A Beautiful Planet (IMAX 3D) - directed by Toni Myers
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence (narrated by) and astronauts - Terry Virts, Samantha Cristoforetti, Barry "Butch" Wilmore, Kimiya Yui, Anton Shkaplerov,
If there's a subject more suited to the giant IMAX screen than space I don't know what it is.
(possibly Monica Bellucci but that's a personal opinion best left for another time)
In this latest documentary from Canadian filmmaker Toni Myers we board the International Space Station to view the planet Earth in intimate detail.
Well- as intimate as you can get from 400 kilometres up.
It turns out that much can be seen and learned about our planet from that altitude.
During the 46 minutes that we spend in and around the ISS in this film study is done on climate on Earth, plant growth in space and the effects of extended periods of zero gravity on the human body.
(apparently astronauts have noted a deterioration in their vision after months in space)
As interesting as it is hearing about this research and all that it means for future lengthier journeys further into space (and even to other planets) the bulk of this film concentrates its cameras on the planet that we currently reside on.
Anyone who has seen the excellent film "Gravity" on an IMAX screen in 3D will appreciate what the format brings to this kind of material.
While there is nothing quite so dramatic as devastated space stations and astronauts adrift going on in "A Beautiful Planet" it is still very definitely quite a sight to behold.
In September 2014 IMAX cameras were sent up to the ISS by American astronaut 'Butch" Wilmore and he began shooting using them a month later.
The IMAX gear was aboard for 15 months with the crew on the station shooting bits and pieces in spare moments between their 'real' jobs performing experiments.
Note that zero gravity results in rapid weakening of bones and muscles so the astronauts need to exercise two or more hours a day just to stay in normal shape.
We spend most of the time in the ISS with Italian Samantha Cristoforetti, American Terry Virts and Russian Anton Shkaplerov but there are several other Russian and Japanese astronauts too at various times.
A lot is said about the co-operative nature of the ISS and given that 16 countries all contributed to it being constructed in space the value of this is clear.
Cristoforetti reminds us late in the film that Earth is often called Spaceship Earth because it is effectively a huge living spacecraft carrying our entire species through space.
It's an interesting point.
We get some incredible views of the planet with many sweeping shots as the ISS moves around Earth.
Narrator Jennifer Lawrence (yes- that Jennifer Lawrence) describes what we are looking at.
We see the rain forest, craters left by asteroid strikes hundreds of thousands of years ago and in an extended sequence the lights of cities around the world.
The contrasting views of North and South Korea are fascinating.
Although not in the film Virts has pointed out that China is a 'brown soup' of pollution and that there are square shapes in Brazil where rain forest used to be.
There is much mention of Earth's climate with mention made of not only the vanishing rain forest and rising temperatures but also of some success stories in terms of wildlife and environment preservation.
It is not all about matters of the environment however and Director Myers stated that her intention with this film was to take the viewer to space and she has clearly succeeded rather nicely.
This is an amazing experience that frequently left me in awe at how small our planet is and how incredible the universe on the whole is.
The film does a great job in showing how vast the universe is with a nice zoom in shot to open.
But the focus is firmly on Earth as viewed from the ISS and it is in this arena that it truly excels.
With great work from narrator Jennifer Lawrence everything is explained in just the right amount of detail.
For anyone even remotely interested in space this is a must see.
This may be a brief experience but it is a superb one.
Like the universe itself if there is any downside to this film it is that it leaves you wanting to know more and see more.
What we do see is a real treat.
IMAX with 3D really lends itself to this sort of footage and it doesn't disappoint.
RATING: 82 / 100
CONCLUSION: A showcase for what IMAX 3D can bring to subjects such as this. A stunning look at our planet and a fascinating film that leaves you wanting more.
Screenplay: Toni Myers
Music Score by: Micky Erbe & Maribeth Solomon
Cinematography: James Neihouse
Cinematography: James Neihouse
Edited by: Toni Myers
Running Time: 46 minutes
Language: English
Rated: G - just lots of space
Running Time: 46 minutes
Language: English
Rated: G - just lots of space
(possibly Monica Bellucci but that's a personal opinion best left for another time)
In this latest documentary from Canadian filmmaker Toni Myers we board the International Space Station to view the planet Earth in intimate detail.
Well- as intimate as you can get from 400 kilometres up.
It turns out that much can be seen and learned about our planet from that altitude.
During the 46 minutes that we spend in and around the ISS in this film study is done on climate on Earth, plant growth in space and the effects of extended periods of zero gravity on the human body.
(apparently astronauts have noted a deterioration in their vision after months in space)
As interesting as it is hearing about this research and all that it means for future lengthier journeys further into space (and even to other planets) the bulk of this film concentrates its cameras on the planet that we currently reside on.
Anyone who has seen the excellent film "Gravity" on an IMAX screen in 3D will appreciate what the format brings to this kind of material.
While there is nothing quite so dramatic as devastated space stations and astronauts adrift going on in "A Beautiful Planet" it is still very definitely quite a sight to behold.
In September 2014 IMAX cameras were sent up to the ISS by American astronaut 'Butch" Wilmore and he began shooting using them a month later.
The IMAX gear was aboard for 15 months with the crew on the station shooting bits and pieces in spare moments between their 'real' jobs performing experiments.
Note that zero gravity results in rapid weakening of bones and muscles so the astronauts need to exercise two or more hours a day just to stay in normal shape.
We spend most of the time in the ISS with Italian Samantha Cristoforetti, American Terry Virts and Russian Anton Shkaplerov but there are several other Russian and Japanese astronauts too at various times.
A lot is said about the co-operative nature of the ISS and given that 16 countries all contributed to it being constructed in space the value of this is clear.
Cristoforetti reminds us late in the film that Earth is often called Spaceship Earth because it is effectively a huge living spacecraft carrying our entire species through space.
It's an interesting point.
 |
| Astronauts Wilmore and Cristoforetti and far right Jennifer Lawrence and Toni Myers |
Narrator Jennifer Lawrence (yes- that Jennifer Lawrence) describes what we are looking at.
We see the rain forest, craters left by asteroid strikes hundreds of thousands of years ago and in an extended sequence the lights of cities around the world.
The contrasting views of North and South Korea are fascinating.
Although not in the film Virts has pointed out that China is a 'brown soup' of pollution and that there are square shapes in Brazil where rain forest used to be.
There is much mention of Earth's climate with mention made of not only the vanishing rain forest and rising temperatures but also of some success stories in terms of wildlife and environment preservation.
It is not all about matters of the environment however and Director Myers stated that her intention with this film was to take the viewer to space and she has clearly succeeded rather nicely.
 |
| IMAX cameras pointed to Earth from the International Space Station provide some stunning imagery |
The film does a great job in showing how vast the universe is with a nice zoom in shot to open.
But the focus is firmly on Earth as viewed from the ISS and it is in this arena that it truly excels.
With great work from narrator Jennifer Lawrence everything is explained in just the right amount of detail.
For anyone even remotely interested in space this is a must see.
This may be a brief experience but it is a superb one.
Like the universe itself if there is any downside to this film it is that it leaves you wanting to know more and see more.
What we do see is a real treat.
IMAX with 3D really lends itself to this sort of footage and it doesn't disappoint.
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