Instead of a history of the spectacular Niagara Falls, this IMAX presentation, whose format is, oddly enough, pan-and-scan instead of widescreen, resorts to re-enactments of Niagara's mythology. Though the film incorporate... more »s some breathtaking cinematography that emphasizes the splendor and awesome scope of the falls, director Kieth Merrill, who has helmed several other films in the IMAX library (Wolves), focuses on the legends that prevail rather than the wonder of the place itself. We see cheesy reinterpretations of the people of Niagara, "the thunder beings who lived under the great falls," as they send a maiden, "the chosen one," over the edge in a canoe. Equally odd is a scene of Annie Taylor and her pet cat, who tackled the falls in a barrel at the turn of the century. Consequently, this is one of the lesser IMAX features. This truly extraordinary wonder deserves a better platform, yet even in this imperfect examination, its beauty and power can't be repressed and ultimately it's what we remember most after the film ends. --Paula Nechak« less
Rennie P. from MANTECA, CA Reviewed on 1/9/2013...
Very boring and was made like a movie instead of a documentary. I learned absolutely nothing about the falls except a couple who went over the falls and more uninteresting trivia that was all re-enactments.I was very disappointed in the entire DVD and definitely would not recommend it, especially if you want to know about the present day Niagara Falls.
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Movie Reviews
Fantastic Voyage!
Mikesalt | 06/28/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I used to venture up to Niagara Falls, Canada at least three times a year, and every trip was accented with a visit to the IMAX theater to watch Niagara: Miracles, Myths and Magic. This featurette, from the directing to the narration, is legendary. This movie captures the essence of story-telling and is a must for anyone who is enchanted by the magic we believed in when we were young."
A Majestic Presentation ==True to the Title and A Nice Study
Doctorblaster | Quakertown, PA USA | 08/30/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In the IMAX tradition, this is a beautiful presentation. I have seen Niagara-Miracles,Myths,& Magic at the IMAX theater in Niagara Falls and now own this spectacular film on DVD. Kieth Merrill admittedly stays true to his title and provides not only the spectacular and dramatic views of the falls and rapids below, but tells the story of the rich history of the region. It is an attempt to provide a snapshot of the region and its people in this well done film. Each tale unwinds a different, but significant part of the history that makes the Niagara so enchanting. The video transfer is average with quite a bit of film artifact, but this does not significantly detract from the overall picture. The audio is Dolby and well done, though somewhat less spectacular than other IMAX DVDs (MacGillivray features in particular). The 'Making of...' added feature is of fair video quality with much film artifact. The commentary is very brief by Merrill and does not add much to the overall featurette. My three most favorite sequences (all factually true) are the child over the falls, Miss Taylor over the falls, and the delivery of the steamboat down river(no models used in this one). Dramatic cinematography is used with carefully designed props and nice acting to make these events very realistic. I felt as if I have witnessed them for myself! This feature will be much better appreciated by those who have experienced some of Niagara for themselves, as no film will ever capture its scale and majesty. Newcomers will have a nice introduction to the beauty and hopefully will be able to experience the magic in person."
Don't waste your money.
GregF | Cleveland, Ohio | 08/09/2007
(1 out of 5 stars)
"This video just glosses over the history of the falls and throws in some fluffy depictions to make people feel warm and fuzzy. I watched "Niagara-A history of the Falls" by the History Channel first which was 100 percent better than this DVD. Without the knowledge gained from watching this DVD first I would have not understood parts of the IMAX DVD."
Why did the kitten change color?
Mikesalt | NJ USA | 01/25/2006
(1 out of 5 stars)
"Repetitive amateur and boring recreations- someone in the crowd points and yells "Look over there- it's {fill in what went over the falls here}!" - mar this dvd. Recreations are fine when they are done well, but not in this movie. There some truly stunning shots of the falls, but they are too few and too brief. The real mystery of the falls is that Annie's cat, a small black kitten when it goes into the barrel, comes out of the barrel at the bottom of the falls as a larger and obviously older white cat- huh? Save your money!"