Adopting an attitude of aw-shucks wonderment, Jeff Bridges narrates Greg MacGillivray’s big-screen IMAX inspirational tribute to the past triumphs and present dreams of civil engineers. Dream Big begins with footage of children constructing with toy blocks, and it suggests that the creative impulse has given rise to numerous marvels over the centuries, ranging from the Great Wall of China to the International Space Station and other modern skyscrapers and bridges. The documentary argues that such extraordinary achievements are just the most notable examples of every engineer’s drive to find effective answers to the practical difficulties encountered in building, and it spotlights the efforts of one young professional to design structures better able to withstand earthquakes, and another who heads a non-profit devoted to finding ways to construct much-needed footbridges in remote areas where the topography is especially dangerous. Also spotlighted are a Phoenix high school class that built an underwater robot that performed well in a California competition, and a Mississippi team that beat MIT rivals in a solar car challenge in Australia. Filmed in the IMAX format, this loses something on the small screen, but the images remain impressive in this semi-promo documentary produced in partnership with the American Society of Civil Engineers. Extras include an educator’s guide, educational shorts, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and "Fun Facts" clips. Recommended. Aud: I, J, H, P. (F. Swietek)
Dream Big: Engineering Our World
(2017) 2 discs. 42 min. DVD: $19.99, 4K/Blu-ray Combo: $29.99. Shout! Factory (avail. from most distributors). SDH captioned. Volume 33, Issue 5
Dream Big: Engineering Our World
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