Story of D-Day among new Imax offerings

The story behind the Normandy invasion is coming to the biggest screen in town.

“D-Day: Normandy 1944” is one of three new movies at Imax Theatre in Riverfront Park for the year. Also new this year: “Living in the Age of Airplanes” and “Mysteries of the Unseen World.”

“D-Day” is the flagship movie for the summer, said Jeffrey Bailey of Spokane Parks and Recreation. He decided to bring it to town after seeing it in Washington, D.C., last fall.

The film gives a broader understanding of a turning point in World War II, he said.

“It wasn’t just simply an invasion, but something that was planned out by Eisenhower for a long time,” Bailey said.

The film uses a variety of techniques to tell the story, including animation, archival photos and live-action re-enactments. It’s narrated by Tom Brokaw.

“Living in the Age of Airplanes,” narrated by Harrison Ford, visits 18 countries on seven continents to look at how the airplane has changed our world.

“It highlights the fact that so many of us take for granted the ability to fly,” Bailey said.

And “Mysteries of the Unseen World” gives viewers a glimpse of things they usually can’t see because they’re too small or too slow or too fast. It will start showing around Memorial Day, Bailey said.

Three films are returning to the rotation as well: “Journey to the South Pacific,” “Everest” (the 1998 documentary) and “Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West.”

The park opened the amusement rides for spring break. The Imax, Looff Carrousel, rides and mini-golf will continue to be open weekends during the spring and daily during the summer.