SETTLE IN FOR THE REAL LIFE AQUATIC.Byline: Bob Strauss Film Critic COMPILED FROM footage shot for the BBC BBC in full British Broadcasting Corp. Publicly financed broadcasting system in Britain. A private company at its founding in 1922, it was replaced by a public corporation under royal charter in 1927. series ``The Blue Planet,'' ``Deep Blue'' takes us to watery places many an IMAX IMAX Noun a film projection process that produces an image ten times larger than standard film and Animal Planet program have gone before. This oceanographic documentary, however, tries to cover the sea like H2O covers the Earth. It may not actually be comprehensive, but it feels like ``Deep Blue'' touches on all the points worth knowing, and more just for fun. In its 90, often lyrical, minutes, the Pierce Brosnan-narrated picture escorts us from the penguins of the far south to the polar bears of the far north, from shoreline crab nests and sea lion sea lion, fin-footed marine mammal of the eared seal family (Otariidae). Like the other member of this family, the fur seal, the sea lion is distinguished from the true seal by its external ears, long, flexible neck, supple forelimbs, and hind flippers that can be communities to the deep, dark volcanic vents where weird ocean floor life so baffles scientists and troubles creationists. In between, we explore coral reefs coral reefs, limestone formations produced by living organisms, found in shallow, tropical marine waters. In most reefs, the predominant organisms are stony corals, colonial cnidarians that secrete an exoskeleton of calcium carbonate (limestone). in daylight and at night, find ourselves in the middle of shark feeding frenzies and learn - not once, but in two ghastly instances - why those cute Free Willy critters are called killer whales. Survival, death, beauty and terror are always interwoven in·ter·weave v. in·ter·wove , in·ter·wo·ven , inter·weav·ing, inter·weaves v.tr. 1. To weave together. 2. To blend together; intermix. v.intr. , so the movie is never less than absorbing. Directors Alastair Fothergill and Andy Byatt go for more of an observational approach than an instructional one - Brosnan's narration is kept to a necessary minimum - which has the stirring effect of making a viewer feel drenched in Adj. 1. drenched in - abundantly covered or supplied with; often used in combination; "drenched in moonlight"; "moon-drenched meadows" drenched covered - overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form; the environment and drama of each scenario. Far-flung footage from some 20 different camera teams is worked into an aesthetically comprehensive overview, often informed by the credo that everything's better in slow motion. George Fenton's entrancing score adds to the overall mesmerizing mes·mer·ize tr.v. mes·mer·ized, mes·mer·iz·ing, mes·mer·iz·es 1. To spellbind; enthrall: "He could mesmerize an audience by the sheer force of his presence" effect. Bob Strauss, (818) 713-3670 bob.strauss(at)dailynews.com DEEP BLUE - Three stars (G: animal violence) Director: Alastair Fothergill and Andy Byatt. Running time: 1 hr. 30 min. Playing: Sunset 5, West Hollywood. In a nutshell: Ocean documentary made from footage shot for the BBC's ``Blue Planet'' series immerses us in an experiential view of life and death throughout the sea. Pierce Brosnan narrates. |
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