Movie Review by Susan Hodgetts
Starring: Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet (narrators)
Director: Howard Hall
DEEP SEA 3D Imax is a cool experience. It’s a family orientated film, but would probably prove fascinating to the majority of people, whether they’re adult, child or teenager. Jellyfish hover in front of your eyes, there are threats of attack from the vicious Humboldt Squid, one can marvel at the beauty of the spawning coral reefs or the ugliness of the Giant Pacific Octopus, and cheer the 10-inch Mantis Shrimp on as it bravely fends off a huge octopus many times its size by cracking it on the tentacle with its nifty claw.
Eminent underwater cinematographer Howard Hall follows up his 1994 3D film INTO THE DEEP and uses technology to push the boundaries further than before, collecting footage from the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas and British Columbia to profile at least 67 species of sea creatures. The creatures are fascinating as they “clean” each other as well as eat each other, and the importance of the ecological relationship between all the sea creatures and their coral reef home is brought to the audience’s attention. Ultimately though the reviving energy of the sea world, its balance and its awesome beauty or ugliness, power or vulnerability, leaves the lasting impression.
Kids will love it and it will provide them with an interesting learning experience. The rest of us can marvel at the power of the underwater world and learn a few things ourselves.
