductory documentary about the Maya, pick up this one, you are not going to be disappointed. In a glimpse you can get a good quantity of information about this amazing people.