"Notwithstanding the beauty and grandeur of the vistas of glacial peaks, clustered
conifers and vast tundras, the real stars of this stunning Imax production are undoubtedly
Alaska’s wildlife. Particularly the bears – brown, black and polar. This is the
closest you can come to experiencing a real bear hug without being crushed like a paper
cup. There is a whimsical side to this production – we see bears playing, sea lions
prancing and elk gambolling in a region of the world so removed from our modern urbanity
that it almost seems like another planet. Taking us on a journey through the seasonal
changes of Alaska’s hostile environment – from the summer lakes teeming with
migrating salmon, to the harsh realities of winter – we catch a glimpse of each face
of this constantly changing, but always awe-inspiring icy land, and the desperate struggle
for survival of its denizens. The editing is fast and stylish, which takes the
entertainment to the (I)max, and allows for a plethora of fascinating phenomena to be
showcased – from the Aurora Borealis to the formation of icebergs. Charlton
Heston’s elegantly intoned narration keeps us comfortably up to date with the
spectacular images, and while the slick editing prevents it from being a particularly
informative documentary, for pure escapism, Alaska is a wonderful, invigorating and
unbeatable experience."
Brad Green
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