Back in the 1980s, the Science Museum in St. Paul featured an Omnimax theatre. Omnimax took Imax one step further and created a wrap around screen shaped like a dome. It also played normal Imax films. Back then, Imax films were documentaries, supposedly science related. However, the subject matter was really an excuse to show off spectacular photography shot with Imax cameras. I was hooked from the first high school field trip to the huge screen film format. After that, I remember showing up an hour early to Imax films to be first in line, all in order to get the choice seat.
Omnimax still exists but in large was eclipsed by the Imax format, with a traditional flat screen. Of course, dome shaped screens took a huge leap with the building of the Sphere in Las Vegas. Even now, true Imax screens that are 7 stories tall, are being outnumbered by what I call "miniMax" screens, that are ten times smaller. Nevertheless, I solicit these "LieMax" theatres because ultimately it is the highest quality showing you going to get in your run-of-the-mill theatre chains. In the last 20 years, Imax has been expanded from photogenic documentaries into blockbuster filmmaking.
Aerial photography is hands down the most stunning type of Imax photography. I remember a huge hit at the Science Museum was "To Fly". Space themed Imax docs also were pretty stunning. "Blue Angels" is a throwback to these documentaries with "wow" cinematography. Instead of being released to museums, it was released to the "miniMax" theaters. If you were thrilled by the aerial photography seen in last year's Top Gun 2, you will appreciate "Blue Angels". Interspersed throughout this in-depth look at the Blue Angels program are stunning aerial shots of the Blue Angels in action. Although the shots are only about 2 seconds a piece, they provide previously unseen angles in the air. Achieving smooth and kinetic camera moves mid-air, you are presented with really intimate views of the famous Blue Angels air shows.
These money shots are thrown in amidst the story of new recruits to the Blue Angels program. If there was a complaint, it was the editor(s) decision to cut the film Michael Bay style, with no shot seeming to last more than 2 seconds. It certainly keeps the areial shots energetic, but to a certain degree unsatisfying. I think I would have enjoyed at least one segment following the airplanes through an entire airshow stunt. One exception is the emphasis placed on a single stunt, when four aircraft fly together in dangerously close formation. Extra time is spent studying this formation, as we see the wingtips of two of the fighters nearly come in contact with each other.
The rest of the film uses interviews from the pilots to describe the details behind preparing for air show season, and what they go through to safely perform the stunts. I am somewhat of an aviation buff, having seen the Blue Angels in person 4 or 5 times. So I found the subject matter relatively interesting. Even if I didn't, I would still have found it worth the ticket price to see the astounding aerial shots, short and sweet as they are.
Ultimately I give this a 6 out of 10. I didn't go higher because of the spastic editing and the fact the subject matter isn't captivating enough for most audiences, meaning I would have been more satisfied if there was more straight coverage of their air shows and less everything else.
Omnimax still exists but in large was eclipsed by the Imax format, with a traditional flat screen. Of course, dome shaped screens took a huge leap with the building of the Sphere in Las Vegas. Even now, true Imax screens that are 7 stories tall, are being outnumbered by what I call "miniMax" screens, that are ten times smaller. Nevertheless, I solicit these "LieMax" theatres because ultimately it is the highest quality showing you going to get in your run-of-the-mill theatre chains. In the last 20 years, Imax has been expanded from photogenic documentaries into blockbuster filmmaking.
Aerial photography is hands down the most stunning type of Imax photography. I remember a huge hit at the Science Museum was "To Fly". Space themed Imax docs also were pretty stunning. "Blue Angels" is a throwback to these documentaries with "wow" cinematography. Instead of being released to museums, it was released to the "miniMax" theaters. If you were thrilled by the aerial photography seen in last year's Top Gun 2, you will appreciate "Blue Angels". Interspersed throughout this in-depth look at the Blue Angels program are stunning aerial shots of the Blue Angels in action. Although the shots are only about 2 seconds a piece, they provide previously unseen angles in the air. Achieving smooth and kinetic camera moves mid-air, you are presented with really intimate views of the famous Blue Angels air shows.
These money shots are thrown in amidst the story of new recruits to the Blue Angels program. If there was a complaint, it was the editor(s) decision to cut the film Michael Bay style, with no shot seeming to last more than 2 seconds. It certainly keeps the areial shots energetic, but to a certain degree unsatisfying. I think I would have enjoyed at least one segment following the airplanes through an entire airshow stunt. One exception is the emphasis placed on a single stunt, when four aircraft fly together in dangerously close formation. Extra time is spent studying this formation, as we see the wingtips of two of the fighters nearly come in contact with each other.
The rest of the film uses interviews from the pilots to describe the details behind preparing for air show season, and what they go through to safely perform the stunts. I am somewhat of an aviation buff, having seen the Blue Angels in person 4 or 5 times. So I found the subject matter relatively interesting. Even if I didn't, I would still have found it worth the ticket price to see the astounding aerial shots, short and sweet as they are.
Ultimately I give this a 6 out of 10. I didn't go higher because of the spastic editing and the fact the subject matter isn't captivating enough for most audiences, meaning I would have been more satisfied if there was more straight coverage of their air shows and less everything else.
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