Howard Hall, renowned underwater filmmaker and oceanographer, has released a follow-up documentary to this famous 2006  “Deep Sea 3D” effort, which grossed over 37 million dollars at IMAX theaters all over the country.  This time, Hall takes the gigantic and unwieldy IMAX cameras to remote and beautiful locations in Southern Australia, New Guinea, and elsewhere in the Indo-Pacific region to expose viewers to more amazing sea life and to document damage to the ocean’s reef system and the impact of that damage to the fish and animals that thrive on coral reefs.

Released to IMAX theaters across the country this past weekend, the new film “Under the Sea 3D” is narrated by famous actor and funny man Jim Carrey.  According to those who produced this documentary, Carrey lent his wit and experience in narration to this film, without turning a serious film effort into a comedy.  “Under the Sea 3D” provides the stunning IMAX effects to allow the viewer to see some of the most unique and stunning creatures in the ocean, including the amazing cuddlefish, stonefish, and garden eels.  Early reviews say the  real stars of the film, the  amazing underwater creatures, jump out with the IMAX technology, making viewer feel as if they are in the ocean with the fish.  Hall says that achieving this effect was quite a task with the 1,300 pound IMAX 3D camera, capable of filming for only 3 minutes before being brought to the surface for reloading.  Some individual shots required up to 6 hours of continuous shooting before the animal subjects could become accustomed to the sound and confusion of the gigantic camera.  Patience was clearly the keyword in  filming these animals in their natural behavior and obtaining the final footage that would make the 40 minute final product everything that IMAX viewers have come to expect.

“Under the Sea 3D” is currently playing on the IMAX screen at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  It also  opens on March 14, 2009 on the IMAX screen at the McWane Science Center in Birmingham, Alabama.  We will update this post when additional information is available for other local IMAX screens.

Phil Ellis

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