Forces of Nature

Today, I have decided to catch an omni-theatre movie titled Forces of Nature. I wanted to learn something, but for this afternoon, I thought I would stay away from reading books. Instead, I have chosen to learn by visual means, through watching an omni-theatre movie.

Here is a write-up about the Omni-theatre in Singapore. (Sources: http://www.science.edu.sg/ssc/otmovie.jsp?type=8)

The Omni-Theatre, part of the Singapore Science Centre, is a specially designed theatre equipped with state-of-the-art IMAX dome technology. It is Singapore's only dome-shaped, 5-storey high theatre with a capacity of 276 seats.

The theatre screens large format films which provides the industry's highest standard of clarity. The 15 perforation/70mm film frame is 10 times larger than that of conventional 35mm film used in cinemas.

It also features a massive hemispheric screen, 23m in diameter and 16m in height (or 5-storey high) which stretches 180o horizontal from wall to wall and is tilted at a 30o angle to the horizon. Together with 72 amplifiers, which produce 20,000 watts of surround sound, audiences are transported right into the action.The Omni-Theatre provides audiences with an immersive, premium cinematic experience, which is both exciting and educational.

I felt humbled when I watched the movie Forces of Nature. Nature is such a marvel, so are the forces of nature. I felt that mankind is quite at a mercy of many of the forces of nature. Many of the times, we have no control over the many forces of nature. In this planet Earth that we live in, we have to learn to come to terms that we will have to live with the forces of nature (its marvellous side, and at the same time, its destructive side).

In this movie, the audience gets glimpses of volcano eruptions, earthquakes and tornadoes in their actions. Watching these have been rather spectacular to me. In this part of the world that I live in, I have yet to experience any of such natural forces, and perhaps I would not want to.

My salute to the scientists who have spent so much time and effort trying to understand these natural forces, and to find ways to help mankind better survive these forces. Some of these scientists may have, in the process of their search for understanding, sacrificed their lives.

This movie is quite insightful and educational. Yet, perhaps it was because I was not at my optimal today, I felt nauseous while I was watching the movie. It must have been the sensation of constant rocky movements. With the large film and massive screen, I felt as if I was moving together with the rocks and tornadoes in the movie, even though I knew that the theatre's seats were securely screwed onto the floor. Such a sensation resulted in a kind of nauseous feeling similar to that when one has car-sickness. So I tried the advice of the theatre's personnel, given to us before the show, that is "close (my) eyes if (I were to) feel giddy". It helped a bit, but not for too long.

This is certainly a movie to catch for people who are interested in understanding Nature, volcanoes, earthquakes and tornadoes. Certainly educational, while being entertaining. For more information about this movie, here is a link to its official website: http://www.destinationcinema.com/our_films/fon/fon.asp