By CJ Yu
Daily Bruin Contributor
While some may be spending $20 million to experience outer
space, a new IMAX film, “Space Station 3D,” gives
wannabe astronauts a similar opportunity for a much more reasonable
price.
Toted as “the first IMAX 3D space film ever,” the
movie documents the construction of the international space station
and the daily routines of those who work on board.
With the aid of polarized goggles and enormous IMAX screens, the
film effectively conveys the illusion that the audience is inside
the station, exercising and eating with the crew.
Although it was hard to believe that all of the footage was
actually filmed in space, narrator Tom Cruise made sure the
audience knew what they were seeing was authentic.
“A Hollywood effect, you’re thinking? No it’s
real,” said Cruise, in the film’s opening.
A drastic change from past fictional IMAX movies, such as
“L5: First City in Space,” which uses lots of computer
animation and paid actors to tell its story, “Space Station
3D” uses the reality of outer space and certified astronauts
as its biggest special effect.
To make the movie, astronauts were trained in cinematic
lighting, sound and camerawork.
At the project’s completion, the crew had used over 69,000
feet of film (13 miles), to be edited into the 50-minute
documentary.
While documentaries on TV usually make people change the
channel, “Space Station 3D” manages to tell its story
and entertain the audience at the same time, without losing anyone
in the process.
The film is enjoyable not because of its factual information,
but the hilarious antics of the onscreen astronauts who took full
advantage of the 3D effects.
When the crew tossed tennis balls around the cabin, nearly
everyone in the theater ducked as the balls sailed at the camera.
With the 3D technology combined with zero gravity, everyday tasks
from shaving to drinking water became fun.
The only criticism of the movie would have to be the narration,
as everything else in the film was flawless. The script was cheesy
at times, and the voice-overs were geared toward an elementary
school audience, rather than the general public.
However, since the audience of IMAX films are usually students
on field trips, it was probably in the producers’ best
interest to do so.
“Space Station 3D” maintains the perfect balance
between education and entertainment.
Although it may have the underpinnings of a stereotypical
documentary, the amazing 3D views from outer space and candid
footage of the astronauts clowning around on board should be enough
to make anyone appreciate the film.