DEEP SEA 3D — *** — Documentary feature about sea life; narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet; large-screen format; rated G (animal violence).

"Deep Sea 3D" doesn't go any deeper than the ocean floor . . . but that's pretty deep.

This entertaining documentary mini-feature — which was co-produced by Warner Bros. and the IMAX Corp. — includes up-close looks at various forms of aquatic life. Among them are several fish species, sponges, shellfish, turtles, jellyfish, sharks, rays, octopi and squid. (Be warned that scenes featuring that latter group may be a bit intense for little ones.)

There is also a somewhat heavy-handed ecological message, but at least the filmmakers had the sense to save that for the very end of the movie.

"Deep Sea" is a sequel of sorts to the 1994 IMAX-format hit "Into the Deep." In "Deep Sea," filmmaker Howard Hall and his camera crews try to examine the symbiotic relationships that exist between underwater life forms.

For example, near a Hawaii reef, there are fish that operate a "cleaning station," where they consume algae that collects on the shells of green sea turtles. It's almost like a carwash for the turtles, whose shells gleam by the time the reef fish get done with them.

The film also shows how commercial fishing threatens that delicate eco-balance.

The script does occasionally foist some cornball lines on narrators Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet.

Fortunately, composer Danny Elfman's score does break up some the tedium, as he experiments with various musical styles (the doo-wop ode during the Hawaii sequence is a nice touch).

But besides the fishy subjects, the handsome underwater photography is the real star here.

And the film is one of few times where the modern-day 3-D process does actually enhance the viewing experience. (Though at least a few audience members will probably cringe when packs of squid appear to lunge right at them.)

"Deep Sea 3D" is rated G, though it does contain scenes of animal violence (predatory fish attacks). Running time: 40 minutes.

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E-mail: jeff@desnews.com