Veteran IMAX director Stephen Low’s latest big-screen short documentary pays homage to aircraft carriers in decidedly cheerleading fashion (with thanks to participating companies including Lockheed Martin). Like the similar We, The Marines (VL-3/19), Aircraft Carrier interweaves historical tidbits, here drawn from 4,000 years of naval warfare (touching on ancient ships, WWI battleships, and the famous WWII-era Battle of Midway), but the primary focus is on a U.S.-led RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) naval exercise involving 22,000 men and women and 55 ships from 26 nations (including Japan, South Korea, and China). At the center is the USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class supercarrier with over 5,000 crew members. Some of the most interesting (if also fairly technical) segments use 3D CGI to illustrate the inner workings of the ship’s uranium-powered nuclear reactors, the piston-driven aircraft launch system (0-160 mph in three seconds), and the drag line that will stop a landing jet in a mere two seconds. But overall this has the feel of a big military parade. Viewers are told that the RIMPAC exercise is a complicated, team-based event, but no real attempt is made to follow the proceedings; instead, we see a highlights reel of planes strafing targets and submarines firing missiles, all accompanied by tending-towards-purple narration filled with superlatives. Extras include audience testimonials and promo spots. Aircraft Carrier looks sharp in 4K on a big-screen TV, but it’s more spectacle (with somewhat repetitive montages) than in-depth exploration of the subject. Still, this will likely appeal to military buffs, making it a strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)
Aircraft Carrier: Guardian of the Seas
(2017) 43 min. 4K/Blu-ray Combo: $39.95. Shout! Factory (avail. from most distributors). SDH captioned. Volume 34, Issue 3
Aircraft Carrier: Guardian of the Seas
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