Customer Reviews

Across the Sea of Time (VHS)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have only seen it twice in New York at SONY IMAX and I wished I could have it in 3D on DVD ... but I guess I will still have to wait for that.
Although a tv-screen can't display all the great - and I mean: GREAT - impressions that you can get from the IMAX screen I guess with a good sound-system at home you can at least experience the greatness of the movie that so much reflects the image of New York.
Along with the 3-D stills it's more than today's New York sight-seeing but also a splendid look into the past, when the city was still growing.
So please dear producers: make it available on DVD in 3D as well as 2D.

This was a wonderful introduction to IMAX films, and the first film I saw on my first visit to New York (and the USA) in 1999. I could empathise so easily with the boy as he saw so many new and wonderful aspects of the city, and it also gave a sense of the history of European immigrants to the New World in byegone days. I visited many of the sites shown in the film during the following two weeks, which the film had helped me to recognise in advance. The film itself was awesome in its scale and the sound track was first class. However, I sincerely doubt that this is material for the small screen, for the very reasons I have given previously, although I recommend it heartily as a theatre experience.

I just saw the movie today in IMAX 3D and it was AWESOME!! I loved the storyline and the soundtrack is great! This is a touching story that is deffinitely a must-see movie for anyone who wants a new adventure. It was my first 3D movie and my 2nd IMAX and it was an amazing experience!

A young boy travels across the ocean, from Europe to New York, carrying only letters, stereoptican photos, and a viewer. The letters and photos were sent over a hundred years ago by a long dead relative. He wanders around New York City trying to use the letters and photos, he has no address, to locate his family--the only family he has left. He meets many different people in the city who try to help him, but most cannot visualize any other New York than the one they know. Wonderful voice-overs from the letters and amazing juxtapositions of the old photograph against the same location decades later. The boy is clever and resourceful--you find yourself cheering him on. Fun, all ages movie. Good history of multicultural New York.

I was not only astounded by the realism of the 3D in the IMAX Theaters I've seen it in. But the story is just overwhelmingly heart grabbing. It throws you into the world of a boy who is making a journey that most people only dream of.

The 3D quality is nothing like that seen in the cheesy films in the past. The 3D in an IMAX film- Especially Across The Sea Of Time!- is almost exactly like being on a Holodeck! I am not exaggerating. The new technology is almost perfect. The only thing left, is to make the electronic goggles so lightweight and large that you don't know they are on your head.

I loved this movie. The story is so strong, that I'm sure it would also be enjoyable on Video. But if you EVER have a chance to see it in an IMAX Theater. DO NOT MISS THE CHANCE! It was THE BEST thing I did on my first trip to New York! And that's really saying a lot. It had to compete with The Statue of Liberty, The Empire State Building, and Rita Ford's Large Antique Music Box Store- which I had been looking forward to seeing for over 15 years!

You won't be disappointed.

For starters, the movie is meant to be an IMAX 3D movie. Although it is great without the 3D, it is MUCH better in 3D. This movie will touch anyone's heart who has ever traveled, moved, or visited another country. Great film making! Great Soundtrack!

New York born and bred, I have a soft spot for any movie that tenderly portrays the journey of our ancestors through Ellis Island. This film is touching in its telling of the story of a little boy who stows away on a ship to New York City to find his distant relative. Armed only with a torn back pack and tattered old photos from the early 1900's, he travels through the city, wide-eyed and in wonder of all the beauty the city has to offer. From the simple pleasures of eating a real New York hot dog, to walking the boardwalk on Coney Island, there is something for everyone in this touching tale. Lots of authentic filming in New York brings the story to life, and the pre September 11th shots of Downtown Manhattan and the World Trade Center are profound. If you had the chance to see this wonderful film in IMAX 3-D many years ago, you were treated to something even more spectacular. The soundtrack is not to be missed ~ just perfect to accompany this movie. Enjoy!

Hi I saw this movie twice in Spain and im willing to see it again one day... unfogetteable movie with a wonderfull John Barry music score... great experience!!! please, edit a DVD!!!

"Across The Sea Of Time" was an uncompromisingly spectacular and entertaining 3D experience in the IMAX theatre - for the many good reasons expressed in the earlier reviews here. Since we are currently seeing several genuine "Blu-Ray 3D" releases from IMAX, I am hoping that this film will be also be released in that format.

This is a grand scale IMAX 3D mini-epic blending state of the art monochrome 3D
still photography from 1916, with stunning full-colour 3D motion and surround sound from 1995.

The story is obviously contrived to make optimum use of the archival material: a young Russian boy, Tomas Minton, travels "blind" (i.e. in a room with no view) by ship to New York, and jumps ship to search for a relative who emigrated early in the century. That man had found paid work as a specialist 3D photographer and had sent home a viewer and a set of his slides which showed any aspects of 1916 New York life.

Tomas routinely refers to this collection of pictures as he wanders the city trying to find recognisable landmarks in the modern skyline.

I couldn't personally recall but am advised, via an IMDB contributor, that The World Trade Centre "features quite prominently in at least two scenes in the movie. A jolt to bring us back to modern times hey!"

The 1916 images are extraordinarily detailed, fully justifying the IMAX big screen and we see a lot more than just the facade of skyscrapers, or the tinsel of Broadway. I am never likely to see New York in person, so I was impressed by all of the visuals.

Director Stephen Low takes advantage of opportunities to push people's 3D response buttons, but it's not done excessively. The overall impact is of a very big city, with a personal history of endurance in the face of hardship, and with many elements of true beauty in its landscape and architecture.

There's a rather natty but very unlikely happy ending, instead of the most likely event of Tomas being grabbed by Immigration and thrown on the first plane back to Russia (proving that this really is a work of fiction).

Heard about this film years ago, but was never able to locate it at the time.
Stumbled across it whilst loking for something else.


[...]

A young Russian boy, Thomas Minton, travels to New York as a passenger on a Russian freighter. Close to Ellis Island he gets off and thus starts his journey to America the same way as all immigrants in former times. Thomas is searching for the family of one of his ancestors, who had emigrated decades ago, but once sent a letter home together with a sample of his new profession: 3D-Photography. The boy follows his relative's traces by counter-checking the old 3D-Photographs of New York (using an antique viewer) with the same places and how they look today. This way, the audience gets to see the Big Apple in former times as well as today. Written by Julian Reischl [...]


If you are outside of the USA Pal area, be advised that you would have to convert this to your regional format - or have a multi-format vhs player.