After an
awkwardly lingering title screen, the film opens on a
lovely misty day, tall grass waving in the wind,
charming paleontologist reminiscing atop a cliff at
the bubbling waters below. The director steadies into
this sweet relaxing pace bringing us thousands of
feet underwater to some of the hottest places this
side of the earth's core.
Mostly concerned with the incredible life forms
that thrive where every other average animal would
boil alive, the scientists also seek out an ancient
creature responsible for forming curious hexagonal
patterns found off the shores of Spain. Fascinating
and fun.
Though they stumble upon the shapes in the mud,
the mysteriously peculiar being eludes them. But
really, its escapability makes the film all the more
endearing and in fact, like real science.
In
additional to some impressively translucent and neon
deep sea creatures, the film surfaces often to
capture large IMAX aerial shots off the oceans. It's
a nice mix of beauty and science -- and for those who
find science beautiful anyway, you'll have twice the
fun.
This well written script is pleasantly narrated by
Ed Harris. Improvements? Personally, I wanted to know
where in the world the opening scene was shot (later
revealed). Also, I wanted to know the names of those
translucent characters with the neon marquee like
tentacles. Also, at first, I was frustrated because
the film drifts in and out of CGI images and live
action. Generally speaking, in a documentary I want
to know when what I'm looking at is not real.
However, as the film progressed, I enjoyed the
interesting juxtaposition of the live and computer
constructed ... and then, well, I just went with the
flow (no pun intended).
This film opens at The CALSCI Center September 14,
2003 as part of it's OCEAN FEST 2003. See www.californiasciencecenter.org for
more info.
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