Greg MacGillivray Movies
- 2008
Waterkeeper Alliance founder Robert F. Kennedy Jr., botanist Wade Davis, kayaker Nikki Kelly, and Grand Canyon guide Shana Watahomigie set out on a 15-day river-rafting trip originating in Page, AZ, in MacGillivray Freeman Films' breathtaking adventure released simultaneously in both 2-D and 3-D IMAX theaters. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Wade Davis, (more)
- 2008
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On the heels of the announcement that mankind has entered what some scientists call a "100 year mega-drought," the producers of Everest and Mystery of the Nile invite viewers to explore the efficient ways in which Native Americans once used the Colorado River without sacrificing the scenic land that surrounds it. Few would deny that fresh water is perhaps the world's most precious resource, yet the way things are headed we may lose that resource sooner than we think. Now, environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Wade Davis attempt to raise awareness about global water issues by embarking on a breathtaking river-rafting adventure down the mighty Colorado River. The Colorado Delta has dried up, yet people in seven states and two countries use the water of the Colorado River for agricultural purposes every day; many never realizing precisely where their water is coming from. Is it possible to balance the needs to man with the needs of Mother Nature? And is it realistic to think that we can provide fresh drinking water to everyone on the planet? As the viewer follows these fearless adventurers down the Colorado River, we learn about not only the history of this particular watercourse, but also how mankind may best contend with dwindling water supplies should the ominous warnings issued by environmental scientists truly come to pass. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Redford
Stephen Judson's documentary The Alps transports audiences to the majestic yet incomparably deadly ice wall known as The Eiger, situated nearly fourteen thousand feet about Switzerland. At that location, a courageous alpinist whose father died in a climbing accident amid the same peaks attempts to scale his way to the very top. The film both revels in scenic Alpine wonder and pays homage to the fortitude and shared spirit of the Swiss people who live near the Eiger. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
Greg MacGillivray's documentary Greece: Secrets of the Past marks the latest addition to the tidal wave of IMAX features now available on widescreen DVD (including The Rolling Stones: Live at the Max, Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure, IMAX Space Station, and many others). This forty-minute travelogue unlocks the complexity and majesty of Ancient Greece, via a breathtaking visual exploration of the Greek isles, replete with gorgeous aerial cinematography. The program then tours the relics of antiquity that still linger on the Grecian landscape, including the ruins of the Parthenon and other architectural remnants, while narration on the soundtrack (by My Big Fat Greek Wedding's Nia Vardalos) expostulates on the land's contributions to democratic ideals, science, sculpture, and western politics. As an added bonus, broadly-scaled CGI visuals recreate the Santorini eruption. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nia Vardalos, Christos Doumas, (more)
Greg MacGillivray's Hurricane on the Bayou offers images of the natural beauty of New Orleans, as well as footage of the devastation the city suffered after Hurricane Katrina. The soundtrack is full of some of the most famous names in the city's rich musical history, and the film is narrated by Meryl Streep. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meryl Streep
The Nile is the longest river in the world, traveling over 3,200 miles from the Mediterranean Ocean to the highlands in Ethiopia, and its waters flow past some of the most fascinating places on Earth, from strange and dangerous territories to the very cradle of civilization. In the spring of 2004, Pasquale Scaturro and Gordon Brown set out to become the first explorers to navigate the entire span of the Nile in a single voyage, using two rafts and a kayak, with a camera crew in tow to capture the historic journey on film. Mystery of the Nile is a documentary which records the adventures of Scaturro, Brown, and their crew as they witnessed incredible natural beauty as well as all manner of dangers -- among them animal attacks, storms, disease, and predatory humans. Mystery of the Nile was shot and originally exhibited in the large-format IMAX film process. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
IMAX director Greg MacGillivray's 2003 film, Coral Reef Adventure, follows the exploits and crusades of the husband and wife underwater filmmaking duo of Howard and Michelle Hall as they embark on a ten-month expedition of the world's most vibrant and endangered coral reefs. Beginning at the Great Barrier Reef off the Australian coast, the Halls explore the vast underwater ecosystem and the scores of wildlife that thrive off of it. Traveling on throughout a number of the South Pacific's most spectacular reefs, the filmmakers also visit some reefs on the verge of extinction, making the sobering point that an entire reef's death occurs very quickly, while its creation takes thousands of years. Coral Reef Adventure marks the third oceanic, ecologically-themed IMAX film from MacGillivray, following The Living Sea and Dolphins. Also featured in the film are famed sea explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau (son of the pioneering oceanographer Jacques Cousteau) and noted ichthyologist Richard Pyle. ~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide
Narrated by actor Jimmy Smits, Adventures in Wild California: IMAX takes viewers flying across the landscape and along the coastline of the Golden State. Originally created for the larger-than-life IMAX movie theaters, and released to video and DVD in 2001 by Image Entertainment, the program runs 42 minutes and features music by Lindsay Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
Filmmaker Steve Judson, who received an Academy award nomination for his documentary Dolphins, explores another variety of inner space in this film, shot in the high-definition IMAX process. Dr. Hazel Barton and Nancy Aulenbach are scientists brought together by their interest in caves -- Aulenbach researches the life cycles of plants and animals that thrive in caves, while Barton believes study of the ecosystems of caves might provide valuable information on treating diseases in humans. Barton and Aulenbach are joined by veteran spelunker Janot Lamberton as they explore spectacular cave formations in Arizona, Mexico, and Greenland. Journey Into Amazing Caves is narrated by noted actor Liam Neeson. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liam Neeson
Outdoor and underwater filmmaker Greg MacGillivray explores the secret world of dolphins in this documentary. Dolphins offers a glimpse at many of the 40 varieties of dolphins, in waters from Patagonia to the West Indies, as MacGillivray joins a group of researchers studying how dolphins hunt and communicate. In addition, the film exposes the actions of tuna fishermen who illegally attempt to capture dolphins, and answers questions about the habitat and physiology of these remarkable aquatic mammals. Dolphins was shot in the high-definition IMAX film format,and is narrated by Pierce Brosnan. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierce Brosnan
Everest is the highest-grossing IMAX film ever released. This breathtaking and exhilarating program documents the deadly 1996 expedition which was the focus of Jon Krakauer's best-selling book Into Thin Air. The New York Times calls Everest "an amazing feat of filmmaking." Liam Neeson narrates and the music of George Harrison is featured. ~ Laura Mahnken, All Movie Guide
How do birds and airplanes fly? Quite often we take this unique ability for granted without truly understanding what makes such an amazing feat possible. Magic of Flight does a wonderful job of explaining the basic principles of flight in a concise and entertaining style. Originally created for Imax Theaters, Magic of Flight will mesmerize and thrill you with its exhilarating camera work. A fun journey into the history of aircraft. Narrated by Tom Selleck. ~ Laura Mahnken, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Selleck
A group of scientists are so passionate about the mysteries of tornadoes, hurricanes, and hailstorms that they risk their lives driving hundreds of miles a day to chase down and be in the middle of them. Witness the acute danger these meteorologists put themselves in on a daily basis as a "normal part of the job." They are a fascinating group of people, but it is the storms themselves that are the true stars of this program. ~ Laura Mahnken, All Movie Guide
With stunning portrayals of the sea in all its forms, this documentary explores the oceans of Earth as if they were living beings. From clips of heavy weather Coast Guard drills off the Oregon coast to close-up underwater scenes of humpback whales, The Living Sea stuns viewers with its beauty. Originally created for exhibition in IMAX theaters, this documentary maintains the high standards of these films. Director Greg MacGillivray, a veteran outdoor director and cinematographer, uses all the standard tricks (time-lapse photography, long aerial shots, and lingering views of sunsets to show the reverence the ocean deserves. ~ Ed Atkinson, All Movie Guide
Originally released to IMAX theaters, this program demonstrates the tremendous abilities of the athletic body from rock climbers to ballet dancers. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
Speed, originally produced for the large IMAX format, details how man has attempted to go faster and faster through various modes of transportation. The film consists of footage of cars, airplanes, and other creations attempting to break any number of speed records. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Jan-Michael Vincent plays a self-destructive beach bum to whom surfing is a Zen experience. We first meet Vincent in the devil-may-care 1960s, in the company of his carefree buddies William Katt and Gary Busey. The boys reunite ten years later, after one has served time in Vietnam. The beach is still there, the waves still break upon the shore, and towards the end of the film, the characters become people that we truly care about. Barbara Hale, the real-life mother of costar William Katt, makes a piquant supporting appearance. Cut from 129 minutes to 104 for its pay-cable release, Big Wednesday is also known as Summer of Innocence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jan-Michael Vincent, William Katt, (more)
- 1975
A surfing video with slow-motion sequences - it looks at the surfing life in Southern California and Hawaii. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1970
This surfing documentary follows champion surfers as they compete in California, Hawaii, France and Portugal. The camera focuses on Mark Martinson, a maker of surfboards by trade who makes his first trip on the international circuit. The entire 16m production with music included cost $55,000 to complete. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- 1969
A true time capsule, Follow Me follows the exploits of three young surfers. Touring the world in search of "the perfect wave," our protagonists pause on occasion for romance and adventure. The surfing scenes are breathtaking and far more compelling than the plot. The background music is supplied by Dino, Desi and Billy, a successful "celebrity" aggregation of the period. (Dino was the son of Dean Martin, while Desi was Desi Arnaz Jr). It's rated G, so there's nothing remotely offensive, not even in today's "find something wrong with everything" atmosphere. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claude Codgen, Mary Lou McGinnis, (more)
