IMAX and Giant Screen

June 6, 1944: The largest Allied operation of World War II began in Normandy, France.  Yet, few know in detail exactly why and how, from the end of 1943 through August 1944, this region became the most important location in the world.  Blending multiple cinematographic techniques, including animation, CGI and stunning live-action images, D-Day: Normandy 1944 brings this monumental event to the world’s largest screens for the first time ever.  Audiences of all ages, including new generations, will discover from a new perspective how this landing changed the world.  Exploring history, military strategy, science, technology and human values, the film will educate and appeal to all.  Narrated by Tom Brokaw, D-Day: Normandy 1944 pays tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedom … A duty of memory, a duty of gratitude.

Dinosaur Passage to Pangaea is a stop-motion, 3D animated adventure explaining one of the greatest geological events in the history of the Earth: the separation of the supercontinent Pangaea.  When two children embark on a geology field trip back in time, they are thrown into a fantastic voyage where they witness incredible geological wonders and learn the mysterious process that created our present-day continents.  From racing across the landscape atop Dinosaurs to plummeting to the center of the Earth, Dinosaur Passage to Pangaea is the perfect educational glimpse at the tectonic forces that forged our world.  It is the ultimate field trip!

Dinosaurs Alive is a global adventure of science and discovery – featuring the earliest dinosaurs of the Triassic Period to the monsters of the Cretaceous “reincarnated” life-sized for the giant IMAX ® screen.  Audiences will journey with some of the world’s preeminent paleontologists as they uncover evidence that the descendants of dinosaurs still walk (or fly) among us.  From the exotic, trackless expanses and sand dunes of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert to the dramatic sandstone buttes of New Mexico, the film will follow American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) paleontologists as they explore some of the greatest dinosaur finds in history.  Through the magic of scientifically accurate computer-generated animation, these newly discovered creatures, and some familiar favorites, will come alive … in a big way!

Beginning in the 1920s, AMNH scientist and adventurer Roy Chapman Andrews, who is believed to be the inspiration for the Indiana Jones character, led five expeditions to the Gobi Desert.  Andrews and his team found hundreds of dinosaur remains, many new to science, including the first Velociraptor, the first dinosaur nests with eggs, and fossils of early mammals that lived alongside dinosaurs in the Late Cretaceous Period.  Andrews also happened to take along a Hollywood cameraman with him to film the expedition’s discovery.  This rare and beautifully preserved footage, juxtaposed against the large-format footage of today’s expeditions, provides audiences with a unique perspective into field paleontology over time.

Following in the footsteps of Andrews, AMNH paleontologists, Mike Novacek and Mark Norell, have been making annual expeditions to the Gobi every summer since 1990.  Some of the greatest dinosaur fossils ever found have come from the Gobi.  Collapsing sand dunes quickly and completely covered whole communities of animals, preserving them until the skeletons are exposed today by erosion.  One of the most dramatic sequences in the film features a Velociraptor and a Protoceratops locked in mortal combat as a sand dune sweeps over them and kills them.  The famous fossil of these fighting dinosaurs shows that they died in a deadly embrace, claws and jaws still grasping at each other.  Great dinosaur moments like these, actual fossilized stories, are brought back to life through state-of-the-art CGI.

Dinosaurs Alive will also introduce audiences to the breakthrough discoveries taking place under the towering red sandstone buttes and rock chimneys in northern New Mexico.  Since the 1940s, AMNH scientists have uncovered excellent specimens at the mysterious Ghost Ranch, where erosion has cut down through the many levels of sediment to expose fossils of the earliest dinosaurs from the Triassic Period, some 230 million years ago.  At that time reptiles still ruled the earth and dinosaurs were actually modest in size—no larger than a cat, dog, or human.  Dinosaurs exploded in diversity and size during the later Jurassic Period.  Scientists have recently discovered a “monster” buried near Ghost Ranch.  It was a long-necked sauropod called Seismosaurus—meaning ‘thunder lizard’—that was a massive 121 feet long.  In the film, audiences will witness this behemoth thundering about on screen, in stark contrast to the more diminutive Triassic dinosaurs.

Finally, in an exciting development captured by our cameras, Novacek and Norell, travel to the site and inspect an extraordinary discovery made by AMNH graduate students — one of the oldest dinosaurs ever found in North America.  The film will show how the fossil was discovered, protected in a plaster jacket, carefully removed from the rock, and studied at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.  Dinosaurs Alive shows how new scientific insights are sometimes built from previous discoveries, and each new generation of paleontologists continues the legacy of people like Roy Chapman Andrews.

From the Permian through the Jurassic, journey to the south polar landscapes of Antarctica hundreds of millions of years ago.  Roam the primitive forests and thick swamps with bizarre dinosaurs and colossal amphibians.  Enter a surreal world of bug-eyed giants and egg-laying mammals where survival means enduring the sunless, six-month polar winter surrounded by meat-eaters with night vision.  Join intrepid Antarctic scientists on a quest to understand the ice continent’s profound transformation, and to predict the future as humans drive dramatic change.  Welcome to the lost prehistoric world of Gondwana.  Welcome to Antarctica.

If it weren’t for a series of cataclysmic events; a comet impact being first on the list, our planet could still be the domain of dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs fascinate us so much, that many people wish they were among us.  Fortunately, Dinosaurs 3D will be the closest thing to actually being in the presence of these extraordinary creatures.  Deeply rooted in science, the film carries the audience back in time to witness these amazing beasts come to life.

Meet the largest living animals to have ever walked the Earth: the titanesque plant-eating Argentinosaur, and its nemesis, the Giganotosaur, a bipedal carnivore, that could easily challenge the famous T-Rex!

Dive into a new immersive and highly emotional adventure with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Dolphins and Whales 3D.  This awe-inspiring documentary film narrated by Daryl Hannah will take you from the dazzling coral reefs of the Bahamas to the warm depths of the waters of the exotic Kingdom of Tonga for a close encounter with the surviving tribes of the ocean.

Through the powerful IMAX(R) theatre medium and stunning images captured for the very first time in 3D, view their lives and habitats as never-before-seen.  You will come so close to wild dolphins and belugas you will virtually touch them.  You will witness the profound love of a Humpback mother for her newborn calf, and will come eye-to-eye with singing Humpback males.  You will meet an orca, the mighty King of the ocean, and enjoy a wonderful moment with the gentle manatee.

Explore many little-known aspects of these fascinating and fragile creatures capable of sophisticated communication and social interaction.  Join the expert team of ocean explorers that brought you Sharks 3D and Ocean Wonderland 3D in an unforgettable diving experience that documents the life of these graceful, majestic yet endangered sea creatures.

Extreme combines incredible extreme sport action with narration by the athletes and an eclectic, contemporary soundtrack.  Extreme features 6 nature based sports; Big Wave Surfing, Ice Climbing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Windsurfing, and Rock Climbing.  The best extreme sport athletes in the world facing the most intimidating elements of nature provide a unique glimpse into the relationship between nature and humanity.

John Stratton is a young American fighter pilot who flies the F-15 Eagle, arguably the most potent and successful fighter plane ever built.  His grandfather was a decorated World War II flying ace, and he intended to follow in his footsteps.

At Red Flag, the international training exercise for air forces of allied countries, many of the world’s best pilots meet for the most challenging flying of their careers.  Red Flag is the final training for pilots and their aircrews before being sent into actual combat.  We follow our young pilot as he makes his way through this extraordinary event held in the desert of Nevada.  He is amazed at how complex, challenging and dangerous the exercises are.

He begins to notice team members who were not a part of his childhood vision of heroism, the support team crucial to a successful mission, and to a safe return home.  In the aerial combat exercises, there are other pilots who aren’t out just to prove themselves, they are helping him — watching his back.  And he is doing the same for them.  He begins to realize that being a hero is not quite as simple as he once might have thought.

Much of life on Earth is connected by a vast, hidden network that we are only just beginning to understand. Out of sight, between the world of plants and animals, another world exists — the kingdom of fungi.

Misrepresented, maligned, and on the verge of extinction, the Great White Shark is an iconic predator: the creature we love to fear.  Great White Shark will explore the Great White’s place in our imaginations, in our fears, and in the reality of its role at the top of the oceanic food chain.

High above the majestic central California coast rises an enchanted castle, a special place created from the dreams of one man, William Randolph Hearst.  His vision was inspired by his many trips to Europe’s finest castles.  From this unique blend of European influence rose an architectural masterpiece which Hearst furnished with priceless art treasures from around the world.  Hearst Castle: Building the Dream will captivate audiences with Europe’s spectacular architectural wonders, the foundation for the dream that became Hearst Castle.

(AKA Ride Around the World)

The film explores a thriving global culture that has helped shape Western civilization for a thousand years.  The film transports viewers to Morocco, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Patagonia, Texas, and Canada, to ride with exotic horse-and-cattle peoples in an active, educational giant screen experience they’ll never forget.

Incredible Predators deconstructs the world of major predators as never before, taking an intimate look at the remarkable strategies they use to success.  Unveiling the most dramatic events, Incredible Predators tells the story of the contests between predators and their prey, showcasing how these supreme species have to be at the very peak of performance to have any chance of success.  Advanced filming techniques expose the planet’s top predators in extraordinary footage.  Using new high-resolution thermal cameras, Incredible Predators reveals the stealth of the leopard.  For the first time, we capture the polar bear in action with four different hunting techniques used in the summer.  Come on the journey as we follow them into the midst of the pack ice as they hunt for bearded seals.  Alongside dramatic animal behavior, spectacular scenics and aerials, the film reveals the unique relationship between the planet’s predators and prey as a fundamental building block of ecology.

Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of ocean pioneer Jacques Cousteau, offers a breakthrough look at a secret world within the ocean that is perhaps the biggest story of all—that the smallest life in the sea is the mightiest force on which we all depend.  Alongside marine biologist Holly Lohuis, he invites viewers to dive into this whole new world that will leave them in awe of the beauty and diversity of the oceans – the source of all life on our planet – and inspire an even stronger desire to protect what they have either seen for the first time or perhaps re-discovered along the journey.

Narrated by renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Secret Ocean 3D introduces audiences to over 30 species, illuminating behaviors captured for the first time thanks to the development of new tools that allow underwater filming in 3D, ultra-HD 5K, slow motion, macro, and with motion control, and takes them to remarkable and vibrant environments such as the Bahamas, Fiji, and Bimini.

NASA’s next era will be its greatest yet.  That is the clear “roadmap” painted by Journey To Space.  The film absolutely annihilates the perception that the space program died with the end of the Space Shuttle Program by showcasing the exciting plans NASA and the space community are working on, and the challenges they must overcome to carry out audacious missions such as landing astronauts on Mars and capturing asteroids.

By using extensive interviews with astronauts Chris Ferguson (Commander of the final shuttle mission) and Serena Aunon (a new astronaut chosen for future flights), Journey To Space gives a sweeping overview of past space accomplishments, current activities and future plans.

Journey To Space puts into historical context the magnificent contributions made by the Space Shuttle program and its intrepid space pioneers.  It uses the most spectacular space footage – including unique views of Earth and operations in space – such as deploying and repairing the Hubble Space Telescope.  It then goes on to show how the Shuttle launched and assembled the International Space Station (ISS).  Together, these programs have taught us how to live, build and conduct science in space.  The ISS will continue operating in space until 2024, and the film shows how it is building a foundation for the next giant leaps into space.

The film concludes with a fascinating, realistic scenario of how astronauts will actually get to Mars, live there for long duration, and then return home after a two-and-a-half-year mission.  This includes the new icons of the next chapter of space exploration:

– Orion is NASA’s first spacecraft designed to carry humans on long-duration deep space exploration missions throughout the solar system.

– Olympus, an inflatable transportation habitat, is an early concept 45- or 50-feet diameter module that would provide astronauts the work area and living space necessary for long-duration missions.  Smaller versions have already flown in space, and a full-scale version is shown undergoing ground testing.

– The Space Launch System (SLS), a new giant rocket, will carry spacecraft, Mars landers and ascent vehicles to place astronauts on the surface of Mars.  SLS will generate over nine million pounds of thrust and will launch hardware into orbit equivalent to the weight of 22 elephants.

Journey To Space will both inspire a new generation of young people to dream of new horizons in space, and engender a new appreciation for the accomplishments of the Space Shuttle Program among an older generation who came to take it for granted.

Journey To Space is co-produced and co-distributed by K2 Films, Inc. and Giant Screen Films and will be released in IMAX(R), Giant Screen and other specialty theaters in 2D and 3D.

Embark on an epic journey in the most spectacular wildlife sanctuary on Earth in Kenya 3D: Animal Kingdom.  Meet Ntulesai and Ntukai, two fearless Maasai warriors, and follow them on their ritual safari before taking part in an extraordinary traditional ceremony.  Discover the region’s famous fauna in their natural habitat, including the Big Five – lions, elephants, Cape buffalo, leopards, and black rhinos – as well as giraffe, hippos, cheetahs, and many more!

Explore with them the remotest corners of Kenya, from the Rift Valley’s breathtaking flamingo lakes to the Masai Mara, where the annual Great Migration of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles takes place.  Through stunning, never-before-seen 3D photography shot exclusively in the wild, experience a truly unique adventure in the very heart of Africa at IMAX 3D theatres.

Join a band of trekkers as they journey through rugged terrain and extreme conditions to look out from Africa’s highest point in David Breashears’ mountain adventure, Kilimanjaro: To the Roof of Africa.

In the hundred-year-plus history of aviation, truly radical new aircraft designs come along only once in a generation.  Since the introduction of the wide bodies of the late 1960s and early 1970s (followed by the Boeing 777 in 1994), there have been no truly “game changing” new passenger airliner designs until now, with the development of the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Through the eyes of chief test pilot Mike Carriker, a legendary contemporary pilot who is flight rated in more than 100 airplanes, we will see how a century of aviation trial and error, and some of the seminal airplanes of the 20th century influenced the design of the Dreamliner.  The audience will be thrilled with the flight of these legendary airplanes in some of the most breathtaking sequences ever seen on giant (IMAX®) theater screens.  Theater-goers will be there for all the important milestones at the dawn of a new era in commercial aviation.  They will see the first public flight of the massive, but super efficient Airbus A380 at the 2007 Paris Air Show and the first flight of the smaller, even more efficient 787, the first-ever carbon fiber airliner that made its maiden flight in 2009.

Legends of Flight will also give audiences an insider’s view of how a modern aircraft is built, and make them privy to the manufacturing challenges and incredible financial risks companies assume when they embark on radical new designs.  In the end, this unique cinematic experience shows how the 787 might affect the next 100 years of aeronautical design.

This film captures the real-life story of Michael Jordan, the most spectacular athlete of the 20th century and the world’s most recognizable person.  The audience will take a journey into the life of Michael Jordan, experiencing like never before the drama and excitement of Jordan’s basketball career as well as a rare introspective view into Michael off the court.

Mountains tower above the plains and dominate the skyline. Critical to life – they fill our rivers, sway the weather, and provide sanctuary to incredibly diverse wildlife. They are as beautiful as they are dangerous – and for a brave few, they are the source of incredible adventure.

Follow Olympian Torah Bright as she journeys through the world’s longest chain of mountain ranges extending from Antarctica all the way to Alaska. Along the journey, Torah will ride with backcountry legend Jeremy Jones and freeskiing superstar Sammy Carlson. Together, they will encounter penguins, polar bears, and other wildlife, and meet with scientists and environmentalists to uncover a deeper understanding of our mountain ecosystems.

From glaciated valleys to icy tundras, we’ll venture through the mountain’s most awe-inspiring vistas. We’ll discover the crucial role mountains play in our every day lives and for the world, while witnessing the most spectacular snowboard action ever brought to the giant screen!