Customer Reviews

Large Format Niagara: Miracles, Myths & Magic [VHS]

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

 

 

This video just glosses over the history of the falls and throws in some fluffy depictions to make people feel warm and fuzzy. I watched "Niagara-A history of the Falls" by the History Channel first which was 100 percent better than this DVD. Without the knowledge gained from watching this DVD first I would have not understood parts of the IMAX DVD.

Repetitive amateur and boring recreations- someone in the crowd points and yells "Look over there- it's {fill in what went over the falls here}!" - mar this dvd. Recreations are fine when they are done well, but not in this movie. There some truly stunning shots of the falls, but they are too few and too brief. The real mystery of the falls is that Annie's cat, a small black kitten when it goes into the barrel, comes out of the barrel at the bottom of the falls as a larger and obviously older white cat- huh? Save your money!

I used to venture up to Niagara Falls, Canada at least three times a year, and every trip was accented with a visit to the IMAX theater to watch Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic. This featurette, from the directing to the narration, is legendary. This movie captures the essence of story-telling and is a must for anyone who is enchanted by the magic we believed in when we were young.

In the IMAX tradition, this is a beautiful presentation. I have seen Niagara-Miracles,Myths,& Magic at the IMAX theater in Niagara Falls and now own this spectacular film on DVD. Kieth Merrill admittedly stays true to his title and provides not only the spectacular and dramatic views of the falls and rapids below, but tells the story of the rich history of the region. It is an attempt to provide a snapshot of the region and its people in this well done film. Each tale unwinds a different, but significant part of the history that makes the Niagara so enchanting. The video transfer is average with quite a bit of film artifact, but this does not significantly detract from the overall picture. The audio is Dolby and well done, though somewhat less spectacular than other IMAX DVDs (MacGillivray features in particular). The 'Making of...' added feature is of fair video quality with much film artifact. The commentary is very brief by Merrill and does not add much to the overall featurette. My three most favorite sequences (all factually true) are the child over the falls, Miss Taylor over the falls, and the delivery of the steamboat down river(no models used in this one). Dramatic cinematography is used with carefully designed props and nice acting to make these events very realistic. I felt as if I have witnessed them for myself! This feature will be much better appreciated by those who have experienced some of Niagara for themselves, as no film will ever capture its scale and majesty. Newcomers will have a nice introduction to the beauty and hopefully will be able to experience the magic in person.

This movie is extremely bad. Do not buy it. I want to know is what the hell was the director thinking($$$). I myself could've done a better job. Black cat goes into the barrel & after the fall she turns white, must've been terrified from the fall & her hair turned all white. Don't insult people's intelligence, we are in America, not China or India. The guy walking on the rope across the falls looks so fake, you were better off just telling us about the guy's story and not show what he did. DO NOT BUY THIS MOVIE. You will waste your money, I guarantee it. Stupid, Stupid movie. I'm hoping I can return this movie & get my money back.

We watched this feature at the Falls IMAX theatre and while short and limiting in its coverage was a great primer (both in setting the stage for the majesty of the falls and in giving you a little background) for actually experiencing the falls. My wife and I both found the soundtrack (by Conti) added a lot to the feature and we would like to buy it. Alas it does not seem to be in release. Can someone comment on this?

Oh, and by the way, everyone in the theatre got the fact that the cat, which had gone in the barrel black, got soo scared it had turned white in it's journey over the falls. It was greeted with laughter. You may think this was a poorly contrived gag, but it was not a continuity issue.

After seeing this movie on the IMAX screen, I just had to own it. It's not the same, obviously, because of the size of my TV screen but it's still a good movie.

This is a badly produced IMAX film. There is a tale with mediocre imaging and sound... what a waste of time and money!

a little bit disappointed! But great sound!! I visited several times the niagara fall. I personally expected the scenery of the fall like an airview on a helicopter. but this film is mainly consists of several "dramatized" chapters. My mother never been to there, so I want to show her the beautiful sceneray, and what I expected was the realism of the scenary, but what a great mistake I made when I choose 'IMAX" which has been destined to be 'a story teller' for kids in vacation season! Plus, it was taken pictured wholy from the American side of the great Niaagara fall. In short, never from the Canadian side of the fall!. What else should I say anymore. Still waiting for another great scenery dvd title, I am afraid that people do not convert just simple tourist video into new dvd tile which would be greatly popular.

Your five your old child could have wrote it. This is what I don't like about Imax films. They try to tell a story but it is so elementry you wonder what is the purpose. If you can not tell a interesting story why try. Niagra is certainly a beautiful place; but the movie would have been better serve if they went the educational,historical,adventure or eye candy route. Instead we are treated to a story a seconed grader would appreciate at the expense of some beautiful photography.