To the IMAX

CHRISTMAS FEAR In IMAX, Carrey’s Scrooge goes from merry to scary.

Egypt 3D, Field Museum

Plot synopsis
To gain insight on mysterious pharaohs, archaeologists and scientists unravel mummification processes with DNA advancements.

3-D bells and whistles
Maybe CSI: Miami in HD has us spoiled, because, with the exception of a few hieroglyphics and an embalmed cadaver, we kept wondering if we really needed our 3-D glasses. (An egghead scientist in 3-D. Wow!)

Post-turkey entertainment
Tomb raiders, the Rosetta stone and the renowned Ramses II made for interesting, sciencey storytelling. But we came up short on a search for something that would fully wake us up from a tryptophan coma.

The Human Body, Museum of Science and Industry OMNIMAX

Plot synopsis
Follow a family through a routine day to discover what happens to people’s innards when they listen to loud music, ride bikes, chow down or—eek!—go through puberty.

3-D bells and whistles
We were wowed by larger-than-life (literally) black-and-white skeletal animations, rainbow-colored thermal images and the frighteningly real union of a father and mother’s DNA inside a newly fertilized human egg.

Post-turkey entertainment
Wee ones may not understand why Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” plays during the meeting of sperm and egg (we actually heard one tot start crying). But adults will enjoy seeing how “biological blenders” (tummies), look on the inside—especially after extra servings of stuffing.

A Christmas Carol, Navy Pier IMAX

Plot synopsisYou know this one: On Christmas Eve, three ghosts visit Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) and prompt him to rethink his miserly ways.

3-D bells and whistles
The 3-D detail of Scrooge’s wrinkly, porous face gave us the willies—in an I-can’t-believe-this-is-technologically-possible way. Plus, the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come scared the Dickens out of us. (Yes. We went there).

Post-turkey entertainment
We excitedly craned our necks as the camera darted around Scrooge’s dream world (we might’ve worked off some pumpkin pie with all the action). And the classic conclusion: heart wrenching, as usual.

For showtimes, go to imax.com/chicago (Navy Pier), fieldmuseum.org and msichicago.org.

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