Gerald Wright's Movie Coverage
GRAND CANYON ADVENTURE
River at Risk in 3D IMAX
Directed by: Greg McGillivray
Running time: 40 minutes
Release date: March 14, 2008
Genre: Documentary
Distributor: MacGillivray Freeman Films
MPAA Rating: Not rated
This exhilarating film is about the marvels of the Colorado River's world famous rapid, Lava Falls that is surrounded by the breathtaking Grand Canyon. While appreciating these marvelous landmarks, this film calls attention to the world's growing shortage of fresh water and the drought threatening the American Southwest. This documentary is narrated by Robert Redford and featuring songs and music by Dave Matthews Band. The film stars world renowned river advocate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., celebrated author/explorer Wade Davis, PH.D. and Shana Watahomigie, a member of the Havasupai tribe and the first Native American to become a National Park Ranger/river guide.
The main characters in this film, Robert Kennedy Jr., Wade Davis and Shana Watahomigie are accompanied by their daughters Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy, Tara Davis and Cree Watahomigie on a rafting trip on the Colorado River. This river is the victim of historic drought that threatens to impact the lives of 30 million people who depend on the river's water.
This film is a visually splendid 3D movie which also focuses on a variety of issues. This splendid film managed to be highly entertaining while it simultaneously educates the audience about the importance of protection and smart management both at home and at the highest levels of global leadership. Grand Canyon Adventure River at Risk raises the question- is it is possible to strike a balance between what the human population needs and the environmental integrity of the river? While the Colorado River has helped the West boom, the consequences have brought change to its natural surrounding area. Before the huge Glen Canyon Dam was built in 1963, the river carried 500,000 tons of silt and sediment daily. Presently, the dam traps 95% of those nutrient filled sediments. The river runs clear and cold, which makes it less friendly to life. This has caused the extinction of native fish, river otters, muskrats, birds, lizards and frogs. In total, more than 25 million people now depend on the river for drinking water, crop irrigation and hydroelectric power.
I enjoyed how this film seamlessly brought together a 3D rapid rafting adventure, the first ever IMAX images of the Grand Canyon and an impressive call to water conservation. Grammy Award winning Dave Matthews Band effectively set the mood to match the adventure of exploring the mystique of Colorado River trip down the rapids. The images and scenes in IMAX 3D format were exhilarating and almost overwhelming. This 3D IMAX experience made a "refreshing" impression on me.
FILM RATING (A)
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