Special Screenings Of We, The Marines Coming To IMAX Memorial Day Weekend

In 1775, the Continental Navy needed sharpshooters to give their frigates an advantage over the then-superior English Navy. It didn’t take long for an extraordinary fighting force to prove its mettle.  The Continental Marines successfully executed their first amphibious landing just weeks after this new military branch was formed.

Captain Samuel Nicholas and 234 Marines sailed to the Bahamas where the British forces had been stockpiling huge supplies of gunpowder for use against the 13 American colonies. Within minutes, the British troops were overwhelmed by the Marines. They surrendered to Captain Nicholas, who laid claim to the gunpowder, cannons and other military supplies.

A new IMAX film, “We, The Marines,” takes viewers on an action-packed adventure into the unparalleled experience of becoming and serving as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. Special screenings of this inspiring documentary will be offered at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater May 25 through 28 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. each day.

Narrated by Academy Award-winning actor and former Marine, Gene Hackman, the film uses the giant screen to honor the dedication, the service and the first-hand experiences that create the undeniable bonds among America’s “first responders.”  The result is an inspirational and moving tribute to the lives and legacy of the men and women who honor and defend our country.

“This film needed to have a documentary-newsreel kind of immediacy, an unstaged, unpolished, raw approach—like the Marines themselves,” said the film’s director Greg MacGillivray. “The result is less a set-up Hollywood-style film—with carefully laid-out and rehearsed shots—and more a spontaneous, immediate, organic film that comes from real-life experience.”

Committing to the Marine Corps is not for the faint of heart. Audiences will discover the grueling feats in boot camp that prepare Marines for the stresses of life on the front lines. They’ll also witness mountain training, parachute jumping, rappelling from helicopters and how K-9 units train side by side with Marines, becoming excellent four-legged soldiers.

The Corp’s central values of honor, courage and commitment are brought to life on the giant screen. Along with tributes paid to the brave men and women who have served on the front lines in combat, Marines are just as often the first “boots on the ground” when humanitarian relief efforts are needed around the world.

Viewers will not only feel the thundering jolt of a Drill Instructor’s commands, they’ll also see the outpouring of love and appreciation waiting every time Marines return home from duty.

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Special Screenings of We, The Marines

May 25, 26, 27, 28 at 2 pm and 5 pm

For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit https://www.tnaqua.org/imax/we-the-marines.

Official Trailer: https://youtu.be/-23GeURN68U

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Four facts about the U.S. Marines

- To become Marines, every recruit must complete a 54-hour, 48-mile journey with 29 grueling challenges call The Crucible. In We, The Marines, viewers experience eager recruits fighting to the finish of this 54-hour, 48-mile journey called the Crucible.  It consists of 29 intense team-building exercises, 6 hours of sleep, and 2 meal rations. It is the defining moment of a Marine’s boot camp experience.

- The first woman joined the Marine Corps in 1918. Orpha May Johnson joined up August 13, 1918 – before she was even allowed to vote. For nearly 100 years, women have been serving in the Marine Corps, and in January 2017, three female Marines made history when they were the first women to join a ground combat unit.

- Working dogs have been vital to the success of the armed forces dating back to before the American Revolution. In recent years, service dogs have proudly worked as sentries, messengers, and even bomb detectors. The record for dogs finding explosives is better than the most sophisticated electronic equipment. 

 - The Marine Corps motto is “Semper Fidelis,” meaning “Always Faithful.” In the giant screen film, We, The Marines, viewers discover that loyalty is a key hallmark of the U.S. Marine Corps. Marines are trained to move, act, think, and feel as a unit. Even after service, individuals never stop being a Marine—they know they are stronger together.