Last night I saw an invited showing of the documentary film "Mysteries of the Great Lakes" a film Produced and Directed by David Lickley. This is a Science North Production and sponsored by agencies of the Canadian government, Great Lakes Port Authorities, two science centres, and Presque Isle State Park.
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The film is made on IMAX film stock and shown in theatres with the ultimate viewing and acoustic systems on the planet. The trailer for the theatre makes one feel like they are flying. You feel like you are moving in the airial shots which are spectacular. It is so cool to fly over some of the most wonderous places in the Great Lakes. Detailed underwater rocks and surfaces look stupendous and the fly over Niagara Falls enhances the high drama. You won't see the edge of the falls anywhere better unless you are going over in a barrel and looking out a port hole. I loved how the film stretched across the screen and how wide angle the shots of scenes are to watch to the edges of the theatre.
"Mysteries of the Great Lakes" is a film that talks about environmental issues that all of us who live in the Great Lakes should be well informed about. It's a film about the thin aquatic line between nature and humanity in the Great Lakes. It tells the story of how over one fifth of the fresh water on this planet is located in the lakes and Saint Lawrence we surf in. It is basic stuff to those who already understand the pertinent and essential problems of the Great Lakes. It is a film to bring your family to. The characters in this film are the old school inhabitants of our lakes who deserve respect and protection. Many of the icons of the Great Lakes are touched upon. What is missing is the incredibe waves that we lake surfers know, and Vince Deur first captured in "Unsalted." Fresh water surfers will be disappointed by the wonderful wind effects resulting in images of little, ankle-biter waves. The Fitz was hit by a huge, three sisters wave set. On the screen we did not see any big waves to support the intensity of the storm that sank that lake ship.
One of our favorite Canadian actors Gorden Pinsent does an admirable and masterful job as the narrator of the film. He goes way back. Just this week I was watching "The Thomas Crown Affair on the local Buffalo PBS station. There was Gordon. Most younger Canadians know him from the comedy "The Red Green Show."
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0684521/
The computer animation of the ancient formation of the Great Lakes is big time cutting edge. The images really tell that story perfectly. I'm not going to reveal every detail in this film. Great Lakes surfers will like hearing the inclusion of Gorden Lightfoots classic song about the Edmund Fitzgerald sinking. I went into the IMAX theatre only knowing that the film had something to do with our lakes and that there would be some underwater photography involved. I want to give you the same fresh viewing experience and not give away the film to you. I must repeat this film is educational and thrilling and perfect for family entertainment and children. The action involves soaring above the Great Lakes or going under it.
The film is upbeat and positive about the current ship ballast problems that have contributed to the invasive species invasions that put the lakes on the brink of a natural dooms day. The battle to deal with ship ballast problems are far from over. Just ask Great Lakes United. Erie, Pennsylvania gets top environmental billing for the intelligent clean up of their waterfront. But I disagree with the thought process in the film that shows views of a marina and then refers to a marina image as an example of restoration of green places in the lakes. This logic would lead one to think that marinas were green and similar to parks or natural beaches. As some of us are very much aware how words in the English language are modified and manipulated to persuade the general public out of their common sense. George Carlin has an entire comedy routine based on the trick useage of euphamisms. Honestly I liked the film but must take issue with that segment of the film. Across the Great Lakes and oceans we have seen efforts made to exploit natural surfing beaches and turn them into marinas or highways. The loss of surfing in Dana Point in California to a marina and the current fight to preserve Trestles instead of paving it over into a State Highway are just a couple of examples of a problem for surfers and the environment across the planet. Surfers always must be vigillant at The Bridge surf break in Lake Ontario. Lest someday we hear again about marinas being misrepresented as fishing piers. The Great Lakes won't be saved by investing in more marinas while the sewage infrastucture across North America is old and while toxic hot spots still exist in all five lakes. Marinas are not green spaces and neither are parking lots for cars. It is here that the film shows a slight bias towards it's sponsors. The ban of lawn pesticides in Ontario is not mentioned in the film because this environmental protection law was recently passed and implemented.
Now don't get me wrong I'm just taking issue with a small part of this film but not slamming it. The big story in this picture is deserving of high praise and I recommend you take your family out to see it. It is a high quality motion picture that will move your senses, thrill you like riding a wave or dropping free fall from over eight thousand feet. "Mysteries of the Great Lakes" stimulates thinking about our historic legacy and the macro and micro life that we often take for granted. There are places and things in our lakes that if not looked at will either stay mysteries or worse become non existent. These things are all too easy in the modern world to dismiss as unimportant as was the Hawaiian culture of surfing to zealot missionaires. Surfing nearly perished during a turning point of history but by luck and tenacious determination survived. In haste good things get rolled over sometimes to the greater loss of all of us. Things that to one culture once believed had little value are later one day by enlightenment found to be priceless. This film points the finger at something from the Great Lakes that should live on like surfing did. This thing is ancient. It must be cherished like the water of the Great Lakes. It is our legacy and something that deserves excellent stewardship.
This is a sidebar story. At the end of the film I heard two men who approached the Director and said they are in this film. He asked them where they were in the picture. They said they were two of the environmetnal demonstrators in the still photographers taken in Hamilton in the sixties. They were happy to be part of this production. You could see that on their faces.
To get entertained and learn something in the process is a big deal in an IMAX movie theatre. The seating is excellent. The film is currently playing at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto and will be touring other Great Lakes IMAX theatres this Spring/Summer 2009. I enjoyed the show and learned a few new things about the lakes. You will too. Spread the word.
4 (---- (---- (---- (---- out of 5.
