I've only ever seen 3 IMAX films and this is one of them. I was totally
blown away by the incredible sound and photography. I had to study
every shot because there is so much in it.
It's not actually a movie like other IMAX films (such as Across the Sea
of Time and T-Rex) but more of a documentary about how we are all
islanders and how we live because the sea lives. It was surprisingly
effective in this sense. My fave part was the discovery of the new
underwater fish and the fish that had, what looked like, thousands of
little lights flashing on and off.
A scene with a boat fighting waves and crashing back down onto the sea
was better than anything in The Perfect Storm. The sound in this
particular scene is IN-CRED-IBLE.
Whenever you pass by an IMAX check to see whether or not they are
showing this masterpiece. You'll love it.
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :- Fascinating!, 8 June 2000
Author:
mhawfield-2
A fascinating look at how the oceans of the world impact the Earth. Facts
like "70% of the Earth's oxygen comes from ocean plants." Great
soundtrack
from sting that compliments the film and each story. While not as
impressive watching it at home as it is in an IMAX theater, it is still
well
worth a look at.
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :- The best IMAX film I have seen..., 6 July 1999
Author:
matt carpenter from Austin, TX
I am an avid fan of the IMAX format, but rarely have I ever been a fan of
any IMAX film. This is the one IMAX film that I feel has used the
advantages of the format in nearly every shot, and besides that, it is an
elegantly produced little film. Extremely beautiful, with many
highlights.
It is a must-see for all those who've never been exactly impressed by
anything at an IMAX show (although the 'industry' is working overtime in
amping up this cinema-sideshow - they promise it will be the 'next big
thing' in movies). DON'T WATCH IT AT HOME.
An Epic Exploration, 11 December 2008
Author:
trinsghost from United States
Meryl Streep narrates the sweeping visual that emphasizes the value of
our world's oceans, and how they and the life thriving within depends
on us to maintain their majesty. Through research, casual observance,
reverence and daily life we are shown how the oceans are
interconnected, and that life can be found in even the darkest corners
of the sea.
I first saw this IMAX film 13 years ago in the Denver Museum of History
and Science, and was floored by how beautifully filmed it was. And the
film is well paired with songs from Sting, especially the song
'Fragile'.
Excellent documentary for everyone ((spoilers?)), 16 June 2006
Author:
hrsimon from United States
I picked this up at our library because it looked slightly interesting,
and we're going on a beach vacation soon. ...WOW! It is so good!! I've
watched it three times now, and took it to a get-together for other
family members to watch it, and they all really enjoyed it as well,
especially "The Making Of" segment. Our 2-yo was mesmerized, and we all
appreciated the very unique, entertaining, beautiful footage. It was
originally shot for IMAX theaters, which must have been perfect! I
recommend watching it on the biggest screen possible, with the lights
out.
Our favorite parts...
Time-lapsed footage of 30-foot tides in Canada: watch the harbor drain
until the big boats are sitting on mud, then it fills back up again!
Sped-up footage of boats zipping across the water, people on the beach:
humorous.
Surfers and huge waves in Hawaii: really captures the feeling of
surfing, and their passion for the ocean.
Coast Guard boat jumping and crashing through enormous waves at Cape
Disappointment.
The music by Sting, with tweaked instrumentals, really fits!
Islander Dad with his two kids in a speed boat, cruising at high speeds
under rock formations, and skimming the beautiful shores.
The fact that there were no actors, just real people like the dad, and
a woman's first time snorkeling with jellyfish and descending into
poisonous depths of a salt-water lake.
THE MAKING OF... where the producers talk about difficulties they had
with different shots, dangers they faced in several scenes, cost of
production, orchestrating the soundtrack, and reason for making this
film.
Their reason for making this film, for putting their heart and soul
into it, was in the hopes that people who watch it will fall in love
with the sea, and therefore want to protect it. As they said, "there is
only one ocean," and it encompasses such a majority of the earth that
no matter where we live, "we are all islanders."
Journey through the seas via IMAX, 13 September 1998
Author:
DiverBen
This IMAX film is a breathtaking look at the workings of the world's oceans
and its inhabitants. Magnificent cinematography makes this film an awesome
sight on the giant screen. The magic is lost on video, however. But it is
nevertheless an informative and beautifully filmed documentary. Also check
out the great soft jazz/new age/pop soundtrack by Sting.
0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :- Wants to show too much, 23 March 2006
Author:
rbverhoef (rbverhoef@hotmail.com) from The Hague, Netherlands
As a documentary 'The Living Sea' is sort of a mess, throwing as much
in forty minutes as it can, but it contains images of rare beauty, some
useful information and a great soundtrack.
Narrated by Meryl Streep we learn some things about the sea under the
surface and about the sea above the surface. Although these things both
have their influence on each other the film rushes so much we never
really learn why. We see some jelly fish, some surfers, some whales,
the islands of Hawaii, the islands of Palau with its own narrator, a
research center in Maine, some other creatures, a rescue boat.
Yes, I have to admit that every small episode is entertaining or at
least beautiful to look at, but from a documentary, even a forty minute
IMAX production, you expect a little bit more. The soundtrack from
Sting is a nice bonus that makes 'The Living Sea' both easy on the eyes
as on the ears.
0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :- A breathtaking IMAX movie., 28 July 2002
Author:
cmyklefty from Philadelphia
The Living Sea is a movie that can make you understand how we fit with the
ocean ecosystem. I like the underwater scenery the best, because it almost
feel you are swimming with the fishes. I saw this movie in Hawaii in 1997
at
Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. It was a nice companion piece to my
travel on the island.
0 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :- Elegant., 1 October 2003
Author:
Sam Rupani (rupanisp) from Houston, Texas
Creator of the Universe has done excellent job by creating Air, Land,
and Water... and all the creatures inside them...
There is nothing like Water...
It is very peaceful and silent inside Water and In Air...
I doubt that those who swims in open waters can understand anything
about politics and manipulation on the Land...
How would a Human feel, if Sun makes noise and Water makes noise like
Human Vocal Cord every minute...
We know more about Outer Space than about our oceans today...
This movie is something to experience again and again...
Movies like these makes life very beautiful, desirable, and
enjoyable...
Lucky are those who experience IMAX every month...
Rest are just laboring for nothing...wasting their precious time talking
nonsense....
Nature is truly beautiful... and we ( small object ) exist and walk on
Earth ( Large Object )...and yet we fail to notice that Earth will be
Own the rights?
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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-

Mind-blowing, 4 August 2000
Author: Shawn Watson (gator_macready@yahoo.com) from The Underverse
I've only ever seen 3 IMAX films and this is one of them. I was totally blown away by the incredible sound and photography. I had to study every shot because there is so much in it.
It's not actually a movie like other IMAX films (such as Across the Sea of Time and T-Rex) but more of a documentary about how we are all islanders and how we live because the sea lives. It was surprisingly effective in this sense. My fave part was the discovery of the new underwater fish and the fish that had, what looked like, thousands of little lights flashing on and off.
A scene with a boat fighting waves and crashing back down onto the sea was better than anything in The Perfect Storm. The sound in this particular scene is IN-CRED-IBLE.
Whenever you pass by an IMAX check to see whether or not they are showing this masterpiece. You'll love it.
2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-

Fascinating!, 8 June 2000
Author: mhawfield-2
A fascinating look at how the oceans of the world impact the Earth. Facts like "70% of the Earth's oxygen comes from ocean plants." Great soundtrack from sting that compliments the film and each story. While not as impressive watching it at home as it is in an IMAX theater, it is still well worth a look at.
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-

The best IMAX film I have seen..., 6 July 1999
Author: matt carpenter from Austin, TX
I am an avid fan of the IMAX format, but rarely have I ever been a fan of any IMAX film. This is the one IMAX film that I feel has used the advantages of the format in nearly every shot, and besides that, it is an elegantly produced little film. Extremely beautiful, with many highlights. It is a must-see for all those who've never been exactly impressed by anything at an IMAX show (although the 'industry' is working overtime in amping up this cinema-sideshow - they promise it will be the 'next big thing' in movies). DON'T WATCH IT AT HOME.
An Epic Exploration, 11 December 2008

Author: trinsghost from United States
Meryl Streep narrates the sweeping visual that emphasizes the value of our world's oceans, and how they and the life thriving within depends on us to maintain their majesty. Through research, casual observance, reverence and daily life we are shown how the oceans are interconnected, and that life can be found in even the darkest corners of the sea.
I first saw this IMAX film 13 years ago in the Denver Museum of History and Science, and was floored by how beautifully filmed it was. And the film is well paired with songs from Sting, especially the song 'Fragile'.
Excellent documentary for everyone ((spoilers?)), 16 June 2006

Author: hrsimon from United States
I picked this up at our library because it looked slightly interesting, and we're going on a beach vacation soon. ...WOW! It is so good!! I've watched it three times now, and took it to a get-together for other family members to watch it, and they all really enjoyed it as well, especially "The Making Of" segment. Our 2-yo was mesmerized, and we all appreciated the very unique, entertaining, beautiful footage. It was originally shot for IMAX theaters, which must have been perfect! I recommend watching it on the biggest screen possible, with the lights out.
Our favorite parts...
Time-lapsed footage of 30-foot tides in Canada: watch the harbor drain until the big boats are sitting on mud, then it fills back up again!
Sped-up footage of boats zipping across the water, people on the beach: humorous.
Surfers and huge waves in Hawaii: really captures the feeling of surfing, and their passion for the ocean.
Coast Guard boat jumping and crashing through enormous waves at Cape Disappointment.
The music by Sting, with tweaked instrumentals, really fits!
Islander Dad with his two kids in a speed boat, cruising at high speeds under rock formations, and skimming the beautiful shores.
The fact that there were no actors, just real people like the dad, and a woman's first time snorkeling with jellyfish and descending into poisonous depths of a salt-water lake.
THE MAKING OF... where the producers talk about difficulties they had with different shots, dangers they faced in several scenes, cost of production, orchestrating the soundtrack, and reason for making this film.
Their reason for making this film, for putting their heart and soul into it, was in the hopes that people who watch it will fall in love with the sea, and therefore want to protect it. As they said, "there is only one ocean," and it encompasses such a majority of the earth that no matter where we live, "we are all islanders."
Journey through the seas via IMAX, 13 September 1998
Author: DiverBen
This IMAX film is a breathtaking look at the workings of the world's oceans and its inhabitants. Magnificent cinematography makes this film an awesome sight on the giant screen. The magic is lost on video, however. But it is nevertheless an informative and beautifully filmed documentary. Also check out the great soft jazz/new age/pop soundtrack by Sting.
0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-

Wants to show too much, 23 March 2006
Author: rbverhoef (rbverhoef@hotmail.com) from The Hague, Netherlands
As a documentary 'The Living Sea' is sort of a mess, throwing as much in forty minutes as it can, but it contains images of rare beauty, some useful information and a great soundtrack.
Narrated by Meryl Streep we learn some things about the sea under the surface and about the sea above the surface. Although these things both have their influence on each other the film rushes so much we never really learn why. We see some jelly fish, some surfers, some whales, the islands of Hawaii, the islands of Palau with its own narrator, a research center in Maine, some other creatures, a rescue boat.
Yes, I have to admit that every small episode is entertaining or at least beautiful to look at, but from a documentary, even a forty minute IMAX production, you expect a little bit more. The soundtrack from Sting is a nice bonus that makes 'The Living Sea' both easy on the eyes as on the ears.
0 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
A breathtaking IMAX movie., 28 July 2002
Author: cmyklefty from Philadelphia
The Living Sea is a movie that can make you understand how we fit with the ocean ecosystem. I like the underwater scenery the best, because it almost feel you are swimming with the fishes. I saw this movie in Hawaii in 1997 at Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. It was a nice companion piece to my travel on the island.
0 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-

Elegant., 1 October 2003
Author: Sam Rupani (rupanisp) from Houston, Texas
Creator of the Universe has done excellent job by creating Air, Land,
and Water... and all the creatures inside them...
There is nothing like Water...
It is very peaceful and silent inside Water and In Air...
I doubt that those who swims in open waters can understand anything
about politics and manipulation on the Land...
How would a Human feel, if Sun makes noise and Water makes noise like
Human Vocal Cord every minute...
We know more about Outer Space than about our oceans today...
This movie is something to experience again and again...
Movies like these makes life very beautiful, desirable, and enjoyable...
Lucky are those who experience IMAX every month...
Rest are just laboring for nothing...wasting their precious time talking
nonsense....
Nature is truly beautiful... and we ( small object ) exist and walk on
Earth ( Large Object )...and yet we fail to notice that Earth will be
here.. but we will be gone momentarily....
Thanks and Regards.
Sam Rupani
Houston, Texas, United States of Ameri
Add another comment
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