REVIEW: FILM OF UNDERWORLD JOURNEY LACKS STORY

If crawling around in underground tunnels and examiningmicroorganisms seems like an intriguing exercise, then OMSI's latestIMAX movie, "Journey Into Amazing Caves," should be of greatinterest. Most, though, probably will find this film fairlystraightforward and ordinary, lacking the narrative punch of eventhe most mild large format offerings.

"Journey Into Amazing Caves," with local screenings through Oct.4, might show the most marvelous underground places in the world,through fabulous cinematography. It might tell some of the mostimportant facts about caves and document the most dangerous kinds ofexploration of such tunnels. But the best storyline that filmmakerscould come up with involves a pair of women scientists collectingsamples of water that just might contain microorganisms thatpossibly could cure some yet to be determined disease no sooner thansix years from now? Yawn.

Despite its tremendous importance to science and the world as awhole, such an activity doesn't necessarily make a good movie. Eachscene -- from the Yucatan peninsula to the frozen ice caves ofGreenland to the rugged limestone caverns of the Grand Canyon -- hasthe rising action, sometimes even danger and suspense, only to belet down by one underwhelming denouement after another. Reality canbe so ... dissatisfying.

This is a pretty piece, with unusual and at times fantasticvisual imagery, despite the relatively lifeless realm it portrays.Actor Liam Neeson narrates. The Moody Blues provide the music.MacGillivray Freeman Films, the makers of the IMAX hits "To Fly!"and "Everest," produce this work about one of the Earth's lastunexplored frontiers.

Some aspects of the film are quite clever, including peeks intomicroscopes and incorporation of the Internet. Some of itsexperimental camera techniques work well, even though a few are toojumpy and disorienting. Yet without a compelling narrative to createharmony and excitement among the elements, "Journey Into AmazingCaves" feels like it has a lot of substance surrounding it, onlywith a hollow middle.

"Journey Into Amazing Caves" stars Hazel Barton and NancyAulenbach will give a 20-minute talk about their spelunkingexperiences, with a short question and answer period to follow,starting at 8:30 p.m. April 10 at OMSI. Admission to this specialperformance costs $14 general, $10 children.

'JOURNEY INTO AMAZING CAVES'

* WHAT: The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry's OmnimaxTheater presents "Journey Into Amazing Caves"

* WHEN: Today through Oct. 4, with showtimes at 11 a.m., 1 and 3p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, plus 7 and 9 p.m. Wednesdays throughSaturdays

* WHERE: Portland's OMSI, 1945 S.E. Water Ave.

* COST: $7 general, $5 senior citizens and children 4-13, at themuseum or by calling Fastixx, 800-992-8499

* ON THE WEB: www.omsi.edu and www.amazingcaves.com