Synopsis:
In 1994 in Southern France in a cave known as the Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc, some of the oldest remnants of humankind, cave paintings some 30,000 years old, were discovered. Access to the cave is strictly controlled but Werner Herzog obtained permission to film there in 3D.
The Cave Of Forgotten Dreams is not Sanctum 3D and I think most people realise that. I have heard of people though expecting a 3D underground action adventure and being sorely disappointed. The Cave Of Forgotten Dreams is a documentary, albeit a cinematic one. If you enjoy watching Discovery Channel then you’ll probably enjoy this. If you don’t like documentaries then you should give this a wide berth. It is what it is.It is a fascinating topic told in a visually spectacular manner. Some of the time scales involved are mind-boggling and the interviews with various scientists and archaeologists provide a nice context. As for the paintings themselves, some are spectacular, detailed and surprisingly realistic. There are also some bizarre moments of comedy. There are three very random inclusions: albino crocodiles; flute man; and perfume man. None of which really do much service to the overall experience except to lighten the mood of awe, which may not have been the intention.
This is probably the best I have seen 3D applied to a film. The 3D effects bring the cave’s contours sharply into reality and give the impression of depth that adds so much to the viewing experience.
It is an absolute must see for anybody who has any sort of interst in archaeology or anthropology and the fact is so few people are ever allowed in to the actual caves to see the paintings first hand that this is the only chance most people will ever get to see these amazing caves.
