Tired of paying ten dollars to see sequels of mediocre movies? (Not that "Son of the Mask" doesn't look great.) The Museum of Science may have an answer to your woes.
The Mugar Omni Theater, hidden inside the Museum of Science, provides an entirely different movie-going experience. The films at the Omni are all presented in the IMAX format, known for enormous screens and booming surround sound. In these respects, the films here are no exception.
Behind the monstrous screen sit towering pillars of speakers that reach almost to the top of the faraway ceiling, putting even the biggest Kiss concerts to shame. (The inner-workings of the theater are exposed before the film.) Indeed, the sheer scope of the dome-shaped theater is almost overwhelming.
At the beginning of every movie viewers see a short introduction about Boston and its inhabitants, the dialogue of which has become quote-worthy for those who, like myself, grew up in Boston and visited the theater on field trips in middle school. The introduction features an amazing, theme-park like ride around the Boston skyline via helicopter, a truly unique experience not offered elsewhere in the city.
Also unusual are the films offered at the theater. Eschewing more profitable mainstream movies, the Omni shows films that explore the magnificence of the natural world; from watching a building sized Michael Jordan dunk basketballs, to exploring massively deep caves in Latin America and staring up the side of Mount Everest, they rarely disappoint. Currently, the Omni is showing three films, all somewhat nature oriented.
"Natural Disasters: Forces of Nature" (2003), leads the impressive film line-up. No, it's not the Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock movie (a disaster in its own right). Directed by George Casey and narrated by Kevin Bacon, the film follows scientists as they observe volcanoes, monitor fault lines and chase tornados attempting to better predict where, when, and why natural disasters occur.
Their goals have gained a new sense of urgency in the weeks after the tsunami disaster in Asia. Perhaps the work of the scientists shown in the film will someday save lives by accurately predicting these disasters. Also fascinating are the exploits of tornado chasers, like those shown in the Helen Hunt movie "Twister." Watching the four-story tall tornadoes with IMAX sound screaming, one begins to understand their brutal force and sheer magnitude.
"Roar: Lions of the Kalahari" (2003), comes in as a close second. Directed and filmed by Tim Liversedge, it is the result of more than two years living amongst the lions of the Kalahari Desert. His efforts paid off, resulting in amazing close-ups of the massive animals hunting their prey and playing with their cubs. Liversedge has also captured amazing shots of the spectacular landscape in which the lions live. Adding to its visual fireworks, the film tells a gripping narrative. The lions are viciously guarding the last waterhole in the area from other animals, desperate to protect their last hope for survival.
Finally, "Extreme" (1999), directed by Jon Long, explores, as the title suggests, extreme sports around the globe. From surfing to rock and mountain climbing, we are treated essentially to the 'X Games' on steroids. Featured are remarkable sheer rock-face climbs, similar to those done by Tom Cruise in "Mission Impossible: 2."
All three movies are worth your time and money, and at 45 minutes to an hour, they won't eat up your afternoon or evening. And if these films, for whatever reason, don't appeal, perhaps the two opening in two weeks will. Both "Mystery of the Nile," about the famed Egyptian river and the people who live near it, and "Amazing Journeys," which follows the migration of animals such as gray whales and zebras, look promising.
If you're looking for a change of pace Friday night, consider spending six bucks at the Omni. For those of you that came to Tufts in part to experience Boston and its many offerings, the Omni theater should be high on the list.
