From the moment the baby elephants stretched their trunks out to us in the audience, my group was mesmerized by the Born to be Wild 3D IMAX film at Pacific Science Center. The largest movie screen in Seattle is the perfect place to watch this journey of orphaned orangutans and elephants, and the amazing people who nurture them and send them back to the wild.
The distinctive voice of Morgan Freeman narrates as moviegoers travel to the savannahs of Kenya and the rainforests of Borneo for the story. My 4-year-old daughter and our 6-year-old neighbor attended the film, which is rated G and appropriate for all ages.
The girls laughed at the antics of the baby animals and literally grasped at the 3D images in front of us. Just as we nurture our children, the caretakers bottle feed, sing to, play with and bathe the animals (though our kids probably don't eat the soap). As a parent, I was deeply touched by the humanity of it all.
The film follows two women – world-renowned primatologist Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas and celebrated elephant authority Dame Daphne M. Sheldrick – in their mission to rescue and foster the orphans. Aptly named fairy godmothers, they dedicate their lives to this endeavor, and also to raising money for habitat preservation.
Thankfully, we don't see any footage of the animals' mothers being poached, we just hear about it happening. We do see a few of the rescues, and the awe-inspiring process of working with the elephants and orangutans until they are ready to be released into the wild. These animals bond with their human caretakers as if they were kin.
The orangutans wrap their lanky arms around their caretakers' necks and get toted around piggyback-style. They play on jungle gyms. The girls watching the movie with me belly-laughed when a baby orangutan spilled milk all over its belly. My favorite moment is when one of the caretakers sings a lullaby to a tiny orangutan until it peacefully closes its eyes (they sleep with the orangutans and elephants to help them feel safe).
The elephants have their fun, too. They cheerfully indulge in their bottles of specially formulated milk and have a rousing game of soccer with their caretakers, one of the many moments the audience was pleased to have 3D. We recognize the elephants' vulnerability when we see them get sunscreen applied to their ears, since their mothers aren't there to shade them.
All of these things help kids understand how precious life is, and that we all just need a little love. For these reasons, and simply for an opportunity to see a wonderful story about nature, this IMAX film is not to be missed.
IF YOU GO
Where: Pacific Science Center, 200 2nd Ave. N., at Seattle Center.
When: Through May 8 with several showings daily.
Admission: Tickets for the IMAX film only are adults $9, seniors $8, youth (ages 6 to 15) $7, children (ages 3 to 5) $6, children age 2 and under free. Tickets for the IMAX film plus Pacific Science Center exhibits are adults $18, seniors $16, youth (ages 6 to 15) $13, children (ages 3 to 5) $11, children ages 2 and under free.
Contact: 206-443-2001; www.pacificsciencecenter.org.
This movie is also playing at AMC Kent Station and AMC Loews Alderwood Mall. For details check the IMAX website: www.imax.com/movies/m/born-to-be-wild-3d.
Taryn Zier is a freelance writer based in Lake Forest Park and mother of two children, ages 4 and 6.
