Urban Oasis
Sometimes I really get sick of all the bustling around downtown. Granted, we’re not a huge city but during working …
Other Worldly Delights
By Nicole Trask | Jul 9, 2012
Sometimes the best thing you can do on a blistering hot summer afternoon is take refuge inside for a spell. If you need a break from the lovely heat we’ve been having, I would highly recommend taking a visit to the Museum of Natural History to catch one of the latest exhibits entitled, Out of this World: Extraordinary Costumes from Film and Television.
I was a tad skeptical at first and assumed I’d be taking in a variety of replicas a la Planet Hollywood style, but most of the costumes on display are the real deal. Science fiction fanatics (and anyone who was a kid in the 80s) will delight in costumes from Star Wars, The Terminator, Star Trek, Batman, The Highlander, Blade Runner, Indiana Jones and more. I was impressed to see Indy’s whip and leather jacket (worn by Harrison Ford), Captain Kirk’s fancy gold vest and sparkly sash (yes, I am old enough to remember this) and Obi-Wan Kenobi’s robe (worn by Sir Alec Guinness). Standouts would include Stantz’s full jumpsuit and proton pack from Ghostbusters (one of my all time favourites), Darth Vader’s robe and cape and stunt helmet and Captain Picard’s Starfleet uniform. There are also some jaw dropping prop pieces such as Luke’s lightsaber and severed hand as well as a Stormtrooper helmet and blaster used in the Star Wars trilogy.
A former filmie myself (I worked on various sets in Nova Scotia for several years), I really appreciated this peek into the sometimes wacky yet inspiring world of costume design. I’ve seen how creative and dedicated the costume department can be, especially on extravagant productions. It’s nice to see designers being given the credit they well deserve.
As a child of the 80s and a fan of pretty much every movie referenced at this exhibit, I found Out of this World brought out the movie loving geek in me. Even taking a browse through the old school memorabilia would be worth the cost of admission (think Stay Puft Marshmallow Man figurines, vintage movie posters and Indian Jones Father’s Day cards). I’m a bit of a museum and gallery aficionado as it is, but these costumes were a trip down memory lane for me and the fact that the real things are on display in Halifax, truly is extraordinary…
-Nicole
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