Space Station 3D (IMAX)

Space Station 3D is the 70 mm IMAX and Lockheed Martin Corporation co-production that is presented in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The film takes place 220 miles above the Earth at a speed of 17,5000 MPH aboard the most complex scientific project ever assembled—the International Space Station. Tom Cruise narrates this fascinating look at the high-flying laboratory, where today's space heroes develop technologies to make possible future voyages to Mars and provide solutions to earthbound problems. (Gary Reber)

There are no special features.

This is a remarkable 1.78:1 1080p MVC 3-D presentation filmed in space by the astronauts and cosmonauts of the International Space Station. The scope of the 70 mm photography is impressive and exhibits excellent depth perception. Outside the Space Station, Earth appears dimensionally offset against the blackness of space. All shuttle and station exteriors exhibit finely detailed textures, with appreciable depth and perspective. This presentation blossoms the imagination in ways that the 2-D presentation cannot. There are some exciting "Wow" moments, where objects protrude from the screen, while feeling perfectly integrated. One such moment is when an orange is tossed directly out at the screen (until it hits the camera lens and bounces back). Astronauts are seen seemingly weightless, as they float around the space station and out of the screen in zero gravity, always offset with the feeling of realistic, natural depth and perspective. The color palette is perfectly natural, with nicely saturated hues and fleshtones. Whites are brilliant, and blacks are deep and solid, particularly the vast blackness of space itself. Occasional double image ghosting appears faintly but never is distracting. This is an incredibly adventurous 3-D experience that immensely enhances the sense of wonder and amazement, with earth as the distant backdrop. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is nicely produced, with excellent fidelity and impressive dialogue integration. The narration by Tom Cruise is always intelligible and delivered with an easiness that feels just right. Other dialogue sounds natural and, at times, is directionalized. Of course, atmospheric—while minimum—and sound effects enhance the realism and can be extremely powerful and demanding of the sound system. Particularly during the roaring rocket blastoffs, bass extension is intense in the .1 LFE channel, with SPL energy pushed to the reference limit in all channels. Surround envelopment is immersive throughout, enhanced with a terrific music track that is varied and nicely complementary. The sound feels holosonic in scope, but intimate, for an overall pleasing experience. (Gary Reber)