| A stunning achievement in 3D
effects and visual energy, National Geographic’s Sea
Monsters 3D: A Prehistoric Adventure in IMAX manages to capture
an epic feel in a relatively short running time. While the
frequent cuts between 82 million years ago and the present
may be slightly jarring to the storyline flow, inventive segues
between time periods and stylish special motion effects keep
the survival story of the “Dollies” ever-engaging.
The informative narration by Liev Shreiber provides ample
foreshadowing of approaching predators with monstrously long
names and the story plays out with enough gusto to rise above
the categorization of documentary.
Jumping from present day archaeologists (in several different
countries) to pioneers of the science, and even accidental
discoveries, Sea Monsters unearths the fascinating tale of
a young Dolichorhynchops (Dollies for short) and her travels
from shallow birthing waters to the dangerous depths of ancient
oceans and back again. Along the way she will encounter all
manner of predator and prey, from massive jellyfish, to Styxosaurus
with 20-foot long necks, to the deadly Tylosaurus, the T-Rex
of the ocean, and every perilous encounter will leave a clue
for those unraveling her journey.
As breathtakingly intense as the 3D dinosaurs are jumping
off the screen, the film essentially has only that one trick.
While it tries to mix it up for the audience by showing dinosaurs
swimming at you, jumping at you, passing in front of you,
or even a surprising rock explosion clattering around you,
there are only so many times one can witness things catapulted
from the screen before it gets tiresome. Fortunately, due
to the very short running time, it doesn't have a chance to
get agitating, and the 3D effects remain quite stimulating.
The narration doesn't get too involved with the scientific
jargon, except for several nearly unpronounceable creature
names, so audience members won't be lost trying to follow
the Dollie’s life cycle. While you'll probably walk
away not remembering anything about the Crustaceous Period
creatures, or the archaeological digs in Kansas, South Dakota,
the Netherlands and elsewhere across the world, you will probably
mention to your friends how much fun it was to witness the
amazing technology that IMAX 3-D has so mind-bogglingly perfected.
Prehistoric creatures of all shapes and sizes literally jump
off the screen and several sequences will have you instinctively
trying to dodge the monstrosities torpedoing toward you. A
perfect example of the powers of IMAX and digital effects,
Sea Monsters 3D: A Prehistoric Adventure is as close as it
gets to swimming with dinosaurs.
- Mike and Joel Massie |
