Oceans: Our Blue Planet

Just what I want in IMAX - stunning visuals, sights I would not be able to see in person, great narration, some decent educational value.

What I liked the best, and somewhat unexpected, is lack of any "extra" fluff filling time - interviews, morals, speculation - stuff that is better suited to be read and has no place on big screen.

The outstanding wildlife footage that we have come to expect from David Attenborough BBC TV series is evident in abundance in this underwater adventure that explores ocean habitats ranging from the depths of the Antarctic to the shallows of warm tropical reefs. The good science It contains will be understood by all ages. While being impressed visually, and being endeared and educated by the stories told, we are also made aware of the vital importance of the oceans that make up 70% of our blue planet. Their health is vital to all life on Earth from acting as a food source to providing over half the oxygen that we breathe. We are urged to take more care of our oceans. The BBC's Blue Planet II series is an excellent companion to this film.

2018's 'Oceans: Our Blue Planet' immediately appealed first hearing about it. The subject sounded very interesting, have always loved hearing and learning about oceans and their inhabitants (with them being seen a lot in David Attenborough documentaries). Have also always liked Kate Winslet a lot as an actress and she has the right kind of voice for a narrator, especially ones that take a gentle approach. There are many good and more IMAX documentary short films.

'Oceans: Our Blue Planet' is one of them. While not one of my all time favourite documentaries or one that is ground breaking (naming them would be unfair though due to the approach being very different), 'Oceans: Our Blue Planet' does a great job with its subject, does well at educating and informing and handles its message better than most documentaries that attempt this sort of message. There are better IMAX documentary short films, but this is still very good.

Did find some of the narration writing a little on the cutesy side, with some unnecessary interactive-sounding moments and some heavy handedness with a few of the climate comments.

The only other issue is the length, a common weakness with the IMAX documentary short films. It is for my tastes too short and would have benefitted from being 10-15 minutes longer with more Stewart and even more and longer whale footage.

So much is wonderful however about 'Oceans: Our Blue Planet'. It looks absolutely beautiful with some truly stunning shots and great expansive use of the varied location that is both beautiful and unforgiving. This is also one of the few IMAX nature documentaries seen recently where the IMAX actually doesn't look cheap, too gimmicky or/and too reliant upon. The seals and sea lions especially are an absolute delight, and mostly the message is conveyed with sincerity and tact (excepting a few heavy-handed moments, which was always going to be a danger).

Furthermore, Winslet brings a big soothing quality to the narration, which is seldom cheesy or melodramatic, despite moments of cutesiness, and even with a familiar subject and with nothing new the information was still educational and never less than intriguing. Nothing is juvenile or over complicated. Had no problem with the music, which wasn't too much tonally or in placement and it didn't feel like it came out of something else entirely.

Concluding, very good indeed. 8/10.

Saw at Science Center w/ wife in 3D. Pretty basic theme, is definitely focused on visuals. They are amazing in 3D on giant screen