George Butler Movies

Mars is Earth's closest planetary neighbor, and for decades scientists have been curious about the so-called "Red Planet," wondering if it's possible that life exists there, how its soil and terrain differs from our own, and if water can be found. While sending a manned space mission to Mars has been considered beyond the reach of America's space program, in 2001 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration approved a mission to send two "rovers" to Mars -- wheeled robots that would send images and data back to Earth. A two-year crash program resulted in two robotic rovers (dubbed "Spirit" and "Opportunity") being sent to Mars, which have given scientists and researchers on Earth a brand new vision of what the planet is really like. Roving Mars is a documentary which offers a detailed look at the people behind the Mars rover program, how the machines were built and what they can do, and what has been learned since they reached their target. Roving Mars was shot and originally exhibited in the high-definition IMAX film format. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 men set sail aboard Shackleton's ship the Endurance to Antarctica, with the goal of becoming the first men to cross the South Pole on foot. Unstable weather conditions and a series of unavoidable accidents destroyed the ship and left Shackleton and his men stranded in the icy wastes near the bottom of the world. Shackleton pledged to his men that they would survive the disaster, and remarkably he proved good to his word, with the men of the Endurance returned to safety after a grueling two years in one of the most punishing environments on Earth. Shacketon's Antarctic Adventure combines film shot by Frank Hurley during Shackleton's ill-fated expedition with new footage lensed in the high-definition IMAX format of modern-day adventurers retracing Shackleton's route to document the obstacles presented to the men of the Endurance and how they overcame them. Shacketon's Antarctic Adventure was the second documentary directed by George Butler on Shackleton's fateful voyage to the South Pole, following 2000's The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Follow father and son explorers down the same treacherous African paths in a remarkable documentary that traces Theodore Roosevelt's 1909 expedition though vintage footage and photographs before moving forward in time to 1986 to follow the former president's great-grandson through the same wondrous land. Armed with his great-grandfather's rifle and with his young son by his side, the descendent of the twenty-sixth president traces the footsteps of elephants and crocodiles as he bonds with his young son and teaches him about the dangers of the hunt. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Arnold Schwarzenegger gained his first real notoriety outside body-building circles with this documentary about a group of men training for the Mr. Olympia contest. Arnold had already won the title six times before, and was training for his seventh victory before retiring to fully pursue his acting career (which began to catch fire with his likable turn in Stay Hungry, released the same year) when this was shot. Here he displays an easy charm and wicked sense of humor as he plays mind games with his competitors and explains how getting pumped up for competition always reminded him of sex (which might explain why he seems so cheerful). And what is Arnold smoking in his dressing room after the contest? Future Incredible Hulk Lou Ferrigno is also on hand, and his fierce determination as he goes through a brutal weight lifting regimen shouting "Arnold! Arnold!" speaks both to his own desire to win and how strong a presence Schwarzenegger was in body-building at the time. You don't have to be a body building fan to enjoy Pumping Iron, though Arnold is the one contestant who shows obvious star quality. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi