​FILMS

america wild

You'll go wild for the stunning views!

2016 review number 30:

America Wild: (Documentary): 75 out of 100: MacGillivray Freeman Films is an American film studio that has produced and distributed 35 IMAX films since 1974. Founding partner Jim Freeman was killed in a helicopter crash in 1976 but his partner, Greg MacGillivray, is still making documentaries. America Wild is his latest one, with his mastery of filling the IMAX screen with dazzling images highlighting his expertise. 

 

Narrated by Robert Redford, America Wild takes viewers on a journey of the nation's awe-inspiring national parks including Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Everglades. World-class mountaineer Conrad Anker, his stepson, Max Lowe, and family friend Rachel Pohl, embark on a cross-country trip that is accompanied by daredevil activities such as white water rafting and rock climbing. 

 

Immersive 3D cinematography enables viewers to experience the full grandeur of the sights encountered. Aerial views promote the stunning landscapes with the IMAX screen being alive with the visions and sounds of the national parks and untamed wilderness. Other techniques that succeed include the use of time lapse photography and slow motion scenes of a bear attempting to catch its salmon meal. Another highlight is the sequence featuring a geyser in all its erupting glory. 

 

Although the team of adventurers generates excitement with the activities they pursue, there are several cheesy scenes involving them which detract from the viewing experience. One scene features them singing a song in their car. We could have done without that scene. Something I felt that should have been included however, was an interview with a native American. We are told how much the land means to native Americans at the beginning of the documentary but never hear of it again. A perspective from the indigenous would have been ideal to balance the 'intrusion' of visitors that the documentary mainly focuses on. 

 

The music score has to be commended for complementing the visuals. When the majestic landscapes are exhibited, the music is symphonic and graceful. On other occasions when there is an extreme sport taking place, the drums create a pulsating rhythm that matches the daring escapades of the adventurers. Robert Redford's narration is befitting of the visuals on display. It's grand, eloquent and exalted. He has been given a script that doesn't resort to tacky jokes for the images seen on screen don't need intrusive words to devalue their splendour.

 

The full title is America Wild: National Parks Adventure. Everything is perfectly summed up by the words in the title. It is an adventure for people who wish to immerse themselves in national parks. It is wild in terms of showcasing the magnificent wilderness and finally it all takes place in America, which has some of the more diverse landscapes on this planet that have been captured brilliantly in this documentary. 

 

Narrated by Robert Redford

(43 minutes)

Additional scene during or after credits: Yes, there are home videos of people visiting the 'wild' regions of America

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWHGDynB6vk (Movie trailer)

 

(Reviewed on Sunday 21st February, 2016)

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