A Seamless performance? | Movie Answer Man

A. Bruce Goldstein, of Film Forum and Rialto Pictures, replies: "The Pepsi disclaimer at the end of the trailer was a little joke of mine. No one asked us to add the copyright notice, nor does PepsiCo even know about it (maybe they will after reading your column). And there was no interference by the Coca-Cola company. Originally I tried working 'the Children of Coca-Cola' into the trailer, but felt it was too academic and a little off-putting. However, in the movie, Chantal Goya is asked if she's a member of 'the Pepsi Generation,' so it's a fair reference. (Her answer: 'J'adore Pepsi.')"

Q. I just read your article regarding "Volcanoes of the Deep," the IMAX movie that several IMAX theaters in the South have chosen not to run, most likely because the movie dares to mention the 'E' word (evolution).

My own local Fernbank Natural History Museum has chosen not to run it on their screen, saying not that there was a problem with the film's content, but because it was "slow-moving and a little dry." The film's maker, Stephen Low, says this is a cop-out, and these museums and science centers don't want to admit they're kowtowing to religious pressure. Steven Stewart, Atlanta

A. Now that the film has become the center of controversy, of course any self-respecting science museum will insist on showing it, to demonstrate its support for sound mainstream science and its refusal to cave in to pressure groups. Right? Uh-huh.

I have not seen the film, although I did see and admire James Cameron's "Aliens of the Deep," another recent IMAX film that also shows life under incredible conditions on the sea bed. Confusingly, Cameron was also executive producer of "Volcanoes."

Although different directors and crew members are listed for the two films, the Variety review of "Volcanoes" suggests it has much the same material, even including speculation about life on Jupiter's moon, Europa. "Volcanoes" was first released in September 2003; "Aliens" in January 2005.

It is important to make clear that the IMAX theaters that have declined to show "Volcanoes of the Deep" did not do so because of protests from anti-Darwinists, but simply because they feared such protests. Any administrator of a mainstream science facility allowing decisions to be made on that basis is a disgrace to the profession.