stunning achievement in 3D effects and visual energy, National Geographic’s “Sea Monsters 3D: A Prehistoric Adventure in IMAX” manages to capture an epic feel in a relatively short running time. While the frequent cuts between 82 million years ago and the present may be slightly jarring to the storyline flow, inventive segues between time periods and stylish special motion effects keep the survival story of the central sea creatures ever-engaging. The informative narration by Liev Schreiber provides ample foreshadowing of approaching predators with tongue-twistingly long names as the plot plays out with enough gusto to rise above the categorization of documentary.

Bouncing from present day archaeologists (in several different countries) to pioneers of the science – and even accidental discoveries – the film unearths the fascinating tale of a young Dolichorhynchops (Dolly/Dollies for short) and her travels from shallow birthing waters to the dangerous depths of ancient oceans and back again. Along the way, she will encounter all manner of predator and prey, from massive jellyfish, to Styxosaurus with 20-foot-long necks, to the deadly Tylosaurus (the T-Rex of the ocean). And every perilous encounter will leave a clue for those to unravel her ancient journey.

As breathtakingly intense as the 3D dinosaurs are as they jump off the screen, the film essentially has only that one trick. While it tries to mix it up for the audience by showing dinosaurs swimming at the screen, lunging at the screen, passing by it, or even a surprising rock explosion clattering down around the perimeters, there are only so many times one can witness things catapulted from the screen before it grows tiresome. Fortunately, due to the very short running time, it doesn’t have a chance to become too agitating, allowing the 3D effects to remain quite stimulating.

The narration doesn’t get all that involved with scientific jargon, save for several nearly unpronounceable dinosaur names, so audience members won’t be lost trying to follow the Dolly’s life cycle. While they’ll probably walk away not remembering anything about the Crustaceous Period inhabitants, or the archaeological digs in Kansas, South Dakota, the Netherlands, and elsewhere across the world, they’ll probably not quickly forget how much fun it is to witness the amazing technology that IMAX 3D has so mind-bogglingly perfected. Prehistoric creatures of all shapes and sizes literally leap off the screen, with several sequences so manipulative that they’ll have viewers instinctively trying to dodge the monstrosities torpedoing toward them. A perfect example of the powers of IMAX and digital effects, “Sea Monsters 3D: A Prehistoric Adventure” is as close as it gets to swimming with dinosaurs.

– The Massie Twins