I am an avid fan of the IMAX format, but rarely have I ever been a fan of any IMAX film. This is the one IMAX film that I feel has used the advantages of the format in nearly every shot, and besides that, it is an elegantly produced little film. Extremely beautiful, with many highlights. It is a must-see for all those who've never been exactly impressed by anything at an IMAX show (although the 'industry' is working overtime in amping up this cinema-sideshow - they promise it will be the 'next big thing' in movies). DON'T WATCH IT AT HOME.
11 Reviews
Wants to show too much
rbverhoef23 March 2006
As a documentary 'The Living Sea' is sort of a mess, throwing as much in forty minutes as it can, but it contains images of rare beauty, some useful information and a great soundtrack.
Narrated by Meryl Streep we learn some things about the sea under the surface and about the sea above the surface. Although these things both have their influence on each other the film rushes so much we never really learn why. We see some jelly fish, some surfers, some whales, the islands of Hawaii, the islands of Palau with its own narrator, a research center in Maine, some other creatures, a rescue boat.
Yes, I have to admit that every small episode is entertaining or at least beautiful to look at, but from a documentary, even a forty minute IMAX production, you expect a little bit more. The soundtrack from Sting is a nice bonus that makes 'The Living Sea' both easy on the eyes as on the ears.
Narrated by Meryl Streep we learn some things about the sea under the surface and about the sea above the surface. Although these things both have their influence on each other the film rushes so much we never really learn why. We see some jelly fish, some surfers, some whales, the islands of Hawaii, the islands of Palau with its own narrator, a research center in Maine, some other creatures, a rescue boat.
Yes, I have to admit that every small episode is entertaining or at least beautiful to look at, but from a documentary, even a forty minute IMAX production, you expect a little bit more. The soundtrack from Sting is a nice bonus that makes 'The Living Sea' both easy on the eyes as on the ears.
Mind-blowing
CuriosityKilledShawn4 August 2000
I've only ever seen 3 IMAX films and this is one of them. I was totally blown away by the incredible sound and photography. I had to study every shot because there is so much in it.
It's not actually a movie like other IMAX films (such as Across the Sea of Time and T-Rex) but more of a documentary about how we are all islanders and how we live because the sea lives. It was surprisingly effective in this sense. My fave part was the discovery of the new underwater fish and the fish that had, what looked like, thousands of little lights flashing on and off.
A scene with a boat fighting waves and crashing back down onto the sea was better than anything in The Perfect Storm. The sound in this particular scene is IN-CRED-IBLE.
Whenever you pass by an IMAX check to see whether or not they are showing this masterpiece. You'll love it.
It's not actually a movie like other IMAX films (such as Across the Sea of Time and T-Rex) but more of a documentary about how we are all islanders and how we live because the sea lives. It was surprisingly effective in this sense. My fave part was the discovery of the new underwater fish and the fish that had, what looked like, thousands of little lights flashing on and off.
A scene with a boat fighting waves and crashing back down onto the sea was better than anything in The Perfect Storm. The sound in this particular scene is IN-CRED-IBLE.
Whenever you pass by an IMAX check to see whether or not they are showing this masterpiece. You'll love it.
Excellent documentary for everyone ((spoilers?))
hrsimon16 June 2006
I picked this up at our library because it looked slightly interesting, and we're going on a beach vacation soon. ...WOW! It is so good!! I've watched it three times now, and took it to a get-together for other family members to watch it, and they all really enjoyed it as well, especially "The Making Of" segment. Our 2-yo was mesmerized, and we all appreciated the very unique, entertaining, beautiful footage. It was originally shot for IMAX theaters, which must have been perfect! I recommend watching it on the biggest screen possible, with the lights out.
Our favorite parts...
Time-lapsed footage of 30-foot tides in Canada: watch the harbor drain until the big boats are sitting on mud, then it fills back up again!
Sped-up footage of boats zipping across the water, people on the beach: humorous.
Surfers and huge waves in Hawaii: really captures the feeling of surfing, and their passion for the ocean.
Coast Guard boat jumping and crashing through enormous waves at Cape Disappointment.
The music by Sting, with tweaked instrumentals, really fits!
Islander Dad with his two kids in a speed boat, cruising at high speeds under rock formations, and skimming the beautiful shores.
The fact that there were no actors, just real people like the dad, and a woman's first time snorkeling with jellyfish and descending into poisonous depths of a salt-water lake.
THE MAKING OF... where the producers talk about difficulties they had with different shots, dangers they faced in several scenes, cost of production, orchestrating the soundtrack, and reason for making this film.
Their reason for making this film, for putting their heart and soul into it, was in the hopes that people who watch it will fall in love with the sea, and therefore want to protect it. As they said, "there is only one ocean," and it encompasses such a majority of the earth that no matter where we live, "we are all islanders."
Our favorite parts...
Time-lapsed footage of 30-foot tides in Canada: watch the harbor drain until the big boats are sitting on mud, then it fills back up again!
Sped-up footage of boats zipping across the water, people on the beach: humorous.
Surfers and huge waves in Hawaii: really captures the feeling of surfing, and their passion for the ocean.
Coast Guard boat jumping and crashing through enormous waves at Cape Disappointment.
The music by Sting, with tweaked instrumentals, really fits!
Islander Dad with his two kids in a speed boat, cruising at high speeds under rock formations, and skimming the beautiful shores.
The fact that there were no actors, just real people like the dad, and a woman's first time snorkeling with jellyfish and descending into poisonous depths of a salt-water lake.
THE MAKING OF... where the producers talk about difficulties they had with different shots, dangers they faced in several scenes, cost of production, orchestrating the soundtrack, and reason for making this film.
Their reason for making this film, for putting their heart and soul into it, was in the hopes that people who watch it will fall in love with the sea, and therefore want to protect it. As they said, "there is only one ocean," and it encompasses such a majority of the earth that no matter where we live, "we are all islanders."
Fascinating!
mhawfield-28 June 2000
A fascinating look at how the oceans of the world impact the Earth. Facts like "70% of the Earth's oxygen comes from ocean plants." Great soundtrack from sting that compliments the film and each story. While not as impressive watching it at home as it is in an IMAX theater, it is still well worth a look at.
Journey through the seas via IMAX
DiverBen13 September 1998
This IMAX film is a breathtaking look at the workings of the world's oceans and its inhabitants. Magnificent cinematography makes this film an awesome sight on the giant screen. The magic is lost on video, however. But it is nevertheless an informative and beautifully filmed documentary. Also check out the great soft jazz/new age/pop soundtrack by Sting.
Extremely underwhelming
Horst_In_Translation22 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
"The Living Sea" is an IMAX documentary from over 20 years ago and the title tells you what this is about: water. IMAX has a tendency to be frequently only visually convincing and not thematically and this one here is not even the former. The film is packed with phrases such as if we want to save the environment, we need to understand it, but there is little substance beyond that. Apart from that, I think Meryl Streep is a great actress, but not a great narrator. And I always find it irritating if they use 2 people, a star and a non-famous person, to narrate these movies, especially when they don't even go for 40 minutes. Admittedly, the subject here (sea/water) is a very general one which makes it a tough challenge to make a film with focus on that issue, but with the money they had available for this one here, I still expected something better. Not recommended.
Elegant.
rupanisp1 October 2003
Creator of the Universe has done excellent job by creating Air, Land,
and Water... and all the creatures inside them...
There is nothing like Water...
It is very peaceful and silent inside Water and In Air...
I doubt that those who swims in open waters can understand anything
about politics and manipulation on the Land...
How would a Human feel, if Sun makes noise and Water makes noise like
Human Vocal Cord every minute...
We know more about Outer Space than about our oceans today...
This movie is something to experience again and again...
Movies like these makes life very beautiful, desirable, and enjoyable...
Lucky are those who experience IMAX every month...
Rest are just laboring for nothing...wasting their precious time talking
nonsense....
Nature is truly beautiful... and we ( small object ) exist and walk on
Earth ( Large Object )...and yet we fail to notice that Earth will be
here.. but we will be gone momentarily....
Thanks and Regards.
Sam Rupani
Houston, Texas, United States of Ameri
and Water... and all the creatures inside them...
There is nothing like Water...
It is very peaceful and silent inside Water and In Air...
I doubt that those who swims in open waters can understand anything
about politics and manipulation on the Land...
How would a Human feel, if Sun makes noise and Water makes noise like
Human Vocal Cord every minute...
We know more about Outer Space than about our oceans today...
This movie is something to experience again and again...
Movies like these makes life very beautiful, desirable, and enjoyable...
Lucky are those who experience IMAX every month...
Rest are just laboring for nothing...wasting their precious time talking
nonsense....
Nature is truly beautiful... and we ( small object ) exist and walk on
Earth ( Large Object )...and yet we fail to notice that Earth will be
here.. but we will be gone momentarily....
Thanks and Regards.
Sam Rupani
Houston, Texas, United States of Ameri
The Living Sea(1995)
robfollower26 February 2021
The Living Sea is a 70mm American documentary film exploring marine locales intended to show the importance of protecting the ocean, released to IMAX theaters in 1995. It is narrated by actress Meryl Streep, with music by Sting, produced by Science World, a Vancouver-based science education center, and underwater imagery directed by filmmaker Greg MacGillivray.
The film is a survey of the world's oceans, emphasizing that it is a single interconnected ocean and the dependence of all life on the planet. The film shows researchers tracking whales, a Coast Guard rough-weather rescue squad, a deep-ocean research team, and the Palau Islands, which contain an unusual jellyfish habitat.
The film is directed by Academy Award-nominated IMAX director and cinematographer Greg MacGillivray, who also directed similar water-conservation themed documentaries such as Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short. Highly recommended
The film is a survey of the world's oceans, emphasizing that it is a single interconnected ocean and the dependence of all life on the planet. The film shows researchers tracking whales, a Coast Guard rough-weather rescue squad, a deep-ocean research team, and the Palau Islands, which contain an unusual jellyfish habitat.
The film is directed by Academy Award-nominated IMAX director and cinematographer Greg MacGillivray, who also directed similar water-conservation themed documentaries such as Grand Canyon Adventure: River at Risk. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Short. Highly recommended
An Epic Exploration
trinsghost11 December 2008
Meryl Streep narrates the sweeping visual that emphasizes the value of our world's oceans, and how they and the life thriving within depends on us to maintain their majesty. Through research, casual observance, reverence and daily life we are shown how the oceans are interconnected, and that life can be found in even the darkest corners of the sea.
I first saw this IMAX film 13 years ago in the Denver Museum of History and Science, and was floored by how beautifully filmed it was. And the film is well paired with songs from Sting, especially the song 'Fragile'.
I first saw this IMAX film 13 years ago in the Denver Museum of History and Science, and was floored by how beautifully filmed it was. And the film is well paired with songs from Sting, especially the song 'Fragile'.
A breathtaking IMAX movie.
cmyklefty28 July 2002
The Living Sea is a movie that can make you understand how we fit with the ocean ecosystem. I like the underwater scenery the best, because it almost feel you are swimming with the fishes. I saw this movie in Hawaii in 1997 at Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. It was a nice companion piece to my travel on the island.
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