Mar 01, 2006 09:16 AM
1354 Views
(Updated Mar 01, 2006 09:19 AM)
This movie is called Magnificent Desolation - Walking on the Moon (3D).
Let us analyse this title and see if this gives us a clue about what to expect from this
movie.
Magnificent - adj- Characterized by brilliance or grandeur
Desolation - noun - A bleak and desolate atmosphere
'Walking on the Moon' is the catch-line; and 3D it is!
Desolation because what we will explore has nothing lively to offer but it is magnificent because our exploration is an achievement for the entire human-kind.
Spending millions of dollars and risking tens of precious human lives just to reach a place that is full of rocks and pits was to prove to ourselves the supremacy of the human race, it was convince ourselves that there is nothing impossible for humans, it was to leave a tale for the generations to come that we, the humans, have conquered the wonderful moon.
This one's going to be different from my other reviews. I am just letting it flow.
The movie begins with footages of the Apollo missions (of NASA, USA) that tried to put human up there in the space and beyond it. These footages are in black and white and 2D but since it is a 3D movie, they have brilliantly put hundreds of stills in such a way that it looks like a sphere with images making its outer surface. I would say, there could have been no better way to gel the footages with a supposedly 3D movie.
Then there are kids being interviewed as to who would like to go to the moon. Tom Hanks makes a you-blink-and-you-miss appearance in this sequence wearing a space suit.
There is a 'studio recreation' of the landing on the moon (though it looks fake instantaneously) that shows you how the human-kind put its foot on the moon. The footages from the actual landing are juxtaposed with the mock-up. They have shown the preparation that goes in to getting a team ready for exploration. How they started with the first landing and then equiped themselves better for subsequent ones.
The scientific explanations have been presented in a lucid manner and should appeal to a layman. It is an enjoyable fare in most parts (unless someone next to you starts talking on his mobile phone. in that case ask him politely to switch it off or you can use my method - whisper in his ears 'i have put a bomb under your seat. if you shout, I will blow it off'. if nothing works, ignore him/her :))
The movie ends with dedications to the space scientists of all Apollo missions so far. Finally, let me remind you of famous lines used in almost all languages but said brilliantly in Hindi, 'Insaan chaand tak jaa pahunchaa to yeh kya mushkil hai' (Humans have landed on moon, how can anything else be difficult to conquer!)
The movie is dry at times but considering the nature of the content, the presentation is superb and deserves special mention. I think, this movie is a must watch for kids. It will give them moments of joy as they see the landing on the moon happening in 3D and also will leave them with some food for thoughts, some images for dreaming and lots of moments to cherish.
It is not as entertaining as Polar Express 3D but it is worth one watch at least.
Want to go to the moon? Hit the IMAX at the earliest!
