Adventures in Wild California

From the "How The Heck Did They Do That?" school of cinematography comes this extremely enjoyable IMAX film that covers California from the top of the Sierras to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. In jaw dropping, spectacular 70mm film, the cameras of MacGillivray-Freeman Films take us walking with maintenance workers on the Golden Gate Bridge, flying thousands of feet over the ground with baby eagles, surfing through killer swells, diving deep into kelp forests off Catalina Island, snowboarding down slopes at Lake Tahoe, and even sashaying down the red carpet at the Academy Awards. A lush and evocative musical score from Lindsay Buckingham and good narration by Jimmy Smits make for a completely engrossing overview of the Golden State that employs very effective, in-your face luscious cinematography. In one of the most memorable sequences, two young adventurers rappel into the hollow heart of a giant sequoia tree, setting down in a 2,000-year-old spot previously untouched by human hand (or foot). A bonus "making of" documentary shows the incredible logistics of taking the heavy, cumbersome 70mm cameras into these situations, profiling the brave and heroic filmmaking teams who create such breathtaking images. A travel adventure film extraordinaire, Adventures in Wild California is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: P. (R. Ray)