Jerusalem

Filmmaker Daniel Ferguson's spectacular-looking IMAX documentary Jerusalem offers a breathtaking armchair tourist experience, taking viewers to several fantastic ancient sites, while also—unfortunately—skirting ugly, present-day realities. Watching glorious footage of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City, one would never know that horrendous conflicts exist between Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Where Jerusalem does succeed, however, is in asking and answering large questions such as why the city is considered so important to several cultures and three major religions, and why some of the most sacred sites in the world are within such a small geographical area. Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, the film looks at family life and annual sacred rituals, along with making visits to the Western Wall, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (where the euphoric Holy Fire ceremony is witnessed in the film's most dazzling scene). Extras include audio commentaries, crew interviews, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and deleted scenes. As much a film about hope for an ideal future of mutual understanding and tolerance as it is an appreciation of a city's past, this is a strong optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (T. Keogh)