Charlotte Huggins Movies
In this IMAX 3D feature, a group of aliens land at an amusement park and draw the conclusion that the Earth is just one big pleasure palace. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Boyle
- 1999
The first large-format 3-D film to open simultaneously in all three IMAX theatres in Los Angeles, Encounters In The Third Dimension uses a visit to an eccentric inventor who has invented a new 3-D device, "Real-O-Vision," as a framework for a series of spectacular three-dimensional sequences, capturing both real life events and bizarre computer-animated fantasy worlds. The film also traces a brief history of 3-D in the movies, and features a guest appearance from Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (aka Cassandra Peterson). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stuart Pankin, Cassandra Peterson, (more)
Christopher Lloyd, Kelly Ripa, Nicollette Sheridan, and Tim Curry lend their voices to director Ben Stassen's (Haunted Castle and Encounter in the Third Dimension) animatedchildren's fantasy about three preteen flies who hitch a ride into space on the Apollo 11 moon mission. The year is 1969, and Americans all across the country are buzzing about the first manned mission to the moon. Even the insects aren't immune to the excitement, as evidenced by the enthusiasm of adolescent flies Nat (voice of Trevor Gagnon), IQ (voice of Philip Daniel Bolden), and Scooter (voice of David Gore). Over the years, Nat's grandpa (voice of Lloyd) has often recalled the time he hitched a ride on Amelia Earhart's airplane during the famed aviator's cross-Atlantic flight, and now Nat's dreams of recreating that feat on a much larger scale are finally set to come true. But while the three young flies only believe that they'll be gone for a few minutes, the fact is that they'll be drifting through space for almost an entire week. Just as they're about to sneak aboard the ship, the flies are spotted by a keen-eyed NASA ground control official and stored in a test tube for future study. Later in the flight, when the ship's engine malfunctions, the only ones capable of fixing the problem are the three tiny stowaways. But their mission isn't accomplished just yet, because grandpa's old flame Nadia (voice of Sheridan) has just arrived from Russia to warn him that a tiny fly-spy named Yegor (voice of Curry) has been assigned the task of traveling to Cape Canaveral and sabotaging the computer flight plans. Should Nat, IQ, and Scooter fail to act in time, Yegor's mission could spell disaster not only for the three thrill-seeking flies, but the entire U.S. space program. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lloyd, Kelly Ripa, (more)
Some musicians would sell their soul for a shot at stardom, but one aspiring teenage rock star isn't so sure it's a good idea in this computer-animated chiller. Johnny (voice of Jasper Steverlinck) is the son of a famous rock singer (voice of Kyoko Baertsoen) who turned him over to others to raise when he was only three years old. After his mother's death, Johnny inherits her mansion, and as he explores the spooky old house in hopes of learning more about his absent mother, Johnny discovers an unexpected visitor -- a demon named Mephisto (voice of Harry Shearer). Mephisto informs Johnny that his mother was in cahoots with the Devil, and that he can make Johnny an even bigger star if he's willing to sign Satan's contract. While Johnny has formed a band of his own, he's dubious about Mephisto's promises; when he says as much, the Devil himself (also voiced by Shearer) scoffs at Johnny's disbelief, taking the young rocker on a guided tour of the Hell that awaits those who think they can escape the Devil's rule of the music business. Haunted Castle was filmed and initially exhibited in the high-definition IMAX film format; it was the first IMAX presentation that failed to earn a G rating from the MPAA (it was classified PG for "some frightening sensations and horror images"). ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Harry Shearer
- 2008
- PG
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Academy Award-winning visual effects artist Eric Brevig makes his feature directorial debut with this adaptation of the classic Jules Verne fantasy starring Brendan Fraser. When an ambitious science professor (Fraser) develops a decidedly unconventional hypothesis, the mere mention of his name is enough to elicit laughter within the academic community. However, during a subsequent excursion to Iceland, the professor and his nephew make a major scientific discovery that sends them miles beneath the surface of the Earth, where they discover not only strange new worlds, but also encounter creatures so alien they appear to be from another world entirely. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brendan Fraser, Anita Briem, (more)
- 2003
This IMAX feature is a sequel to 1999's Encounter the Third Dimension, which provided a humorous yet educational take on the history of 3-D cinema. In this film, director Ben Stassen "disappears" in front of a live audiences, claiming he has gotten stuck between the second and third dimension. In order to get back, he must convince an official sounding CEO that 3-D cinema is, indeed, worthy of more scientific exploration. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stuart Pankin, Kim Delgado, (more)
- 1997
- G
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This IMAX documentary takes a fast-paced look at the history of traditional roller coasters and at their newest incarnation, a combination of motion pictures and motion simulators and computer animation designed to take riders on wild, realistic journeys through fantasy environments. The highlights of the film are the roller coaster excursions shot at Busch Gardens Theme Park in Tampa and at the Las Vegas Big Shot. There are also scenes of Nasa motion simulators, used for the training of astronauts. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 2005
Some of Africa's most spectacular wildlife is captured on film in this documentary, shot on location in a handful of South African game preserves. Wild Safari 3D uses state-of-the-art three-dimensional photography to follow safari guide Liesel Eichenberger as she shows some of the continent's striking and beautiful natural sites to a handful of visitors. In addition to up-close footage of lions, leopards, elephants, water buffalo, rhinos, and other jungle denizens, Wild Safari offers a look at the workings of animal society, how these creatures feed and care for their young, and what concerned people are doing to protect their dwindling numbers. Wild Safari 3D was shot and originally screened in the high-definition IMAX, as well as in a special 3-D process. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Liesl Eichenberger
