This week Shout! Factory has released another pair of IMAX/Giant Screen documentaries in 4K Ultra HD/3D Blu-ray Combo packs. These are available two weeks early at Best Buy before becoming generally available. Dream Big: Engineering Our World, narrated by Jeff Bridges, takes a look at how the field of Engineering has both enhanced our lives, and made them safer. It does so by following the work of four engineers on various projects around the world. Civil engineer Menzer Pehlivan is in Nepal, looking into the after-effects of a disastrous earthquake to help determine how to build more earthquake-resistant structures. She then applies her discoveries to contruction in San Francisco. In China, engineer Steve Burrows explores the Great Wall, to learn why this structure has been able to withstand the tests of time over the centuries. In Haiti, civil engineer Avery Bang helps poor neighborhoods build the footbridges they need in order to make their daily commute across a lake safer. And in Phoenix Arizona, mechanical engineer Angelica Hernandez helps a high school team build a robot for an underwater robotics competition in Santa Barbara, CA, where the high schoolers compete against teams from universities like MIT.

The film also looks at many other structural marvels, such as the Shanghai Tower, the Falkirk Wheel in Scottland, and the Hyperloop. It does a nice job of showcasing some of the various jobs that engineers perform, and how their efforts are able to affect and change lives. It’s an interesting and entertaining documentary that is sure to help inspire the next generation of engineers.

After last year’s release of Mysteries of China did not include a 3D option, I was thrilled to see that Shout! Factory has once again gone back to releasing these IMAX/Giant Screen documentaries in 3D Blu-ray/4K UHD combo packs, so that the consumers can experience both the 3D and 4K versions of these films. Each of these formats has its own merits, and consumers get access to them both with a single purchase. The 3D Blu-ray disc also allows for 2D playback, while the 4K UHD disc allows for playback either with or without HDR, giving viewers four different viewing options! In addition, this release includes a Digital HD copy of the film.

The 3D version: The 3D is primarily used to add a nice depth to the picture. In one scene where the students are building their robot, there are several pop out moments, such as sparks flying, and a long pipe making its way into your living room. There is also some impressive 3D as we see the robot performing its tasks underwater during the competition, as well as with some confetti falling at the awards ceremony afterwards. Some other impressive scenes include following a Hyperloop track, sitting in a rollercoaster as it flies down the track, and looking over the edge of a tall building. On the negative side, I found the 3D to be a bit distracting/disorienting during the scenes when Menzer is in her classroom working with her young students performing experiements. This felt more like 3D for 3D sake and didn’t really add anything to the film. There are also some scenes where small 2D archival footage appears on floating platforms in the middle of the screen. Overall, I thought the 3D was utilized quite well to enhance the overall viewing experience.

The 4K version: There are so many phenomenal, breathtaking shots in this film—from beautiful lights of the city, to the Great Wall in China, and the robotics team’s road trip through the mountains. I thought the 3D picture looked great, but the 4K version provides even richer and more vibrant colors. There is also an increase in detail in textures and in the cityscapes and mountains.

Both versions of the film contain the same fantastic Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The narration is pretty much isolated to the center channel, while the rest of the channels are utilized to envelop the viewer with the sounds of the atmosphere—the chirping of birds all around, the bustle of the city, or fireworks exploding overhead—and an uplifting soundtrack. The Atmos track sounds fantastic as we ride a rollercoaster, or zoom down the Hyperloop track at high speeds. And the musical score and soundtrack are wonderful, including songs such as “One Day” by Matisyahu, “On Top of the World” by Justin Nault, and “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus.

Both discs contain pretty much the same collection of bonus features—nearly 40 minutes of behind-the-scenes featurettes, extra footage, and brief looks into other engineering topics. The discs come packed in a standard 2-disc UHD keepcase with a cardboard slipcover, and there is an insert with instructions on how to redeem a Digital HD copy of the film. This film is also available in a 2-disc DVD edition that includes a 150-page educator’s guide with lesson plans, handouts and even more behind-the-scenes featurettes, Fun Fact videos, and more.

What’s Included:
Film: (42:16)

4K Ultra HD:
• 2160p / Widescreen 1.78:1
• HDR and SDR
• Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English DTS-HD MA 5.1, Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1

Blu-ray:

• 1080p / Widescreen 1.78:1
• 3D and 2D
• Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
• Subtitles: English SDH

Digital HD (Redemption Deadline 7/24/2019):

• Digital HD Copy of the film.
  At the time of this review, the redemption site was not yet active, but if this is like other Shout! releases, the site will provide downloadable SD (~750MB) and HD (~4GB) files.

Extras:

• Hot Topics in the World of Engineering (21:18)
  Collection of short features showcasing various aspects and tools of engineering. Play All, or select from:
  • Who’s in The Driver’s Seat: Autonomous Vehicles (5:06)
    Engineers from Google X talk about the challenges of creating self-driving vehicles. Includes interviews with Head of Systems Engineering Jamie Waydo, and Head of Software Engineering Andrew Chatham.
  • Virtual Modeling: Engineering the Future (4:02)
    A look at creating 3D virtual models and using virtual reality to help engineer and design structures and solve problems in new ways. Includes interviews with Virtual Lab Manager Tom Sgouros of Brown University’s Center For Computation and Virtualization, and principal engineer David Odeh of Odeh Engineers, Inc.
  • Lean and Green: Alternative Energy (3:28)
    A look at renewable forms of energy such as electric vehicles, solar power plants, wind farms, and utilizing ocean power.
  • High-Tech Engineering (3:42)
    A look at the some of the innovative tools in use at Bechtel’s Innovation Center, such as an interactive touch screen wall, virtual reality, augmented reality, and drone technology. Includes interviews with engineering manager Alex Lancione, and Chief Innovation Officer David Wilson.
  • Engineering for Those in Need (5:03)
    A look at one of the humanitarian projects being done by Engineers Without Borders USA, building a gravity-fed irrigation system in Peru. Includes interviews with Princeton engineering student Corrie Kavanaugh, and technical mentor Spencer Patterson.
• Behind-The-Scenes (13:49)
  Collection of behind-the-scenes featurettes. Play All, or select from:
  • Dream Big Featurette (3:28)
    The filmmakers talk about how the film came about, the engineers and the locations featured in the film, working with Jeff Bridges, and what Engineering is. Includes interviews with director Greg MacGillivray, producer Shaun MacGillivray, project director Mary Jane Dodge, production manager Meghan MacGillivray Weil, and mechanical engineer Angelica Hernandez.
  • Meet The Women Engineers of Dream Big (2:59)
    The female engineers featured in the film—civil engineer Avery Bang, mechanical engineer Angelica Hernandez, and civil engineer Menzer Pehlivan—talk about how and why they became engineers, and how rewarding they find their jobs to be.
  • Filming the Great Wall of China (3:17)
    Go on location with the filmmakers as they climb and film at the Great Wall. Includes interviews with production manager Kathy Almon, first camera assistant Rob Walker, structural engineer Steve Burrows, and line producer Neal Allen.
  • Behind the Scenes of the Hyperloop (4:07)
    The filmmakers head to the Hyperloop test track in Nevada to get footage of the high speed technology in action. Includes interviews with producer Shaun MacGillivray, first camera assistant Rob Walker, director Greg MacGillivray, roduction manager Meghan MacGillivray Weil, and director of photography Brad Ohlund.
• Short Fun Packed Videos (4:21)
  Additional footage and behind-the-scenes footage. Play All, or select from:
  • How Kids Engineer a Bridge (1:01)
    Children use a computer to test their bridge designs to see if they will be stable.
  • Behind the Great Wall of China (:48)
    Statistical and historical facts pop up over montage of footage of the Great Wall.
  • A Hand Built Bridge in Haiti (1:01)
    Montage of footage of brindge being built set to “Wangol” by Sangensemblen Amanda.
  • Engineering Roller Coasters (:43)
    Statistical and historical facts pop up over montage of footage of the rollercoaster.
  • Filming with the IMAX 3D Camera (:51)
    Statistical facts pop up over montage of the filmmakers with the IMAX 3D cameras.
• Trailer (2:00)
• 4K Trailers (10:53)
  A collection of trailers for other 4K IMAX films—”Flight of the Butterflies”, “Humpback Whales”, “Journey To Space”, “Rocky Mountain Express”, “The Last Reef”, “Wonders of the Arctic”, and “National Parks Adventure”. These are only offered on the 4K UHD disc.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I quite enjoyed Dream Big. It is a nice look at the field of Engineering, and presents it in a fun way that is sure to inpire the next generation of engineers. The film looks great in both 3D and in 4K, and each presentation has its own visual benefits. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack provides an amazing aural experience, as well as an uplifting selection of music in the film’s soundtrack. The discs also contain a really impressive amount of bonus material—more than I’ve seen with most of these IMAX film releases.