With a winter chill settling upon the Washington area, the sun-baked “thirstland” of Africa, Botswana’s Kalahari Desert, seems every bit the thousands of miles that separate the regions.
Only now, the distance between the two is considerably smaller.
“Lions 3-D: Roar of the Kalahari,” now showing at the National Museum of Natural History, takes Washingtonians on an IMAX safari through the wilds of the subcontintinent’s harsh terrain, where temperatures rise to 130 degrees. The stage: a small watering hole in the arid landscape, offering the only relief for 100 miles to parched antelopes, zebras, elephants and other wildlife. The players: a pride of lions, whose constant battle with hunger and nature’s elements never cease. The star: the king of the jungle, a 10-foot aging beast whose triumphant reign is nearing its end. A young rogue lion has emerged as heir to the throne, and his continued efforts to seize the king’s kingdom and lioness eventually lead to one final fight, which will decide the pride’s fate once and for all.
The IMAX theater’s state-of-the art sound system wonderfully captures what still impresses many a National Zoo visitor: the lion’s mighty roar. From the great cat’s heavy purr to the sight of watching a stealthy lioness creep upon a group of skittish antelopes before springing into a hunter’s pursuit, director Tim Liversedge has created an excellent illustration of African life, woven together in a fun and engaging tale. The film is an excellent option for family-friendly fare; the omission of unnecessary blood and gore should make the viewing a pleasant one for littler theatergoers.
Where “Roar of the Kalahari” fails is its effective use of the 3-D format. “Lions” was originally created in 2-D presentation — the new version of the movie is the first time an entire live-action giant screen film has been digitally converted from the original flat format to 3-D. While the effort is commendable, the result is at times pained and frequently forced. The effects lack a “wow” factor — the film doesn’t suffer from its 3-D existence, but it doesn’t do much to enhance the experience.
Visitors to the National Museum of Natural History would do well to stop by and watch “Roar of the Kalahari,” an entertaining film for families. But its not worth a special visit — similar stuff can be often found on cable television.
‘Lions 3-D: Roar of the Kalahari’
Where: Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theater, National Museum of Natural History
When: 10:15 a.m., 12:05 p.m. 1:55 p.m., 3:45 p.m. daily
Tickets: Adults: $8.50, seniors: $7.50, youth: $7
Info: 202-633-IMAX (4629) or www.si.edu/imax
