‘Discoverers’ Worthy Subject In The Wrong Theater

One of the ways that we traditionally celebrate humanity is to honor those who, for whatever reason, seek something new.

Until recently, the subject of the search wasn’t considered important. Neither were the negative effects of the process. Whoever looked over the next rise, metaphorically or literally, was thought to be worthy of respect.

That’s the idea behind “The Discoverers,” a new IMAX feature that just opened in Riverfront Park’s super-big-screen theater. Concentrating on a half-dozen different science-minded stories, the film attempts to - as the production notes explain - “probe our unquenchable desire to extend the boundaries of knowledge.”

So, in short order, we are led through time and space as Ferdinand Magellan and his crew explore a western passage through Tierra del Fuego and, centuries later, as the Magellan spacecraft circles Venus; as the young daughter of a Spanish anthropologist stumbles onto cave drawings and, a century later, as scientists search for a language link with dolphins; as Isaac Newton develops the basic composition of light and, centuries later, as a team of scientists studies the Aurora Borealis.

Taken as pure film, “The Discoverers” has its attractions. Even with the hokey use of dramatized events - Newton sitting in his sanitized study, for example, amazing his friends with prism tricks - the 40-odd-minute short provides enough information to hold the attention of most anyone interested in the world around us.

In addition, the scientists and explorers profiled are more worthy of our attention than many others whose dubious achievements, though duly celebrated, ended up resulting in the mere exploitation of various lands and the genocide of the natives living there.

As a pure IMAX film, however, “The Discoverers” is far less successful.

By now, we’re become accustomed to the giant-screen technology that makes any airplane ride a roller coaster into dizziness. It’s why we pay inflated prices to see something as amazing as “The Rolling Stones”; it’s why we take the time to sit through such short-but-scenic films as “The Blue Planet.”

Surprisingly enough, “The Discoverers” doesn’t make enough use of its most impressive feature. So while it may quench our desire for knowledge a bit, it doesn’t much fulfill our quota for cheap thrills, IMAX-style.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: “The Discoverers” ** 1/2 Location: Imax Theatre Credits: Produced and directed by Greg MacGillivray, featuring Dr. Robert Eather, Dr. Louis Herman and Dr. Ellen R. Stofan. Running time: 40 minutes Rating: Not rated