National Geographic's first foray into IMAX territory, "Mysteries of Egypt" makes an ideal companion to a certain animated feature playing in regular movie houses.
A visually exhilarating, intimately detailed excursion into the secrets of the Nile (and with Geraldo nowhere to be found), "Mysteries" beats the heck out of traditional travelogues, despite misguided attempts to supplement gorgeous cinematography with starchy historical re-creations and a clunky linking device featuring Egypt's own Omar Sharif as a kindly grandfather playing tour guide for his King Tut's curse-obsessed granddaughter ("The Secret Garden"'s Kate Maberly).
The filmmakers, led by director Bruce Neibaur, received unprecedented access to ancient relics from the Egyptian government, lending the large format spectacular glimpses into the sacred, long-buried tomb of King Tutankhamen as well as the sun-burnished, sand-swept Valley of the Kings, the great pyramids at Giza and the mighty Nile.
It's certainly a nation that can live up to out-of-proportion IMAX scrutiny.
Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the narrative, which weaves black-and-white footage re-enacting the archeological quest that led to discovery of the teen pharaoh's tomb with scenes detailing how his body was prepared for eternal life, all while hypothesizing how the mighty pyramids were constructed.
They're intertwined with even stagier sequences involving Sharif and Maberly as the proceedings are narrated by Sharif in reverent, breathy tones.
It would have been much wiser to let the magnificent pictures do most of the talking. Like Playboy magazine, venerable National Geographic has never been noted for its stirring text.
MYSTERIES OF EGYPT
National Geographic Films
and Destination Cinema
Produced in association with NOVA/WGBH Boston,
Museum of Science and Industry-Chicago,
Canadian Museum of Civilization
and Centex Investment Ltd.
Director:Bruce Neibaur
Screenwriters:Bruce Neibaur, John Pielmeier
Story:Bruce Neibaur
Producers:Scott Swofford, Lisa Truitt
Executive producers:Tim Kelly, Ed Capelle, Richard W. James
Director of photography:Reed Smoot
Production designer:Michael Buchanan
Editor:Stephen L. Johnson
Music:Sam Cardon
Color/stereo
Cast:
Narrator:Omar Sharif
Granddaughter:Kate Maberly
Running time -- 40 minutes
No MPAA rating...
A visually exhilarating, intimately detailed excursion into the secrets of the Nile (and with Geraldo nowhere to be found), "Mysteries" beats the heck out of traditional travelogues, despite misguided attempts to supplement gorgeous cinematography with starchy historical re-creations and a clunky linking device featuring Egypt's own Omar Sharif as a kindly grandfather playing tour guide for his King Tut's curse-obsessed granddaughter ("The Secret Garden"'s Kate Maberly).
The filmmakers, led by director Bruce Neibaur, received unprecedented access to ancient relics from the Egyptian government, lending the large format spectacular glimpses into the sacred, long-buried tomb of King Tutankhamen as well as the sun-burnished, sand-swept Valley of the Kings, the great pyramids at Giza and the mighty Nile.
It's certainly a nation that can live up to out-of-proportion IMAX scrutiny.
Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the narrative, which weaves black-and-white footage re-enacting the archeological quest that led to discovery of the teen pharaoh's tomb with scenes detailing how his body was prepared for eternal life, all while hypothesizing how the mighty pyramids were constructed.
They're intertwined with even stagier sequences involving Sharif and Maberly as the proceedings are narrated by Sharif in reverent, breathy tones.
It would have been much wiser to let the magnificent pictures do most of the talking. Like Playboy magazine, venerable National Geographic has never been noted for its stirring text.
MYSTERIES OF EGYPT
National Geographic Films
and Destination Cinema
Produced in association with NOVA/WGBH Boston,
Museum of Science and Industry-Chicago,
Canadian Museum of Civilization
and Centex Investment Ltd.
Director:Bruce Neibaur
Screenwriters:Bruce Neibaur, John Pielmeier
Story:Bruce Neibaur
Producers:Scott Swofford, Lisa Truitt
Executive producers:Tim Kelly, Ed Capelle, Richard W. James
Director of photography:Reed Smoot
Production designer:Michael Buchanan
Editor:Stephen L. Johnson
Music:Sam Cardon
Color/stereo
Cast:
Narrator:Omar Sharif
Granddaughter:Kate Maberly
Running time -- 40 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Up close and personal with the largest animal on Earth is the chief appeal of "Whales", the latest IMAX offering to open at Exposition Park in Los Angeles. Whale-watchers will delight in this educational and often enthralling depiction of those mammals, some of which are nearly twice as heavy as the largest-known dinosaur.
Unfortunately, it's not IMAX-amatic that bigness makes for the most exciting usage of the IMAX film capabilities. Essentially, what beaches "Whales" is that while close-up shots of the grayishly coated mammals are initially captivating, the novelty will likely wear off for those who aren't truly whale-lovers. While the cinematography is breathtakingly beautiful, particularly in its vast scopings of the great blue oceans, it is, after a while, somewhat repetitive. Indeed, the IMAX process is at its most invigorating and illuminating when the visual stimulation is varied and packed -- a whale fin in the midst of a blue sea on a screen the size of a city building soon is, essentially, a picture, not a moving picture. After a while, one is lulled by not only the cadence of the sea but the predictability of the visuals -- whales spouting, fins flapping -- not much else.
Still, there's plenty of delightful rhythms and visualizations in this thoughtful, intelligent production, including a homey dance between a mother humpback and her calf. Truly, there's some wonderfully playful and educational segments in "Whales", and the writers (Dr. Roger Payne, Mose Richards, Dr. Leighton Taylor) are to be commended for their savvy blend of information and entertainment. A triumvirate of directors (David Clark, Al Giddings, Dr. Roger Payne) has energized "Whales" with some forceful, cinematic rhythms. Especially exciting are the subjective scopings when we're taken underwater, directly into the deep and murky world of these magnificent creatures.
"Whales" spouts surest when enhanced by the vigorous and powerful sound design. Special praise goes to Jim McKee and Earwax Prods. for the haunting and beautiful sound textures, clueing us to the life forces below what seems a tranquil and dull blue sea.
WHALES
The National Wildlife Federation Endowment
and the National Science Foundation
Producers Christopher Palmer, David Clark
Directors David Clark, Al Giddings,
Dr. Roger Payne
Executive producer Richard James
Executives in charge of production Ed Capelle, Tom Casper, Chat Reynders
Screenwriters Dr. Roger Payne,
Mose Richards, Dr. Leighton Taylor
Directors of photography Al Giddings,
Andy Kitzanuk, Paul Mockler
Editor James Lahti
Sound designers Jim McKee,
Earwax Prods. Inc.
Sound mixer Skywalker Sound
Running time -- 43 minutes...
Unfortunately, it's not IMAX-amatic that bigness makes for the most exciting usage of the IMAX film capabilities. Essentially, what beaches "Whales" is that while close-up shots of the grayishly coated mammals are initially captivating, the novelty will likely wear off for those who aren't truly whale-lovers. While the cinematography is breathtakingly beautiful, particularly in its vast scopings of the great blue oceans, it is, after a while, somewhat repetitive. Indeed, the IMAX process is at its most invigorating and illuminating when the visual stimulation is varied and packed -- a whale fin in the midst of a blue sea on a screen the size of a city building soon is, essentially, a picture, not a moving picture. After a while, one is lulled by not only the cadence of the sea but the predictability of the visuals -- whales spouting, fins flapping -- not much else.
Still, there's plenty of delightful rhythms and visualizations in this thoughtful, intelligent production, including a homey dance between a mother humpback and her calf. Truly, there's some wonderfully playful and educational segments in "Whales", and the writers (Dr. Roger Payne, Mose Richards, Dr. Leighton Taylor) are to be commended for their savvy blend of information and entertainment. A triumvirate of directors (David Clark, Al Giddings, Dr. Roger Payne) has energized "Whales" with some forceful, cinematic rhythms. Especially exciting are the subjective scopings when we're taken underwater, directly into the deep and murky world of these magnificent creatures.
"Whales" spouts surest when enhanced by the vigorous and powerful sound design. Special praise goes to Jim McKee and Earwax Prods. for the haunting and beautiful sound textures, clueing us to the life forces below what seems a tranquil and dull blue sea.
WHALES
The National Wildlife Federation Endowment
and the National Science Foundation
Producers Christopher Palmer, David Clark
Directors David Clark, Al Giddings,
Dr. Roger Payne
Executive producer Richard James
Executives in charge of production Ed Capelle, Tom Casper, Chat Reynders
Screenwriters Dr. Roger Payne,
Mose Richards, Dr. Leighton Taylor
Directors of photography Al Giddings,
Andy Kitzanuk, Paul Mockler
Editor James Lahti
Sound designers Jim McKee,
Earwax Prods. Inc.
Sound mixer Skywalker Sound
Running time -- 43 minutes...
- 2/21/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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