Mysteries of Egypt

Omar Sharif returns* to his native country in Bruce Neibaur's "Mysteries of Egypt", about the ancient civilization at the northeast corner of Africa. The revolution in Egypt earlier this year that ousted Hosni Mubarak has made the country even more relevant since the documentary first got released. No matter, it's fascinating to see all the stuff about the creation of the society. The IMAX movie has an elderly man (Sharif) telling his granddaughter (Kate Maberly) about what happened in Egypt 3,500 years ago: pyramids, pharaohs, the works. A lot of fun.

*I don't actually know whether or not any part of the movie got filmed in Egypt. Egypt's government revoked Omar Sharif's passport after he co-starred in "Funny Girl", due to Barbra Streisand's support of Israel.

I caught "Mysteries of Egypt" on New Orleans' IMAX screen, and I must say that visually, it doesn't disappoint at all. The camera work, the scenery, the vistas were all magnificent, as they are in many IMAX travelogues.

Then they turned on the sound, and things went downhill. To tell the story of the discovery of King Tut's tomb, they enlisted Omar Sharif and lil' Kate Maberly. This gives it a family feeling, and allows for some of the most insipid dialogue ever heard on the ten-story screen. This in itself wouldn't be so bad, but the filmmakers allowed some very questionable facts about the creation of the pyramids to slip through. (They were built by legions of happy Egyptian farmers during the off-season, not by the throngs of Israelites they enslaved? C'mon, guys.)

When the film ended, there was a general murmur of dissatisfaction from the crowd, as people felt that they were shown something magnificent... but treated like idiots as they were watching it. By my estimation, that feeling was right on the money.

Rating: (visuals) 8 out of 10 (storyline) 3 out of 10

Omar Sharif takes his teenage niece on a tour of the Giza pyramids, introducing her to the world of the pharaohs. By itself the film is not much more than a grade school primer on the glories of an ancient civilization, with a script strictly vetted by the Cairo Chamber of Commerce. But it's hard not to be impressed by any image enlarged to IMAX proportions, and most of the impact here can be found in the exhilarating aerial shots over the cataracts of the Upper Nile, and in the clarity (and sheer volume) of the soundtrack. The National Geographic banner is enough to ensure a promise of quality, and let's face it: a forty minute tour of King Tut's tomb is certainly better than a two hour brain vacation in the multiplex next door.

This has to be one of my favorite IMAX films. The music by Sam Cardon was well matched with the beautiful scenery shot in this 40 min. movie. Though I have never seen either Sharif's or Maberly's other works, their roles as grandfather and granddaughter were well performed. Both roles made the movie entertaining and educational for people of all ages.

IMAX is steadily becoming a widely recognized form of large-format movies. Any film presented in the IMAX format is larger than life. Because of that, many documentaries have made their way to the big screen.

"Mysteries of Egypt" is an excellent film on the history of ancient Egyptian civilization. Centering around the architecture and religion of the times, this particular IMAX film covers the importance of the Nile, the building of the pyramids and other similar feats, the pharaohs, and in particular, the discovery of the tomb of the boy king Tutankhamun. It is a must see for anyone interested in Egypt, especially if you have been there before. It is also a very effective educational tool, something that educators should utilize.

The scenery in this film is amazing, with one of the early scenes taking the viewer on a trip down the Nile, complete with a map super-imposed over the beautiful photography of the flight (a good reason why you shouldn't view this film right after eating a meal). Other views, such as aerial shots of the pyramids, shouldn't be missed. As to be expected with IMAX films, the sound in this film is spectacular as well, and make sure you see it in a theatre that has DTS. You won't be disappointed.

Omar Sharif is the main character and narrator of this film, and Kate Maberly appears as a supporting character. Sharif is perfect for the role, and has an on-screen presence in this film that is superb, especially considering this is a documentary. However, I think that Maberly takes away somewhat from the film as a whole, as her character (and the lines provided) just seems so fake. They would have been better to put someone like Natalie Portman in this role, at least her acting would compliment Sharif's. However, seeing as IMAX documentaries aren't known for attracting major Hollywood stars, I guess we should be happy that Maberly at least has some movie experience.

Overall, this film is excellent, especially if you are a fan of the IMAX format. This is one of the best IMAX documentaries that I have seen so far, and I look forward to more in the future. While some IMAX films are limited to certain theatres, I suggest you see "Everest", "Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets", "Hail! Columbia", "Speed" (not the one with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock), and "Whales".

My Rating: 9/10