Reality
show for the Moon
“Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3-D,” narrated
by Tom Hanks, features vast and beautiful panoramic views of a silent oasis that
in the 50 years since man first set foot on the moon, has only been experienced
first hand by twelve astronauts of the NASA Apollo Mission. The movie opens at
While the 40-minute IMAX, playing in 85 theaters across the globe, lacked the
in-your-face sensation one might expect from a 3D movie appearing on a humungous
screen, Magnificent Desolation was refreshingly authentic in both its
visual renditions and conveyance of sound (or lack thereof) in outer space.
In light of the recent blockbuster successes of so many Hollywood feature films –many
with science fiction motifs of intergalactic warfare, UFOs, and other alien creatures
from across the cosmos, this film stands true to its documentary style, and brings
to life an otherwise uneventful, dark and lonely space.
The Smithsonian's IMAX screen, which spans approximately 110 feet from left to
right and 90 feet from top to bottom, provides an almost perfect canvas on which
to watch the film. However, the film falls just a little bit short of being a
perfect visual experience. This may partly be due to the surface area of the
screen that must be used for the 3D effect. Unlike some older IMAXs that have
screens with full wraparound dimensions inside a domelike theater, the Smithsonian's
screen is a flat panel display. This made the production fall just a little bit
short in its effort to completely immerse the viewer in an otherwise lifelike
virtual trip along the moon.
Most filmgoers nowadays have grown up with an abundance of ear-popping, in-your-face
sound effects, so Magnificent Desolation's score might sound slow and steady,
with moments of action that are only slightly punctuated by a limited number
of subtle audio effects. There is no cacophony of sound effects, no explosions
in space, no starships blowing up… No such hallmarks appear in Magnificent
Desolation---but this is not without good cause.
Explosions in space would not be realistic. Unlike on earth, waves of sound do
not occur in space. The lack of air on the moon prohibits waves from traveling.
Hence, the landing of the Apollo craft on the moon’s surface is a silent
event. Any sound would not contribute much in the way of authentically representing
reality-- even if that reality is 283,000 miles from Earth. And the movie is
not without a few memorable cliffhangers…and moments of breath-holding
suspense.
The movie’s gift to the viewer is in the level of detail.
Surprisingly, it is the backdrop that at times seems more impressive than many
of the more in-your-face features coming towards the audience from the movie’s
foreground.
The backdrop to the set was composed of original photos taken by NASA in space.
None of the contents of the original film and photographed had been moved or
manipulated for Magnificent Desolation's soundstage or recreated events. More
than a year of archival research and collaboration between IMAX, NASA and NASA’s
Jet Propulsion Laboratory resulted in an accurate soundstage upon which stunt
actors could perform in full-fledged astronaut suits.
In creating a moon-like surface for the documentary’s recreated Apollo
missions and on-foot explorations by the likes of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin,
filmmakers looked for terrestrial substances with just the right mixture of weight
and adhesiveness said one of the project’s executive producers, Hugh Murray.
They needed something that would mimic the effects of real moon-dust and would
behave much like real moon dust would when something makes contact with it. Whether
it was an astronaut's boot stepping along the surface, or a wheeled rover riding
off into the distance, the filmmakers knew they wanted to have material that
would disperse on impact and float in front of the camera’s lens during
filming.
Ultimately, they settled on dust made from pulverized roofing tiles. While the
dust proved an excellent base to receive and hold imprints, everyone working
on the set -- from to stunt-actors playing the roles of astronauts to members
of the camera crew -- had to wear footwear made in the likeness of real astronaut
boots, said Murray. This ensured that audiences watching the film that any footprints
appearing on the moon’s surface in the movie would not detract from the
work's authenticity.
Moon rocks were also created out of distressed, painted Styrofoam, which added
to the effects of weightlessness the filmmakers hoped to convey.
Computer graphics experts went to painstaking lengths to ensure that all the
visual elements were for ready 3D IMAX viewing. According to Murray, post-production
technicians had to digitally recreate and render every last particle of dust
from the fabricated moon on the Magnificent Desolation studio soundstage. Using
advanced CG software and high-end editing equipment, technicians digitally enhanced
nearly every speckle of matter that appears as a kicked-up cloud of dust in the
final cut.
The IMAX filmmakers were fortunate to find that the NASA cameras were high resolution – perfect
for using as a life-sized backdrop. "It turned out that the film used for
the Mars/moon missions were very similar to what we were using for the IMAX 3-D," Murray
said. "Because we used real photos [from NASA,] without that we could not
otherwise produce or recreate the feeling with such accuracy."
The movie essentially says to its younger viewers that space missions are a risky
but necessary and noble business; one that has always had inherent risks that
astronauts have been willing to take for the betterment of humanity, even if
they don't come back form their missions.
While Tom Hanks’ narrative voice definitely fits with the credibility of
the movie's scientific points, there are some parts most adults would find a
bit hokey. But keeping in mind that the film's intended audience is children
and young teens, parents should sit back, not worry too much about content, and
enjoy the more subtle visual and audio nuances this film has to offer.
More information
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3-D (2005)
Total runtime: 40 minutes
Inside Science Science Rating: 4.5 stars
For the latest schedule information, call 1-877-932-IMAX (4629).
In the DC area: Smithsonian Air and Space Museum’s Lockheed-Martin IMAX;
playing daily: 10:25A.M., 12:25P.M., 3:00P.M., and 5:00P.M.
Chris Rowe, crowe@aip.org
American Institute of Physics
301-209-3136
|
