IMAX’s latest documentary offering, Antarctica 3D draws you in with spectacular footage captured by director, Fredi Devas, and his cinematographer Rolf Steinmann. The fact that the crew here were working in some of the most inhospitable environments in the world is not evident throughout the film, as they capture some truly amazing moments both above and below the ice.
Narrator Benedict Cumberbatch points out a number of times that Antarctica is still today one of the most unexplored parts of our planet yet, and the crew behind Antarctica 3D capture some never-before-seen moments and deliver some truly amazing facts.
The great thing about this film is that it doesn’t try to preach to its audience. Controversial topics such as climate change are looked at but are viewed with science backing up what is being spoken about. The film shows some of the things that have happened in Antarctica due to climate change but never speculates what caused it. Even better, Antartica 3D provides some answers on what we can do as humans to help our planet, including delivering some interesting facts about how whales could be one of the answers to help prevent climate change.
I also found that with this documentary, not only are you blown away by the visuals, but you are constantly learning something as the voiceover provides just the right amount of titbits of information when needed. As a nature lover, what I learnt about seals, penguins, and whales here is absolutely priceless. Who knew that some baby seals must deal with a blizzard as soon as they are born, or that some fish have evolved to the point that they can live in the frozen Antarctic waters? Be warned though, if you are an animal lover, this documentary will make sure that you become totally invested in the lives of the creatures that you are watching on screen, which then leads to suspense as Mother Nature throws some obstacles up against them.
It also becomes very clear while watching Antarctica 3D that the 3D element only further enhances the viewing spectacle. When you add that to the amazing footage captured by Devas and Steinmann, you soon feel like you are right there with them in Antarctica, and the experience in IMAX makes you feel like you can just reach out and touch whatever is in front of you at that time.
One thing that is firmly on my bucket list is to travel to Antarctica one day, as from a very early age, I have always had a fascination with penguins. I can spend hours standing and watching them at Melbourne Zoo, and now having seen this doco, as well as seeing how penguins and seals interact with the visitors to Antarctica, my desire (or should I say need) to go is now even stronger.
Antarctica 3D is a truly stunning documentary film that needs to be seen on the big screen and in 3D to get the full experience. This is the kind of doco that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Parents can sit back and take in true wonders of one of the world’s most special places, while kids will constantly have that ‘wow factor’ going, as the critters and creatures of Antarctica appear on the screen in front of them. Like most documentaries I see at IMAX, I simply can’t recommend this enough.