'Wild California' takes full advantage of IMAX technology

Julien R. Fielding

"Adventures in Wild California" begins with singer Lindsey Buckingham advising the featured sports enthusiasts to "Go Your Own Way."

And that's precisely what this IMAX film features - rugged, fearless individuals who are inspired by their environment to push themselves beyond the limits.

Now showing at Henry Doorly Zoo's Lozier IMAX Theater, "Wild California" offers a surprise at every turn.

On one level, it's a travelogue that vividly illustrates why this breathtaking part of the United States has drawn people to its coast for centuries. As if strapped to the underside of a plane, we soar above the grand Sierra Nevada, the majestic forests of Yosemite and Sequoia, the Golden Gate bridge and through the waves at Mavericks beach.

And on yet another level, it's an informational piece about some of the state's better-known pioneers, such as Walt Disney and environmentalist John Muir, as well as some lesser-knowns, including aquarist Sue Campbell, who acts as a surrogate mother to orphaned otters, and botanist Steven Sillett, a scientist studying sequoia canopies.

As with most MacGillivray Freeman Films, the goal of the motion picture is to give viewers a vicarious vantage point while reminding them how important their individual role is as stewards of the earth.

Throughout the film's 45 minutes, narrator Jimmy Smits introduces us to a number of extraordinary people, then lets us experience a day in their lives, so to speak.

Campbell, who works at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, educates us on how interspecies communication works, specifically how a human can prepare a young sea otter for the world.

Aerobatics pilot Troy Hartman and free-fall cameraman Joe Jennings take us on an amazing ride in the skies as they spin, whirl and dive through the air.

Professional surfer Jeff Clark lets us watch him conquer some of the most treacherous waves at Mavericks.

Sillett, who studies these ancient trees by climbing them, takes us inside a 265-foot sequoia, then gives us a breathtaking vantage point from its crown.

Professional snowboarder Bryan Iguchi allows us to cascade with him down the steep, snowy slopes.

And, finally, we accompany zoologist Peter Sharpe as he reintroduces a bald eagle chick to a nest high above California's Santa Catalina Island.

To say this film provides a phenomenal experience is an understatement. Director and producer Greg MacGillivray's visceral footage takes you on a wild, heart-jolting ride to some of this country's most pristine places.

But then, those familiar with the MacGillivray name shouldn't be too surprised. This is, after all, the same man who has shot more than 4 million feet of 70 mm film during his career and has taken us inside "The Living Sea" and up "Everest."

Combine this director's cahones with cinematographer Brad Ohlund's gorgeous images, and you have a film you just might need to see a few times. It's almost as good as the real thing.

Oh, and be sure to take the Dramamine, just in case.

Through Aug. 31, "Wild California" will be shown at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. daily. Also showing are "China: The Panda Adventure," at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.; and "Island of the Sharks" at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets cost $4.75 for children ages 3 to 11; $6.75 for adults older than 12; and $5.75 for seniors. Zoo members receive a $1 discount. Combination packages also are available. For more information, go to www.omahazoo.com or call 330-IMAX. The zoo is located at 3701 S. 10th St. in Omaha.

'Wild California' takes full advantage of IMAX technology was originally published in The Daily Nonpareil on 16 August, 2001. © Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil LLC