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Michael Jordan to the max

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Movie propaganda

Up close some heroes get even bigger.

The Panasonic Imax Theatre, Sydney, is readying for one of its biggest film releases to date, starring arguably the most spectacular athlete of the 20th century - Michael Jordan.

Set to slam dunk Sydney audiences, Michael Jordan to the max will inspire, excite and touch the hearts of the thousands who will witness the man they say has always been larger than life - ironically enough, eight stories tall on the giant Imax screen!

Michael Jordan to the max celebrates the personal attributes that have made Jordan not only a basketball champion, but also a hero who transcends borders, cultures, age and gender. He is ultimately one of the world's most recognisable people, the man who has inspired the hopes and dreams of millions world-wide.

The first ever large format film to exclusively feature an athlete or individual, this 45 minute giant screen portrait offers fans an intimate look at Michael Jordan. It takes the viewer on a journey into his life providing the opportunity to experience like never before the drama, excitement and action of his basketball career, as well as a rare introspective insight into Michael off the court.

Jordan, the basketball superstar who led the Chicago Bulls to its sixth NBA championship, comments about the film, "It celebrates some of the most triumphant moments of my career and has given me the opportunity to share myself as an athlete and a person... I hope that my story, captured in the powerful large format medium, will inspire people of all ages."

The film traces Jordan's final championship run with the Chicago Bulls and follows the sequence of playoff games leading to Jordan's final shot - the now fabled "last dance" - where, with only seconds on the clock, he scores to win the sixth championship for the Bulls and a storybook ending to his professional basketball career.

Michael Jordan's brilliant athletic career has spanned almost two decades, a time over which he has rewritten the record books and altered the standards by which future superstars will be measured. What truly distinguishes Jordan are his exceptional personal attributes - his unyielding work ethic, his fiery competitive spirit, his indomitable will to win and, most importantly, the class and dignity with which he carries himself both on and off the basketball court.

Michael Jordan's trademark soaring slam dunk is the ultimate highlight of the film. Captured using bullet time technology developed for the blockbuster The Matrix, Jordan's slam dunk is a jaw dropping special effect - viewers experience the spectacle of his gravity-defying leap eight stories high in slow motion.

Other elements of the film highlight access to rarely seen backstage locations such as the press and locker rooms and the Bulls' private practice facility; glimpses of Jordan's family life and relationship with his father; as well as Jordan's high school basketball fall-out and his less than spectacular brush with the baseball major league.

For Australian basketball fans there're also glimpses of Luc Longley, winner of three NBA level championship rings, and one of only a handful of Australian players who have made it to the NBA, playing along side the real life hero.

To compliment the outstanding line up of film highlights is a powerful soundtrack featuring: Fatboy Slim; The Bigwigs; Soul Coughing; Earth, Wind and Fire; Speech; Nicole Renee; Kim Simmonds; Freddie King; Josie; The Alan Parsons Project; John Debney; Gary Glitter and more.

For basketball enthusiasts Michael Jordan to the max simulates the feeling of being courtside with Jordan. Low and wide angle shots along with incredible visual and sound capabilities - that only giant screen motion-picture format can offer - provide audiences with the illusion of owning seats at the arena.

Those with little knowledge of the game will walk away from their Imax experience inspired by the true champion-like qualities that Michael Jordan portrays. Co-directors and co-producers of the film Jim Stern and Don Kempf explain why: "Our goal was to rate an inspirational portrait of a champion whose athletic achievements could not have resulted from talent alone - but instead stemmed from a combination of athletic ability, discipline, determination, teamwork and a true love of the game" said Jim Stern.

The film crew followed Michael and the Chicago Bulls throughout his last NBA championship run. The film uses the incredible visual impact of large format to take you on court with Jordan as he demonstrates his ability to defy expectations - and gravity.

Persons of interest

Michael Jordan .... Himself
Phil Jackson .... Himself
Doug Collins .... Himself
Bob Greene .... Himself
Bob Costas .... Himself
Dean Smith .... Himself
Deloris Jordan .... Herself
Fred Lynch .... Himself
Walter Iooss Jr .... Himself
Bill Murray .... Himself
Laurence Fishburne .... Narrator
Jonathan Hock .... Screenwriter
Don Kempf .... Director
James D Stern .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Michael Jordan to the max official movie site
See also Like Mike, The Year of the Yao

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

I saw Michael Jordan.

As far as documentaries go, this one is pretty lightweight. It's honest, but if it were any nicer it would be an advertisement rather than a documentary. If you don't know anything about Mr Air you'll learn a few things, but any basketball fan is going to know everything that made it to the big big screen. A tip for the filmmakers: an interview with someone sitting in a chair does not make the best use of the Imax format.

The on-court basketball stuff is likewise interesting, but you see as good if not better sport on any given Saturday. As for the bullet time technobabble, well, it's just a picture of a guy jumping, even if it is Michael. In a day and age where you can create your own cinema-quality special effects on your home computer, to hype a three second shot (repeated once at the end of the film) is a bit below the line.

If you're the ultimate MJ fan you'll see anything and everything that involves him, if you're anyone else, feel free to let this one slide.