Review
ADRENALINE RUSH: THE SCIENCE OF RISK
Featuring Adrian Nicholas and Katarina Ollikainen
Written and directed by Marc Fafard
Now playing
Discovery Dome (Calgary Science Centre)
"Just like riding on a boat isn’t swimming, riding in a plane isn’t flying." These words from a skydiver as he gets ready to make a jump typify Adrenaline Rush, a film that provides an insider’s view into risk-taking and the scientific rationale behind it.
The film focuses on two seasoned professional skydivers, Adrian Nicholas and Katarina Ollikainen, who endeavour to put Leonardo Da Vinci’s parachute schematic from 1498 to the test. The film documents this first trial of Da Vinci’s theory and design in a modern-day setting using his original specifications. A team of experts is gathered to assist the skydivers and the film takes us through the preparation and flight.
On a larger scale, Adrenaline Rush is a scientific look at the fascination of risk, the physics of flight, the physiological reaction of the human body during times of stress and the subsequent euphoric rewards. While the stunts are of the don’t-try-at-home variety, the film allows a virtual experience like no other with majestic scenery and inspiring action sequences. One sequence features professional skydivers, falling at a speed of 200 km/h playing catch with a lead tennis ball 1,000 metres above ground. If this ball were to fall to earth it would create a hole seven feet deep. There’s no need to worry though, the movements of the jumpers are precise and their risks are calculated, resulting in a picture perfect jump. Director Marc Fafard achieved much of the fantastic photography through the use of cameras mounted on the helmets of professional jumpers. This allows the audience to experience a 1,300 metre BASE (building, antennae, span and earth) jump off a cliff, seen through the eyes of the jumper.
Where Adrenaline Rush is most successful is in bringing a greater depth to the general risks we take in everyday life. Looking at how the fight-or-flight response has helped society progress may seem a little hokey, but the stunts definitely aren’t.
At a running time of about an hour, Adrenaline Rush moves along at an action-packed speed and while the science overview is good, the emotional component of thrill seeking is glossed over. The physical reaction of a jumper’s heart pounding and the biochemistry of the brain is explained – the emotional drive to take the plunge isn’t. Even so Adrenaline Rush is a thrill ride worth taking. |
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