Omniversum might be one of the most unique cinemas in the Netherlands, with its dome shape it has an IMAX screen which you won’t be able to see completely, no matter where you sit. It makes watching a movie a real experience. The last time I visited this cinema was back when I was a little boy. Which movie I saw there I can’t remember, but I recall a scene in which was shot from inside a driving car and the experience made me a bit nauseous. Last week it was the first time I went back for the presentation of the newest movie which is now playing there: National Park Adventure.
That the United States has some beautiful nature is something I’ve experienced myself when I drove through California by myself a couple of years ago. The drive from San Francisco to Yellow Stone Park was wonderful and in the couple of hours I spent in the park (unfortunately I had reserved a hotel in advance) I saw a lot of beautiful scenery, like the giant sequoia trees or the impressive waterfalls. This documentary doesn’t only shows the viewer this park, but the various other ones that are part of the National Parks. The size of these together is eight times that of The Netherlands and it results in some beautiful imagery.
National Parks Adventure tries to do a couple of things:
1. How the National Parks were created
2. The adventure part within the title is brought to life by a group of three people who travel to the various parks and climb, take to the drivers and ride bikes there
3. To show the beauty of the parks
It’s especially that third one where this movie succeeds, because if you are not able to head to America than this is the best way to experience it. In rapid succession you see the highlights from the various parks. The other two in the list above are there, but feel tacked on. The history is told almost randomly and doesn’t feel like an essential part of the film. The adventure part is shown, but the three people aren’t really introduced. You see the various spots they visit, but from the start it is unclear what their goals are. With a length of 38 minutes there doesn’t seem to be enough time to expand it and that’s a shame.
The film has been made in part through sponsoring, but when you hear the voiceover talk about Subaru National Park and Expedia is mentioned as well, you feel like commercials and nature are not an organic match. I really got the feeling I was watching a commercial. The screen at the Omniversum does make you feel like you are there, even though some imagery is distorted by the dome shape.
