The Great Barrier Reef at IMAX

Explore the Great Barrier Reef from the comfort of your cinema seat in IMAX’s new documentary, Great Barrier Reef 3D. Narrated by acclaimed actor Eric Bana, and shot by Emmy award-winning cinematographer Richard Fitzpatrick, it follows environmentalist Jemma Craig on her quest to preserve the Great Barrier Reef.

Born and raised on Green Island, one of the islands in the Great Barrier Reef, Jemma Craig is such an interesting character. She and her brother were the only children on the island, she explains, completing their education remotely. Jemma still lives on the island and works at the island’s marine park whilst continuing her work to preserve the reef and documenting her process in film and photographs. She doesn’t mind the solitude and says her spirit animal is a turtle, one of the many that are born in the Great Barrier Reef (the reef has the largest turtle sea colony on earth). The turtles go exploring around the earth only to return to the reef forty years later! Narrating segments of her journey, Jemma’s voice-over is almost poetic and goes exceptionally well with the breathtaking skyscraper views and deep underwater kaleidoscope colours of the reef and marine life.

Fitzpatrick – a Marine Biologist and shark researcher turned sought-after cameraman – has shot for the BBC, National Geographic, the Discovery Channel and David Attenborough’s award-winning documentary series, Great Barrier Reef (2015). The eight-month shoot for GREAT BARRIER REEF 3D saw the crew dodging sharks, battling bleaching events and capturing the world’s largest yearly synchronised sex event (coral spawning, which is just exhilarating to watch), all while manoeuvring a camera rig the size of a washing machine.

This is a film for all age groups and important viewing. As someone who is not interested in diving, I was able to enjoy the reef from the comfort of my cinema seat whilst also educating myself and my daughter about the reef, what the issues are that are endangering it, and how individual action can make a tremendous difference. There was also a spectacular night dive which transformed the reef into an underwater light show. At one point the beauty was so immense I became teary (but I am an emotional creature!). The larger screen and 3D experience made you feel like you were experiencing it in reality. A great way to spend the school holidays.

– Koraly

Koraly Dimitraidis is a Cypriot-Australian writer and performer and the author of Love and F—k Poems and Just Give Me The Pills which together form the basis of her theatre show “I say the wrong things all the time”. Her opinion articles/essays have been published widely including international publications in The Washington Post and The Guardian.

“Great Barrier Reef 3D” is playing at IMAX, Melbourne. Book tickets here.

Disclosure: The Plus Ones were invited guests of IMAX Melbourne

Photo credit: film still supplied by IMAX