Scanialara You won't be disappointed!

BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Monkeywess This is an astonishing documentary that will wring your heart while it bends your mind

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

freakfire-1 So I watched an IMAX film. These films have a surprisingly low budget. Not only that, but are surprisingly short by film standards. They could pass for individual one hour programs without a flinch.This one centers on a widow who travels to China to save pandas. She races against a man that propagates the error that pandas are dangerous. Seemingly he also has something to do with her husbands untimely death. And, of course, she wins near the end.There are a couple of scenes where it was obviously filmed in front of a green screen. But its IMAX, they can get away with that. Plus I learned slightly! Yay! Overall, its average. Its bad acting is overlapped by a short script and descent plot. "C"

sabine-d i love IMAX films, and yes, they are judged by a different standard...that is because they are supposed to exploit the potential they have in virtue of the format...beautiful scenery, panoramic shots, aerial views...etc, etc,.. this film didn't do that so much because the focus was more on this Hollywood-style story, which i found a waste of time....not to mention the fact that the story is thoroughly romanticized. i would have loved more footage of the pandas and/or the Himalayas (the shots that WERE included made the film worthwhile). IMAX films should not try to pander to people who can't get enough of Hollywood...go to blockbuster for that junk!! the film about the Bengal tigers in India was far more impressive..

Cowman Usually when I go to see IMAX movies I let a lot of things slide. After all, one shouldn't really expect a captivating story, Hollywood-quality special effects, and top-notch acting from this type of film. It should be a worthwhile watch, as long as the movie does its best to be entertaining while making adequate use of the IMAX filming and projection technology. Unfortunately, CHINA: THE PANDA ADVENTURE doesn't bother to do either.CHINA gives the entire IMAX viewing experience a bad name. Those who haven't seen any other IMAX movies will certainly be wondering what all the fuss is about. Unless, of course, they are too busy vomiting from the awkward, wavy camera movements and the blurry, distorted projection.*** PARTIAL SPOILERS IN THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH! ***The story, apart from being dreadfully boring, is full of inconsistencies and often tends to contradict itself. For example, our panda-chasing heroine expresses her deep concern for the cruel treatment of animals, only to capture the pandas and ship them to North America. Not only is she abducting endangered animals, keeping them locked in a tiny cage, AND separating them from the rest of their family, but she is also sending them to a completely different hemisphere of the world, where the climate and vegetation are both drastically different from what the animals are used to.On the plus side, the acting is quite good, but since the actors are always at opposite sides of the projection, you'll have to resort to whipping your head back and forth between them in order to follow their conversation. This atrocious framing plagues the entire film, forcing even casual viewers to painfully crane their necks, scaling the entire screen just to see what the hell is going on.Oh well, at least I got to see some cute pandas (and Maria Bella, who is also cute).

Nathan There are very few IMAX movies that i have not seen--and China:The PandaAdventure (CTPA) is one of the best. i don't think most people go to IMAXexpecting to see a mainline Hollywood-like production. IMAX movies are judged differently, in my opinion. An IMAX movie should make the best possible use of the large-screen format, and the focus of the presentation should be on the visual. CTPA does this extremely well.It's true that the acting is not outstanding, but i did not go to CTPA to see Robert Redford. i went to see pandas and the stunning scenery of China. i was notdisappointed.The last IMAX presentation i saw was "Amazing Caves," and i was immenselydisappointed. If you had seen the trailer, you had seen everything worthwhile in the movie. And if that English scientist/diver/narrator said one more time howimportant it was to find bacteria so she could "cure new diseases," i would have screamed.CTPA is done with a deft touch, with good narration and dialog and, as i said, stunning cinematography. It's a treat for the whole family. The fact that there's a "story-line" is just icing on the cake.