The Magic of Flight: IMAX (1996)

The Magic of Flight is not a documentary about the history of aviation, it is an IMAX film about "the magic of flight." Everyone knows that IMAX films are made for panoramic IMAX theater screens, which are predominantly in science museums and similar venues. IMAX films are typically 35 minutes long and favor wide-angle panoramic scenes that are esp. majestic or impressive when navigating the skies or the marine world. So it dumbfounds me when many viewers complain that they expected a longer movie, a comprehensive history of flight, or more facts than scenery (and I find it offensive that one curmudgeon calls a U.S. Navy Blue Angels pilot a "dumb-ss"). Worse still, these agnostics completely miss the thrill and the inspiration that IMAX affords. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that watching an IMAX film, which was made for a screen that is 72 feet wide on average, on a 15-inch-diagonal computer screen or even a 42-inch-diagonal HD screen is a significantly different experience that requires the viewer to notice and even insert oneself into the wide-angle cinematography. I greatly enjoy every IMAX film I have seen (in an IMAX theater or at home) because they are about the discovery of knowledge and wonder in our world and beyond. IMAX scenery is a major hassle to shoot because of the size of the format yet it is like none other. The scripts, never frothy, are always geared to humanize the subject and to inspire a love of science and exploration. As such I guess they are written for children, who have yet to blaze their own trails in the world, not for the Barcalounger crankcase who has long since chosen a different path. The Magic of Flight gives us awe-inspiring footage of birds in flight, introduces us to the invention of powered flight by the Wright Brothers, then builds its theme of the majesty of flight around the Blue Angels squadron (clearly featured on the DVD cover art) and how pedal-to-the-metal pilots learn and feel about the flying that is their heart and soul. It's this simple: If you love flight, see The Magic of Flight. 4 stars.

Archer: Season 1 (2009)

Archer is from the same artists behind Sealab 2021 and Frisky Dingo so if you're an Adult Swim fan (esp. also of The Venture Bros. and Assy McGee) you should enjoy this new offering. Top agent Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin, also the voice of Coach McGurk in Home Movies) sounds a bit like Patrick Warburton with ADD and has ribald scenes in the pilot episode (such as "Hello, my cayenne kitten!" where he admits shooting but not with his high-powered rifle). Working for his mom as the top agent at ISIS, Archer recently broke up with sexpot agent Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler), who is now with Comptroller Cyril Figgis (Chris Parnell), whom Archer must train as an agent. Trouble is, Archer is usually so drunk or devil-may-care that he can be deadly to anyone within his line-of-sight (or a ricochet). Sexual comments, double entendres, and scenes of languorous women abound. (And wow, Lana has some pretty sick fantasies.) It's all a spoof of the James Bond scene so enjoy the laughs. The artwork and voice talent are very realistic and en pointe. Archer is about as rapid-fire and funny as Robot Chicken. The fifth episode is more cohesive and much funnier than the pilot and first two episodes though as hypermacho Archer banters through a mission to seduce a gay Cuban subversive while countering two gay Miami assassins. Episode 1: Training Day, 2: Mole Hunt, 3: Diversity Hire, 4: Killing Utne, 5: Honeypot. (6: Skorpio will air Feb. 11. This review will be updated.) 4 stars. (1-14 updated 2-4-10)