Dolphins

Originally shown on up-to-eight-stories high IMAX screens, Greg MacGillivray's Oscar-nominated short documentary Dolphins features a fine script co-written by Tim Cahill (Jaguars Ripped My Flesh), original songs and music by Sting, narration by Pierce Brosnan, and some of the most entertaining dolphin/human interaction footage you're likely to see. Traveling from the Bahamas to Patagonia, the IMAX crew focus on the work of two research scientists: Kathleen Dudzinski, whose studies in dolphin communication reveal interesting insights into the language use of these playful ventriloquists of the seas (such as the apparent relationship between the increasing number of clicks and vocalizations dolphins use in proportion to the murkiness of the surrounding water), and Dean Bernal, whose daily one-on-one work with a dolphin named JoJo suggests that not only can dolphins make strong emotional attachments, but they can even act against their own self-interest (in one extraordinary sequence, we see JoJo attack a hammerhead shark that cruises near Bernal). In addition to enlightening viewers about the current frontiers of scientific research regarding dolphins, this gorgeously lensed, colorful program serves up interesting, entertaining (and sometimes environmentally alarming) factoids about dolphin life. Both the VHS and the DVD include an eye-opening "making of" documentary (as long as Dolphins itself) that takes viewers on an intriguing behind the scenes look at the peculiar challenges of making an IMAX film. The DVD includes a few extra features and website links, as well as a sparkling Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Dolphins is also available in the IMAX--Big Picture Box DVD set featuring four other MacGillivray IMAX documentaries--The Living Sea, The Magic of Flight, Stormchasers and The Discoverers--for $99.99. A fine complement to In the Wild: Dolphins with Robin Williams (VL-5/96), this is enthusiastically recommended. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Pitman)