A stunning achievement in 3D effects and visual energy, National Geographic’s Sea Monsters 3D: A Prehistoric Adventure in IMAX manages to capture an epic feel in a relatively short running time. While the frequent cuts between 82 million years ago and the present may be slightly jarring to the storyline flow, inventive segues between time periods and stylish special motion effects keep the survival story of the “Dollies” ever-engaging. The informative narration by Liev Shreiber provides ample foreshadowing of approaching predators with monstrously long names and the story plays out with enough gusto to rise above the categorization of documentary.
Jumping from present day archaeologists (in several different countries) to pioneers of the science, and even accidental discoveries, Sea Monsters unearths the fascinating tale of a young Dolichorhynchops (Dollies for short) and her travels from shallow birthing waters to the dangerous depths of ancient oceans and back again. Along the way she will encounter all manner of predator and prey, from massive jellyfish, to Styxosaurus with 20-foot long necks, to the deadly Tylosaurus, the T-Rex of the ocean, and every perilous encounter will leave a clue for those unraveling her journey.
As breathtakingly intense as the 3D dinosaurs are jumping off the screen, the film essentially has only that one trick. While it tries to mix it up for the audience by showing dinosaurs swimming at you, jumping at you, passing in front of you, or even a surprising rock explosion clattering around you, there are only so many times one can witness things catapulted from the screen before it gets tiresome. Fortunately, due to the very short running time, it doesn’t have a chance to get agitating, and the 3D effects remain quite stimulating.
The narration doesn’t get too involved with the scientific jargon, except for several nearly unpronounceable creature names, so audience members won’t be lost trying to follow the Dollie’s life cycle. While you’ll probably walk away not remembering anything about the Crustaceous Period creatures, or the archaeological digs in Kansas, South Dakota, the Netherlands and elsewhere across the world, you will probably mention to your friends how much fun it was to witness the amazing technology that IMAX 3-D has so mind-bogglingly perfected.
Prehistoric creatures of all shapes and sizes literally jump off the screen and several sequences will have you instinctively trying to dodge the monstrosities torpedoing toward you. A perfect example of the powers of IMAX and digital effects, Sea Monsters 3D: A Prehistoric Adventure is as close as it gets to swimming with dinosaurs.
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