DVD Review: Morning Light [Blu-ray]: Patrick Warburton, Chris Branning, Graham Brant-Zawadzki, Chris Clark, Charlie Enright, Jesse Fielding, Robbie Kane, Steve Manson, Chris Schubert, Kate Theisen, Mark Towill, Genny Tulloch, Piet Van Os, Chris Welch, Kit Will, Jeremy Wilmot, Mark Monroe;Paul Crowder: Movies & TV

Jun16

DVD Review: Morning Light [Blu-ray]: Patrick Warburton, Chris Branning, Graham Brant-Zawadzki, Chris Clark, Charlie Enright, Jesse Fielding, Robbie Kane, Steve Manson, Chris Schubert, Kate Theisen, Mark Towill, Genny Tulloch, Piet Van Os, Chris Welch, Kit Will, Jeremy Wilmot, Mark Monroe;Paul Crowder: Movies & TV

Posted by admin | on 16 June, 07:07 AM

Amazon.com
Morning Light concerns the 2006 TRANSPAC, an annual, open-ocean race between sailing sloops crossing the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii. The film focuses on the team manning the Morning Light, 15 young men and women who undergo intensive training over months and then are left to their own devices racing against sailors far more experienced than themselves. Morning Light is divided between a competition section that resembles a broken-hearts-and-all MTV reality show (with a total of 20 people vying for the 15 spots) and the race itself. Neither is particularly fascinating: the former just feels like an extension of television, while the racing action is dominated by technical speak and visuals that will largely appeal to viewers who have spent a lot of time on boats. The rest of us end up sitting through large patches of documentary footage that don’t provide a clear understanding of what’s going on or what any of it really means to the individuals involved. Morning Light did not have to look and move like cable sports channel fodder. The film could have more closely resembled, say, a Warren Miller winter sports documentary, which is almost guaranteed to appeal to non-sportsmen. As it is, a viewer feels like a fifth wheel (or the sailing equivalent). –Tom Keogh

Product Description
Experience a riveting and inspiring true life adventure aboard the high tech sloop Morning Light. Fifteen rookie sailors have one goal in mind, to be part of her crew, racing in the most revered sailing competition on Earth, the Transpac Yacht Race. From start to finish, it’s a rollercoaster ride of emotions and physical challenges, beginning with six months of intense training. Only eleven will survive to race in the grueling 2,225 mile Transpac. Matching wits and skills against experienced pros and the unforgiving, unpredictable Pacific Ocean, these young men and women develop a powerful bond and prove how dedication, teamwork and an unyielding spirit can overcome the greatest of odds.

Bonus Features indluce: Stories from the Sea with host Jason Earles, ESPN Special, Making the Cut

A Roy E. Disney Production that entertains and inspires…,

By Gregory Ehrbar “mousetracksonline.com” (Orlando, FL) -

This review is from: Morning Light (DVD)

Who would have thought, back a few years ago, when there was much ado going on at the top of the Disney Organization, that the above words would actually appear on a Walt Disney Pictures release?

Morning Light is the true chronicle of a hand-picked team of young people who are given the chance to train and compete in the Transpac sailing event, which has been Roy E. Disney’s passion since the mid-seventies.

I’m not a sailor but I have run marathons and triathlons and know the feeling of those comparably small triumphs (though I’ll never win — in fact one year i was passed by a man walking his dog!) The character of the individuals chosen, their work ethic and team spirit is very sincere and a far cry from the preening, backstabbing types that infect many TV reality shows. This follows a reality show format with lots of comments from the participants as well as a selection process where several are eliminated and are left to send messages from the mainland (where the food seems to be really good).

I found it much more compelling then the current crop of Hollywood sports movies in which a ragtag bunch of can’t-possibly-win team members somehow come together under a down-and-out coach and eventually win as music swells… you know what I mean. The crew in Morning Light are a very likable group of people who you find yourself routing for (parent’s note: there are a handful of words that earned this film a PG rating, but not nearly the kind of language also common on many reality shows).

The photography is stunning, especially the night shots, which I’m hoping are not computer generated since they are so breathtaking (say it ain’t so, Roy). The score is good too, with contemporary music, songs and even a number by members of the crew at the end of the film. Where’s the soundtrack album?

There are only two extras but both are rich in rounding out the full scope of this project. Hannah Montana’s Jason Earles hosts one feature about the film’s production itself, which sheds more light on the camera work, training and other elements. An ESPN special focuses on the elimination, showing more of the earlier hopefuls and clearly how some with “attitudes” were wisely given a polite dismissal.

In a sea of poor role models, kids can certainly do worse then getting to know this group of youths who not only worked hard and showed integrity but also went on to promising futures in careers or continuing education.

a great sailing film,

By Larry W. “Larry” (Los Angeles) -

This review is from: Morning Light [Theatrical Release] (Theatrical Release)

I saw this movie in the theater the day it was released. It is about a group of young adults with a burning desire to achieve thier goal…..it’s
all the more relevant if you happen to enjoy sailing. I can’t wait to add
this film to my collection.

Morning Light - Blu-ray Info,

By LGANS316 (Tokyo Japan) -

Version: U.S.A / BVHE / Region Free
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50 / AACS
Running time: 1:37:56
Feature size: 29,013,700,608 bytes
Disc size: 44,457,194,229 bytes
Total bit rate: 39.50 Mbps
Average video bit rate: 32.54 Mbps

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3793 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3793 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio French 640 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps

Subtitles: English SDH, Chinese, French, Indonesian, Korean, Malay, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai
Number of chapters: 13

# Stories from the sea: Hosted by Jason Earles (HD - 28 minutes)
# ESPN Special - Making the cut (HD - 41 minutes)
Search Morning Light [Blu-ray]: Patrick Warburton, Chris Branning, Graham Brant-Zawadzki, Chris Clark, Charlie Enright, Jesse Fielding, Robbie Kane, Steve Manson, Chris Schubert, Kate Theisen, Mark Towill, Genny Tulloch, Piet Van Os, Chris Welch, Kit Will, Jeremy Wilmot, Mark Monroe;Paul Crowder: Movies & TV from AmAzon

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