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Lions 3D? It's all in the title, really. Big cats doing extremely unkind things to antelope, brought sensationally to life through technological jiggerypokery and some daft glasses. Set in the Kalahari desert in Botswana, it revolves around an old lion king who finds his position threatened by a young interloper. Director Tim Liversedge has managed a rare feat, creating a visual spectacle for a family audience with nary an explosion or computer-generated alien in sight.

The big screen 3D experience is certainly immersive. Shot from remarkably close-up, you get a physical sense of the king's ten-foot bulk as his saggy skin looms in front of you, his surround sound roar literally shaking the seats. Landscape shots sweep across vast savannah and freefall towards the ground, but are presumably kept brief to avoid motion sickness. The landscape also breaks up what is essentially samey footage, alluring sunsets and starry night skies adding much-needed colour.

"SIMPLISTIC EYE CANDY"

But while Lions 3D pulls it off as a visual novelty, it’s less impressive as a straight National Geographic doc. No amount of eye candy can make up for a simplistic and two-dimensional narrative. The animals are overly humanised too – at one point a line of blood runs down the king’s face like a tear. Still, at 40 minutes it doesn’t outstay its welcome, and the focus on cute cubs rather than (mostly bloodless) kills should appeal to younger viewers.

Lions 3D: Roar Of The Kalahari is released in UK cinemas on Friday 9th February 2007.