-By Bruce Feld
For movie details, please click here.
A funny thing happened to the production crew of IMAX’s
Under
the Sea 3D (the folks responsible for
Deep Sea 3D and
Into the Deep 3D) on their way to
Rabaul on the island of New Britain in the East Indies. A volcano
erupted. No problem! The opening of the film now includes fire and
smoke raging from the mountain and a hail of ash as their boat
retreated to Linden Harbor. There they filmed a large Crown
Jellyfish, a Wonderpus Octopus and a new species of Lionfish
discovered a few years ago in Indonesia.
The Coral Triangle, where
Under the Sea 3D begins, is home
to 40% of the world’s reef wildlife population, including more than
75% of documented coral species and approximately 3,000 species of
fish. Also present are sea turtles, mollusks, crustaceans, and
marine mammals such as dolphins, whales and Australian seals. The
seals are so anxious to be photographed that they have to be shooed
away from the camera lenses, and it is a pleasure to watch their
exceptionally expressive faces up close. Unfortunately, there are
only about 12,000 Australian seals left in existence and they are
facing extinction under the menace of global warming. Sadly, they
are not alone.
Hidden in the simple but instructive commentary are several
warnings of a global disaster waiting in the near future unless
mankind pays more attention to the effects of increasing water
temperatures on animal populations. Narrator Jim Carrey is the
perfect man for the job, squeezing the humor from a child-friendly
script by director Howard Hall and Toni Myers. Every single species
impresses us with its singular adaptation to ocean conditions. And
the rhythm of the film perfectly captures the rhythm of the ocean,
so that we quickly leave the workaday world behind amidst the
profound stillness and singular beauty of this remarkable
underwater environment.
One would think that the IMAX screen would put some distance
between audience and viewer, but thanks to the addition of 3D
glasses, very smartly designed, each member of the audience has the
feeling that the animals are sitting on their lap. It is an almost
uncanny sensation, and do not be surprised if you see children
trying to pet the screen, indifferent to the fact it may be six
stories tall; all members of the audience feel just inches away.
Film Review: Under the Sea 3D
Exotic, eye-opening 3D underwater journey to an octopus’ garden in the shade.
Feb 10, 2009
-By Bruce Feld
For movie details, please click here.
A funny thing happened to the production crew of IMAX’s
Under the Sea 3D (the folks responsible for
Deep Sea 3D and
Into the Deep 3D) on their way to Rabaul on the island of New Britain in the East Indies. A volcano erupted. No problem! The opening of the film now includes fire and smoke raging from the mountain and a hail of ash as their boat retreated to Linden Harbor. There they filmed a large Crown Jellyfish, a Wonderpus Octopus and a new species of Lionfish discovered a few years ago in Indonesia.
The Coral Triangle, where
Under the Sea 3D begins, is home to 40% of the world’s reef wildlife population, including more than 75% of documented coral species and approximately 3,000 species of fish. Also present are sea turtles, mollusks, crustaceans, and marine mammals such as dolphins, whales and Australian seals. The seals are so anxious to be photographed that they have to be shooed away from the camera lenses, and it is a pleasure to watch their exceptionally expressive faces up close. Unfortunately, there are only about 12,000 Australian seals left in existence and they are facing extinction under the menace of global warming. Sadly, they are not alone.
Hidden in the simple but instructive commentary are several warnings of a global disaster waiting in the near future unless mankind pays more attention to the effects of increasing water temperatures on animal populations. Narrator Jim Carrey is the perfect man for the job, squeezing the humor from a child-friendly script by director Howard Hall and Toni Myers. Every single species impresses us with its singular adaptation to ocean conditions. And the rhythm of the film perfectly captures the rhythm of the ocean, so that we quickly leave the workaday world behind amidst the profound stillness and singular beauty of this remarkable underwater environment.
One would think that the IMAX screen would put some distance between audience and viewer, but thanks to the addition of 3D glasses, very smartly designed, each member of the audience has the feeling that the animals are sitting on their lap. It is an almost uncanny sensation, and do not be surprised if you see children trying to pet the screen, indifferent to the fact it may be six stories tall; all members of the audience feel just inches away.
