Polishing the Dragons: the Making of the Wonders of China by Jeff Blythe Book Review!

[@multidayticket]

Hard to imagine today how incredibly breakthrough this movie was in 1982. Many scenes had never been seen before by anyone outside of China.

[@StamfordBridge]

Wow, what a deep dive into such a niche topic!! But you do a good job of giving a small glimpse into what must have been an arduous and fascinating quest. I’ve never been to Epcot, and I don’t remember the film at Disneyland (though I grew up in L.A.). But as a kid I certainly did watch the 360-degree movie America the Beautiful many times. It was stunning in those days, just as I’m sure this film of China must have been.

[@Imaginerding]

I’m always surprised that people don’t seek out the CircleVision films more often. They were never crowded before the pandemic. But it is an incredible book.

[@StamfordBridge]

Imaginerding Was the same technology used for the America the Beautiful film- do you know?

[@Imaginerding]

Yes. Just slightly improved cameras. The same for the film in Canada and Timekeeper at MK and DLP.

[@StamfordBridge]

Imaginerding Ok, thank you. America the Beautiful really was stunning. In some ways, it was more impressive than Soarin’ at DCA is, odd though that may sound.

[@Imaginerding]

I agree. The Soarin film can be seen as the evolution of the Hales Traveling films from early amusement parks. And even Star Tours and Back to the Future are antecedents to Soarin. But the cicarama films, like America the Beautiful, were stunning because of the 360 degree view.