Cyberworld 3-D
Directed by Colin Davies and Elaine Despins.
Featuring the voices of : Jenna Elfman, Dave
Foley and Matt Frewer.
(now playing at the King of Prussia IMAX theater
and, probably, any IMAX theater in existence)
* * *
(Three Stars)
'Cyberworld 3-D' is a composium of digital themed
vignettes, some former digital creations made three-dimensional (the dance
scene from 'Antz' and 'Homer³' from the Simpsons Halloween episode
where Homer goes into the third dimension), others wild-eyed fantasy set
pieces anchored with music and snap out visual shocks and pleasures. The
unfortunate thing holding a visionary collection like this down is a rather
stale presentation - as many of the IMAX films are guilty of - that treats
the viewers far below their intelligence level, setting the bar as if we
were all open-mouthed (which we were) children, experiencing this 'cinema
of attractions' for the first time.
I'm usually taken either
way, whether I'm patronized because I chose to peek into a not yet stable
cinematic experiment - or not. The visuals, as the producers know, are
more than enough to hold an audience's undivided attention. This one is
set inside a computer, making the various episodes into programs Phig,
the host (voiced by Jenna Elfman) opens to our waiting eyes. More invigorating,
but perhaps not as sound as 'Fantasia 2000', the other IMAX presentation
I had the fortune to see this year, 'Cyberworld 3-D', as the credits point
out, was culled from a variety of sources - which excited me. While I (and
my daughter - take your kids, people) was digging the excitement of the
whole ordeal, I couldn't help thinking that it felt like a compilation
of so many dedicated artists of the computer age. How nice to be rewarded
with the knowledge that I was right. Nice to include many consciousness'
in this strange and wondrous new world.
Though hardly a new stitch
(just once, I'd like to admire something beyond the eye popping
technique - say, the plot?) in this magnificent technology - 'Cyberworld
3-D' takes new steps in visualizing the beauty we can tap in this celluloid
reserve. It's especially telling that we are shown exactly how the IMAX
system works - and then it soars right into our frontal lobes, making us
forget there was even a system to begin with. If we can take that triumph
deep into the world of narrative film - we can begin to register movies
as potent narcotics with the DEA and open detox centers for flick junkies.
Oh, how long will you make us wait, oh cinema Lord?
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