DOLPHINS
IMAX film by MacGillivray Freeman Films, produced in association with the National Wildlife Federation; at Edwards IMAX theaters at the Irvine Spectrum Center, Ontario and Valencia.
The second of five films in a series Greg MacGillivray has pledged to produce to encourage the preservation of the world’s oceans, “Dolphins” is an endearing look at the sea creatures enamored by so many of the human species. Narrated by Pierce Brosnan, the film takes you on an underwater journey to explore the habits, communication patterns and society of these mammals,said to be among the most intelligent species on earth. Though the film addresses the depletion of the dolphin population caused by tuna nets and pollution, it focuses most heavily on the reasons the human race should help this species survive. Seen through the eyes of marine biologists who study dolphins in the wild, it’s hard to imagine these graceful sea creatures,who “talk,” invent games, blow bubbles, and bond with the occasional scientist,as anything but friends. The film uses a number of special effects: a whimsical cartoon effect that creates the illusion of turning pages in a book to transport the audience between locations; scenes viewed through a scuba mask; and a three-dimensional dolphin that appears to invite you to come and play. Though not as action-packed as the company’s recent “Adventures in Wild California,” the film is educational and a sheer delight to watch.
