It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a movie in 3D, and even longer since I’ve seen one on an IMAX screen. I’m telling you, though, that’s the only way to see Alpha, a rare example of a movie that takes full advantage of technology to enhance the story, rather than enhancing the technology to take advantage of the story. That’s a subtle, yet huge, difference. If you don’t understand the distinction, just go see Alpha and, from the very first sequence, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
To be honest, I may not have attended the screening if I had known in advance how it was going to be projected. Such is my disdain for the dark, murky mess to which I’m accustomed with 3D. And size doesn’t usually matter; a bigger screen just makes a dark, murky mess that’s bigger. Alpha is not like that. It’s bright and crystal clear, with each shot composed as if it’s meant to be seen in 3D from its conception, not added as an afterthought to create a higher ticket price. (Here, the additional expense would be well worth it.)
Alpha is a breathtaking experience. Sitting in the middle, center of the stadium seating, I was immersed in the action. At the conclusion of an opening hunt scene, as buffalo tumbled over the edge of a cliff, I felt like I was going to tumble with them. Technology alone can’t be responsible for the effect. Director Albert Hughes, one-half of the Hughes Brothers (From Hell, The Book of Eli) and cinematographer Martin Gschlacht (Goodnight Mommy) wield the camera like a paintbrush, creating beauty and wonder with each stroke.
The problem is, I’m not sure the story is strong enough to sustain a great movie without all the bells and whistles. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good. It’s just not terribly original or unique. Seeing it “flat,” I could imagine being underwhelmed. 20,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age, a boy is separated from his father during the aforementioned hunt. He’s left to survive on his own in the wild until he demonstrates kindness to a canine that’s also separated from its pack. Nature made them enemies, but time and compassion makes them friends.
That sounds corny, huh? The subject matter is handled really well, and there are plenty of “Awwww” moments. However, I didn’t ultimately have the same emotional investment in the story as I did in the visual effects of the production. Perhaps the subtitles worked as a barrier to complete connection with the characters. Using what I assume was intended to be authentic language of the time period might have caused a different part of the brain to be working when it should have been relaxing.
Overall, I recommend that you see Alpha for the spectacle; the bigger the screen, the better. You will probably be invested in the outcome and you’ll be awed and thrilled along the way. At only 96 minutes, it doesn’t make you linger in any one of its scenes just for the sake of marveling at it. Don’t expect an intricate story with narrative embellishments. Sometimes simple is best and this is a movie that doesn’t need to rely on the story. It’s meant to appeal to the heart, not the head. What you see is what you get, and what you get is terrific.
