In a CNN poll last year, 86% of the respondents said they would buy a ticket for a flight into space if money were no object. Until such a ride is available, the best bet would be "Space Station 3D", the first Imax film shot off this planet.
The filmmakers are the astronauts themselves. While none is likely to quit his or her amazing day job, they aren't bad at this new gig. They place their 3-D cameras in just the right spots to record one of the greatest engineering feats ever -- the assemblage and construction of the International Space Station 220 miles above Earth, an effort involving more than 1,000 people from 16 nations.
In short, you get a fabulous idea of what it is like to float through the station's cabins and labs with all the instruments, gadgets and wires running here and there. "Star Trek" was never like this. For that matter, the Imax experience has never been like this, either.
So strap on those 3-D goggles, and put yourself into the action both inside and occasionally outside the orbiting station. Experience also the incredible rush of the launch of the space shuttle Discovery from Florida's Cape Canaveral from atop the rocket.
Presented by Lockheed Martin in cooperation with NASA, "Space Station 3D" is, understandably, partly promotional and partly educational. But none of this detracts from the thrill of floating with the camera through the station with astronauts and cosmonauts performing chores or working out to keep bodies in shape.
Early in the shoot, the astronaut-filmmakers clearly discovered they could not let the camera get too close to people or objects. In early footage, when the camera does come close, heads grow fuzzy, and focus is a problem. Thereafter, with the camera moved a slight distance away, everything is clear and distinct.
A narration, scripted by editor-writer Toni Myers and ably delivered by Tom Cruise, suffers from occasionally banality. Otherwise, it gets the job of explaining the assembly of the station done with a minimum of astronaut jargon.
What most impresses a viewer is what brilliant human beings these astronauts from several countries are: In top mental and physical shape, this elite corps must be masters in not only all the repair work aboard the space station but also in such disciplines as science, life science, math, language and technology.
The film covers the planning and construction phase from December 1998-July 2001. The station is scheduled for completion in 2006. So let's hope for at least one Imax sequel, since the biggest problem with this movie is that it's not nearly long enough.
SPACE STATION 3D
Imax
An Imax Corp. and Lockheed Martin presentation in cooperation with NASA
Credits:
Directed and filmed by: Astronauts of the International Space Station
Producer-editor-writer: Toni Myers
Consulting producer: Graeme Ferguson
Narrator: Tom Cruise
Chief astronaut camera training: James Neihouse
Music: Micky Erbe, Maribeth Solomon
Associate producer: Judy Carroll
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 48 minutes...
The filmmakers are the astronauts themselves. While none is likely to quit his or her amazing day job, they aren't bad at this new gig. They place their 3-D cameras in just the right spots to record one of the greatest engineering feats ever -- the assemblage and construction of the International Space Station 220 miles above Earth, an effort involving more than 1,000 people from 16 nations.
In short, you get a fabulous idea of what it is like to float through the station's cabins and labs with all the instruments, gadgets and wires running here and there. "Star Trek" was never like this. For that matter, the Imax experience has never been like this, either.
So strap on those 3-D goggles, and put yourself into the action both inside and occasionally outside the orbiting station. Experience also the incredible rush of the launch of the space shuttle Discovery from Florida's Cape Canaveral from atop the rocket.
Presented by Lockheed Martin in cooperation with NASA, "Space Station 3D" is, understandably, partly promotional and partly educational. But none of this detracts from the thrill of floating with the camera through the station with astronauts and cosmonauts performing chores or working out to keep bodies in shape.
Early in the shoot, the astronaut-filmmakers clearly discovered they could not let the camera get too close to people or objects. In early footage, when the camera does come close, heads grow fuzzy, and focus is a problem. Thereafter, with the camera moved a slight distance away, everything is clear and distinct.
A narration, scripted by editor-writer Toni Myers and ably delivered by Tom Cruise, suffers from occasionally banality. Otherwise, it gets the job of explaining the assembly of the station done with a minimum of astronaut jargon.
What most impresses a viewer is what brilliant human beings these astronauts from several countries are: In top mental and physical shape, this elite corps must be masters in not only all the repair work aboard the space station but also in such disciplines as science, life science, math, language and technology.
The film covers the planning and construction phase from December 1998-July 2001. The station is scheduled for completion in 2006. So let's hope for at least one Imax sequel, since the biggest problem with this movie is that it's not nearly long enough.
SPACE STATION 3D
Imax
An Imax Corp. and Lockheed Martin presentation in cooperation with NASA
Credits:
Directed and filmed by: Astronauts of the International Space Station
Producer-editor-writer: Toni Myers
Consulting producer: Graeme Ferguson
Narrator: Tom Cruise
Chief astronaut camera training: James Neihouse
Music: Micky Erbe, Maribeth Solomon
Associate producer: Judy Carroll
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 48 minutes...
- 4/22/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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