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It looks like all that money NASA spent on the Hubble Space Telescopewas worth it after all--at least from an aesthetic standpoint.Stargaze: Hubble's View of the Universe captivates the viewer with stunningly high-definition color images of galaxies, nebulae, and heavenly bodies closer to home. Each shot pans and lingers over the richly colored pictures as unobtrusive narration in English, French, German, or Spanish explains the history of the Hubble mission, its targets, and what we've learned so far. The music by 2002 is harmless and quiet, though viewers pathologically averse to New Age will scramble for the audio control. Including screensavers and Web features, Stargaze will keep spaceheads happy and entranced for hours, and convert the unbelievers. --Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (22)

TV Screensaver - who needs it?
I guess I should have paid more attention to the negative reviews than the positives on this DVD. This movie is little more than a television screensaver with some over-text or audio.

First, the thing defaults to music and pictures. You have to figure out that you can select a running dialog about the Hubble. You can select closed captioning of the actual dialog or you can elect to have it simply place image titles on the bottom while the narration takes place. They call this "nomenclature" as if anyone can figure out what that means!

The dialog is dishwater dull. It doesn't correspond directly to the images so you find yourself listening/reading the text and not looking at the images.

The music is nice, but if I want new age music and a screensaver well... well, truth is, I never want new age music or a screensaver so I can't see the point in this. Maybe if you have a large screen TV and are having a party it might be cool to have it on in the background, but other than that, I see absolutely no point in a $22 screensaver!

I enjoy astronomy very much. I *love* deep space objects over planets. But this DVD has already lost my interest and I'm thinking I wish I'd never bought it or that Amazon would take it back after it has been opened. I feel like it is a waste of money. This is only the second time I've ever given such a negative review on Amazon. I wanted an educational DVD and this just doesn't cut it.

The negative reviewers need a clue
The DVD is fine for exactly what it is. The music is a matter of taste (just like, amazingly enough, all other music ever created) which I happened to quite enjoy. It is also apparent that several reviewers cannot be bothered to admit that they neither understand the word 'Nomenclature' nor do they grasp the concept of a dictionary. Finally (if you'll pardon the negativism, but it is necessary to refute several blatantly wrong reviews) it's obvious that they don't understand DVD defualts (hint, ALL movies default to the base audio/video track and you have to go manually change your options).

The DVD is a straight slideshow of many of the best Hubble images set to music. The format, narration, and options are exactly what I expected after reading the exterior of the DVD. The narration wanders in and out of the slides (it wanders out either to introduce new concepts or to expound on something that could use it) but overall is quite good.

What this DVD is NOT is a movie or in-depth educational tool. It is meant strictly as background entertainment or as a kibitzer's toy. It fills this niche extremely well and is an excellent introduction to space science for the uninitiated. Approach it the same way you do any functional art and you won't be dissapointed.

Great DVD!
This DVD is great! I expected less, but it was exactly what I was looking for! Just a bunch of great pictures and great music to go with them. The feature where you can turn on/off the audio narration and the subtitles is great! This way you can either learn a little about the pictures, or just relax. I liked it so much that I instantly bought Part 2! Good stuff!

read below
With high expectations after watching various Discovery Channel shows, I rented this DVD to get the feel of traveling through space. Disappointed, I was when I began viewing this DVD. These are photographs that Hubble has taken that some took a camera to. The perspective is tight, so one does not understand what they are looking at nor is there any narrative. One picture after another, the camera panning the surface with a classical soundtrack. I have seen some of these pictures on www.space.com Unless you are a Cosmologist, you will most likely not find this appealing.

Somewhat disappointing
I expected the photos to be sharper and was hoping to hear more about what was being viewed. The DVD is strangely designed (for example, the default soundtrack mode is music only and it's not immediately obvious there is a narrated track). ... Read more

Amazon.com

Trinity and Beyond
In the salad days of nuclear-weapons testing, the United States detonated 331atomic, hydrogen, and thermonuclear bombs. Many of those explosions appear inTrinity and Beyond, which utilizes a lot of declassified footage, most ofit in color. Standouts include the United States' South Pacific detonation of anatom bomb 90 feet below the water to study the effects on a fleet of ships.Surprise, surprise, they sink! If that wasn't enough, the navy also loaded thedecks with sheep to study the effects of the blast on life forms. Surprise,surprise, they die! Glowing leg of lamb anyone? This film will alternately amuseand horrify you at the rampant irresponsibility of the Soviets and Americans intheir quest for nuclear domination. The Russians have the honor of havingdetonated the largest nuclear bomb ever at a whopping 58 megatons. The Hiroshimabomb was barely a kiloton. Of course, after the U.S. and Russia ceased theiractivities, the Chinese decided to get in on the act. But that's a differentstory for a different documentary. --Kristian St. Clair

Nukes in Space: Rainbow Bombs
Boasting material that was recently declassified, this documentary presents somestartling information about how the United States detonated a number of atomicbombs in space during a top-secret cold war weapons program. The history ofmilitary rockets is detailed, beginning with the Nazi V2 rockets that attackedEngland late in World War II. The problems encountered in America's cold warrocketry program are dramatically illustrated with a film montage of U.S.missiles spectacularly blowing up on their launch pads. After the Sovietslaunched Sputnik, America's resolve to be able to wage war in space stiffened,and test detonations of atomic weapons in space began. The effects of theselittle-known tests were bizarre and included electromagnetic disturbances thatblew fuses in Hawaii while creating beautiful, if dangerous, artificial aurorasthat gave the tests the nickname of the "Rainbow Bombs." Of particular interestin this documentary are tapes of White House meetings at which President John F.Kennedy and his top science and military advisers discussed the atomic tests inspace. The bomb detonations caused radiation problems in space, damagingfledgling communications satellites, and the government eventually called an endto the program. This is an entertaining and very informative look at a piece ofcold war history that seems like vintage science fiction, yet it's all real.--Robert J. McNamara

Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero
Our atomic heritage resides in sites all over the country--from the Trinity testarea to natural-gas wells in Colorado--and many of them are open to the public.Plan your vacation with Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero, a blastthrough memory lane narrated by the perfectly suited William Shatner. Never-  before-seen footage of test explosions and top-secret work labs exploresthe history of America's nuclear programs, and interviews with current andformer atomic scientists and engineers give depth to sights such as "the mostbombed place on Earth" in Nevada. Learn about nonmilitary uses of nuclearweapons, the rationales behind the different programs, and where you can findthese strange places. The musical score is a special bonus, performed by theMoscow Symphony Orchestra in a goodwill gesture of post-cold-war cooperation.--Rob Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Bomb Set
This set of 3 documentaries is both visually stunning and very engaging. All 3 movies are very interesting, but i would say that Trinity And Beyond is the coolest of the bunch. It is a little more sweeping than the others, and covers a more broad amount of general information on the history of nuclear weapons. It also has the most actual bomb footage, and the DVD extras- like the 3D short movie on a Nevada test site, are fantastic.

Nukes In Space has some startling footage of atmospheric nuclear testing which resulted in rainbow auroras and electromagnetic disturbances. It also dives into the space race and how it was connected to the nuclear arms race, very interesting stuff. Atomic Journeys is pretty cool too, but just not quite as exciting. The movie returns to ground zero at several different nuclear sites, and then proceeds to dive into the history of the site. Both Nukes In Space and Atomic Journeys have great DVD extras as well.

All in all, this set contain 3 great documentaries with some truly spectacular and frightening footage. All 3 DVDs are presented wonderfully- from the way cool DVD menus to all the extras they packed on, Goldhil Home Media and Peter Kuran have presented a wonderful addition to anyones DVD collection.

great documentary
I have only seen TRINITY AND BEYOND straight through recently enough. It is a great movie--fascinating. The background musical score by John Morgan and Bill Stromberg is especially dramatic.

Recommended!
If atomic bomb explosions fascinate you, then this is a must-have collection. There are three DVDs:

1. Trinity & Beyond
2. Atomic Journeys
3. Nukes in Space.

Trinity & Beyond documents the history of the A-Bomb tests from
July 16 1945 (Trinity test) to the last atmospheric Test (by China in 1964)

Atomic Journeys visits numerous US & a few Soviet Test sites and there is plenty of footage of explosions at each site.

Nukes In Space deals with among others the Rainbow series of space atom tests - some of which knocked out communications (and worse) in the USA for many hours afterwards.

This collection would have gotten five stars from me but for a couple of minor niggles.

1. Particularly in Trinity & Beyond, the DVD could have done with being an extra half-hour longer to allow longer footage of the various A/H-Bomb tests. As it stands some of the sequences appear very hurried. For instance, the footage of the first H-Bomb test (Ivy Mike) is butchered to hell and the superb original soundtrack is ruined, which IMO spoils some of the most spectacular footage of a nuclear test ever shot. And on occasions the original footage of some tests has been dubbed with CGI enhancements which don't enhance but detract from the viewing experience.

2. There is a heavy USA bias and at times a slightly nauseating USA patriotism portrayed in the DVDs. Understandable I suppose considering they are made in the USA!

But don't let these gripes put you off buying. This is on the whole a well-made, informative and strangely compelling set of DVDs which contain a lot of atom test footage that has never been shown elsewhere. The collection comes highly recommended!

Essential Viewing
This collection is essential viewing for anyone interested in this subject.

I live in England and had heard of these DVDs but was never able to find them. I finally found them... and ordered them. Boy was it worth it.

The images of the detonations are spectacular, beautiful, and absolutely terrifying. Couple this with superb narration, research, and extra features, and you have probably the best all-round documentary on the history, science and politics of nuclear warfare around.

The definitive story of our atomic weapons program
In what is probably the most dramatic look ever at the U.S. atomic weapons program, the Atomic Bomb Collection is a stunning and oftentimes frightening realization of what man can create. Using declassified footage from government archives, you can now view material never shown or reported to the public.

The material shown on all the discs is remarkably clear, well defined, and visually impressive. The audio for all programs are in Dolby 5.1 surround sound and, believe me, will give your home theater system a serious workout. Each disc also contains a large amount of special features that make this set a very worthwhile value.

Trinity And Beyond is the starting point of it all. You are treated to the inside story of our atomic program from it's infant stages at the Trinity site in Alamagordo, New Mexico and continuing on to designing, making, and producing hydrogen thermonuclear weapons. The footage of hydrogen bomb testing in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific ocean is truly astonishing and disturbing both at the same time.

Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero is probably the most outstanding of the lot showing dozens of bomb detonations in startling detail. Much footage is relegated to the Nevada Test Site which was openly known in those days to conduct such tests. What wasn't widely known to the public is that subterranean detonations were also performed in Mississippi and Alaska and some other areas. This footage is featured also and is quite unbelievable. One subterranean detonation in Alaska was so large (incredible footage here), it permanently changed the landscape of the surrounding area.

Lastly, we have Nukes in Space: The Rainbow Bombs. This is the least interesting of the 3 discs but still has good material to offer. You are shown nuclear detonations, performed by the U.S. and Russia, in our upper atmosphere. Whatever the intentions were by our scientists, this was probably not the best of locations to test atomic weapons especially considering the bombs affected radiation belts around our planet. Pretty scary.

If you're interested in the entire history of our atomic program from start to finish, look no farther than here. This is the premier collection that won't ever be matched. Highly recommended to everyone. ... Read more

Description

He is a living legend, whose book A Brief History of Time became an instant best seller. Now, his genius is fully revealed in this new series that will treat you to the latest and most profound advances in cosmological thought in true down-to-earth Hawking fashion. Encompassing Hawking's matchless point of view, these six programs spin an intergalactic detective story, rich with mystery, unexpected twists and astonishing revelations. Titles are: "The Big Bang," "On the Dark Side," and "Black Holes and Beyond." ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Poorly done.
I thought that because of Stephen Hawking, this was going to be great (I wish I could see more of his direct work on the film). It was pretty bad. First it looked as if it was filmed through a very dark blue filter. It was very hard to see. I thought my tv was broken. Also, the same graphic of an exploding star is used from everything to supernovas and blackholes, it is quite irritating. The information is poor at best, it covered 1/100 of the infomation in A Brief History of Time, a very good book (I never saw the video). Don't buy this, it is not worth it, try to catch it on PBS if you are interested, or rent it from your library.

The unfolding of everything
I come to physics, astronomy, chemistry, biology and geology as a layperson who is fascinated by the big questions of life. For me science fact far exceeds science fiction or fantasy. I cannot get enough.

I come to this whole exploration of science under the influence of Darwin, Nietzsche and Krishnamurti. To learn and understand beyond the narrowness and pettiness of the human experience. I think the human experience is infinitely enhanced, not diminished, when we see outside the box of what we have been told, beyond the truths and reality we accept without any deeper understanding than that this is what has been programmed into our brains and veins from cradle to grave.

This dvd is so layered and complex and filled with fantasic ideas and theories, that I'll surely watch it over and over again. The string theory concept, alone, is worth the price of this dvd. I had, also, purchased 'The Elegant Universe' when I ordered this dvd. The updated and added string theory perspectives add to what was said in Hawking's Universe. For me its the glue and unfolding of everything.

I wish I could be more technical but I'm too much of an infant in this arena. I seem to understand but find the words very difficult to explain the specifics of what was said. Each of the six parts goes into incredible depth. I would imagine even the experienced scientist must wrinkle his forehead when digesting the vast concepts big and small.

For me, the technology of dvd's and computers was made for this type of project. We, the layperson, can now have accessibility to a world otherwise locked up in laboratories or a chance viewing on PBS, Discovery or A&E.

Informative and entertaining - a well produced series!
I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive about the quality of this DVD collection before even seeing it. Being an owner of Carl Sagan's Cosmos series on DVD, and a great admirer of the man and his series, I must admit I had an inherent bias and felt that I would be hard-pressed finding anything else that was in the same league.

I was mistaken. This DVD collection presents the main points anyone should know about the universe. I say "main" due simply to the fact that this collection does not go into great detail on several topics, as does Sagan's Cosmos. It focuses on a limited field of topics (which is understandable, since it is only three discs) and explains them thoroughly. It is not brief, yet Hawking does not waste our time with "waffle". It is concise and does not err in explaining details correctly. Being of a science-trained background, I would like to take the opportunity of adding that I did not find anything questionable or dubious in the subject matter. (It was, after all, written and edited by Stephen Hawking.)

Viewers with no physics, or even basic science education, may find this collection slightly hard to understand in certain sections. That's not to say that the episodes need a Degree in Physics to be able to understand them either! A high-school level of Physics would allow you to comfortably understand everything that is said. Nevertheless, if you have no training in this area, do not fear... you might misunderstand one or two terms or concepts, but whole episodes do not focus on just one point, so you will not find any episode completely bewildering. (I would find this as a positive. The collection then serves as an educational set and may even influence the viewer to take-on personal study or research the topic more thoroughly. This in my opinion, can never be a bad thing, and thus the set becomes a more valuable item in one's DVD collection.)

There are times during the episodes when Hawking attempts to be witty. These are effective attempts and often "soften" the show's theory-based nature. At times, one might even say Hawking takes the opportunity to "brag" about his many achievements and accomplishments, which in my opinion all adds to the enjoyment of the show. The presenter of such a show needs a bit of personality, or else, dare I say, it becomes boring.

There are SHORT role-plays and interesting interviews mainly from American intelligentsia. Do not expect long and entertaining role-plays though. The episodes consist mainly of interviews and people (or Hawking) presenting facts or their opinions. (Those of you who have seen Sagan's Cosmos will know what I mean by "entertaining role-plays".)

Perhaps I AM a little biased when it comes to this type of show. It is always in my mind to keep comparing shows of this nature to Sagan's Cosmos. In this case, if I do, it does little harm. This is a well-produced series and I would give it a high recommendation. This series is best suited to people with a keen interest in the topic, those wishing to "brush-up" on their universal knowledge, or simply those shopping for an interesting (and educational) present to give their friends or relatives.

THE BEST DVD of ALL TIME!!!
What an amazing feat this dvd is. It explains all about the top theories in physics today in an articulate way. It is almost like a translation of Stephen W. Hawking's most famous book: "A Brief History of Time". I recommend Hyperspace for anyone who was interested in this dvd. Dr. Michio Kaku, the author of Hyperspace, is featured in this dvd. He is the guy talking about superstrings.

See Stephen Hawking roll. Roll Stephen Hawking, roll!
This is a very interesting program that is slightly belabored by a couple problems. First, the initial episode covers very familiar ground for anyone who's had a course in general physics, which is pretty much anyone who's been through high school... it's still interesting enough to sit through, but they could have done without it. Secondly, some of the topics are presented somewhat vaguely or are hard to keep track of (for instance, the interviewee presenting the phenomena or describing the breakthrough will do so in an extrememly roundabout way, telling a story... although this is interesting, i wished there had been some segment right before it that clearly explained the idea before going into the details of thought process). Also, ideas such as the superstring theory and quantum mechanics, at least for me, require more in-depth explanation to get a grasp on the concept, and this documentary seems to have a problem because it is balancing the accessibility of a documentary like BBC's The Planets with more scholarly aspects. It also could have used more of a graphic style, both to make it more entertaining and to help explain concepts to those of us who tend to prefer 'big picture' type visual learning.

It's four stars because its worthwhile coverage of interesting topics, but I have to agree with others that this would have made much better radio program or audiobook, because of the mostly uninteresting, unenlightening visual aspects.

Otherwise, Stephen Hawking's Universe is an engrosing documentary that covers a lot of interesting ground, and is definately worth watching by anyone with a passing interest to the subject matter (astral phenomena, creation-theory, black holes, etc...), although I'd give it a low rating for repeat-viewings, so it's probably best to pick up on your local PBS before deciding to purchase. I think if I had seen this in high school, I would have been inspired to do well and maybe working on physics-type major in university, instead of languishing at home in a dead end job >_< ... Read more

Description

REVOLUTION OS tells the inside story of the hackers and computer programmers who rebelled against Microsoft and the idea of proprietary software to create GNU, Linux, and the Open Source movement.Shot on location in Silicon Valley on 35mm film and in widescreen, REVOLUTION OS captures an offbeat group of characters who are three-parts libertarian, two-parts communist, and one-part bad garage band. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Dumb
A stupid, propogandistic and self indulgant documentary about Richard Stallman and Eric Raymond. Linus is a good guy, but these other folks are just demagogues of the computer age. I particularly find their hacker interpretation of history insulting. It ignores all the hardworking professional engineers and programmers who really did invent computers and operating sytsems, and makes us think that scruffy hackers at MIT did anything that mattered.

Preachy
I am no fan of Microsoft, but this movie stinks, needs to be more documentary, less ranting interviews, tell us the history, the startup, the challenges etc......

Good Intro to Free/Open Source Communities
It comes with 2 DVDs, the first one is the Revolution OS movie and the second one contains interviews and bios of those well known anti-microsoft gangs like Richard Stallman, Eric Raymond, Linus Trovalds, etc. In the first DVD, it's not really a movie but a kind documentary film. No subtitle but closed caption is supported. Unlike Starup.com movie, this film gets a bunch of well-known gangs who devote themselves to the free & open software revolution to talk about 'how' the free software and open source evolve and 'why' it is getting more & more attention from industrial leaders. It also highlights some companies betting on Linux and open source getting rich at IPO during the Internet bubble, but not forgets to conveying audiences the message that most of those instant millionaires were broke overnight after the bubble busted.

If you're not familiar with open source or free software, I recommend you should put on the disc#2 and watch the Bios section first. Since the movie in disc#1 embeds a lot of people talking and comments, you may find confusion of who & what. In disc#2, besides the bios and some interviews, interestingly, it also includes the first version of the famous well-known paper written by Eric Raymond, 'Cathedral and Bazaar'. This paper actually played a very critical role on Netscape's direction to the open source world. You can read it from your TV screen, and press your remote 'back' and 'fore' to flipping pages. Although this is convenience for people who do not have computer and read the paper on TV screen, you may find it's quite annoying to flipping and reading twenty something screen pages on your TV. After a while you may feel dizzy. Unfortunately, the DVD does not come with a PDF or other softcopy version of this famous paper in the open source world. If you are interested on how Netscape went to the open source path, there's another good documentary film called 'Code Rush' from PBS, you may also want to check out.

Overall, this is quite informative, knowing how the free/open software revolution begins and the reasons behind it. If you want to have a good intro of this open source communities, this is a pretty good choice.

A More Recent History of Computing
This is an excellent follow-up to a set of three movies entitled "Triumph of the Nerds", which details the development and successes of Microsoft, Apple, the Internet, IBM PCs, Altair, etc, but which came out in the mid-1990s, and doesn't mention much about Linux. Also, the mood of all these movies is similar. They belong together for a great summary of the development of personal computing since the 1970s, and all are full of interviews with the key players.

Surprisingly Entertaining, Informative and Fun!
Being a geek, I bought this assuming it was going to be a dry documentary on the history of Linux, but I would enjoy it anyway. I was amazed at how well done this movie is. Not only does it document the general history of Open Source and Free Software issues, but it provides a great story of conflict between 'good' (Free Software and Open Source) and 'evil' (Proprietary Software). I watched this with my girlfriend who is a non-geek and she was able to follow along very easily and enjoyed the movie as much as I did. She even wanted to make the switch to Linux after watching.

The pace is quick, and one of the best aspects of the movie is the music. It helps keep the movie fun and light-hearted, yet provides an intelligent 'edge' at the same time. All of the interviewees have very unique and dynamic personalities; they are the type of thinkers you don't generally meet everyday. Richard Stallman in particular has some of the most convincing comments in the film, and by the end, I was quick to pop in the second disc to see the bonus interviews with him.

Overall, I think this is a film which anyone who uses a computer on a regular basis should watch. We need to not take Microsoft for granted and realize there are alternatives that don't try to control what we do.

This is one of the best movies I've seen. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Walk with me, talk with me
Another Walking with Dinosaurs video is almost as good as getting a second slice of key lime pie! In other words: Allosaurus is a fantastic installment to the already (and surprisingly) fantastic series. This time, the video focuses on the life and times of Big Al, a famous Allosarus. The movie is crammed with even more convincing special effects and outstanding dinosaur interaction. It's so crisp to the point where you wish it were real! Of course, Allosaurus has one major problem: his computer-generated life is short-lived. Half of the already short video is dedicated to "analyzing Allosarus bones." It's interesting to see how the pieces fit together, but this ordinary educational process is nowhere near compared to seeing the dinosaurs we've come to love.

Jurassic America's Greatest Predator
The "seventh" episode of the spectacularly successful "Walking with Dinosaurs" series, "Allosaurus" - better known as "The Ballad of Big Al" outside the US - is a extraordinary follow-up to that series. It also served to whet many fans' appetite for the later "Prehistoric Beasts" series.

In "Allosaurus", we followed the life of "Big Al" literally from birth to the grave. Life wasn't all "blood in tooth and claw" for the top predator in Jurassic America, as we're shown. As a baby, Al had to watch for predators, especially his own kind! He had to literally teach himself to hunt, and some prey was just too big to take on without help. And mating was no pinic either; Al needs more than flowers to win a female's heart.

As a sequel of sorts to "Walking with Dinosaurs", "Allosaurus" does quite well. We're treated to the same CGI and animatronic effects seen in the previous series, and while the puppetry still needs a little work, IMHO, the CGI is top notch. All of the dinosaurs featured in the episode "Time of the Titans" - Diplodocus, Brachiosaurus, and Stegosaurus - return here. Three more dinosaurs are added to the cast; Dryosaurus, Othnelia, and the famous Apatosaurus. As with "Dinosaurs", there is a "Making of..." episode, included on the VHS, giving us insight into the research of what is one of the most recognizable predatory dinosaurs, second only to Tyrannosaurus and Velociraptor.

While "Allosaurus" is a wonderful series, I do have one little complaint. Surely the Framestore and BBC teams could have added a few more dinosaurs to the episode. They didn't need to have added more sauropods; three is enough. But what about Ceratosaurus, or Camptosaurus, both contemparies of Allosaurus? Surely both these dinosaurs could have been included, especially since its likely Ceratosaurus could have competed with Allosaurus for the same food source.

Despite this "flaw", "Allosaurus" is a fine follow-up to "Dinosaurs". Part of the continuing "Walking with..." series, which now includes "Prehistoric Beasts", "Chased by Dinosaurs", and now "Walking with Cavemen", "Allosaurus" definately belongs in anyone's collection. And here's a message to the folks at the BBC: please, *please* do something about the time *before* the dinosaurs.

Well researched prehistoric ballad
This dramatic narrative follows the life of actual Allosaurus, Big Al, from an egg to the corpse of a fierce hunter. Even though the filming skips about Al's life, the flow of the production is hardly damaged. The research for the film is impressive; even the Allosaurus fight has some evidence from Al's fossils. Superb computer graphics and animatronics create the believable dinosaurs. There is suspense,action and tradgedy,as well as humor and fun woven into the story.One negative comment is with the location of the filming. It is filmed in Utah and Arizona,which do not look quite accurate,but the extensive research and realistic dinosaurs balance it out. This good short film lets the viewer experience how a dinosaur may have lived.

The Top 100 Reasons We're Glad They're Extinct - The Special
When I was a little kid, I used to dream of a world teeming with dinosaurs. I used to imagine what it would have been like when those skeletons I saw on exhibit lived, and how someone needed to play tour guide to that realm and how I should twist the handle. Sadly, no matter how I tried that doorway, it always remained closed, my time machine not quite working the way I would have intended, and dinosaurs were left either in bone formation or in the movies as monsters.
There was never an in-between.

With the creation of the Walking With Dinosaurs series, however, everything began to change and I, still that boy with an interest in that hobby, found myself addicted. The key that separated this series and made it "unique" - a word I try to use sparingly - is in the way the dinosaurs, our main actors and actresses, are portrayed. Instead of turning then into a depiction of a colossal, toothy menace or dryly discussing their lifespan in the way one discusses ancient relics, the series showcases dinosaurs by allowing one to walk with them through their terrain. From the flora and the fauna, the insect life and dinosaurs themselves, a depiction of CGI effects, prosthetics, and of "dinosaur knowing" comes to life. Here, you see the landscape the way it would have been, the animals roaming free and observed naturalistically, and the experience is incredible because it looks so vibrantly realistic.

In Allosaurus: A Walking With Dinosaurs Special, the Allosaurus "Big Al" is showcased as he struggles from the cradle while trying to grow into something fearsome. In sixty minutes, the fifteen years from the egg to the eventual demise it faces are depicted, showing a person that going to the head of the class wasn't easy in that age. Here, other dinosaurs walk as well, and the efforts of one of the top predators of its age seem a tad on the hard side - making me rethink the allure of being the biggest kid on the block. Survival while growing, it is dramatic and enlightening experience, and its pretty interesting how harrowing an introduction can be and how brutal it can be.

For anyone that has yet to watch this series, I'd recommend tuning in as soon as possible and catching up on all those moments you missed out on. I would recommend starting with Walking With Dinosaurs, however, and moving on from there. Still, that is far from being a bad thing. Besides this video that focuses on Big Al and a few of species, other DVDs house other forms of life that are entrancing. Wonderfully fast predators, Megladons swimming the high tides and eating enough to be interesting, and other strange species await you. And they, all the DVDs released thusfar in this series, simply look fantastic.

Allosaurus - A Walking With Dinosaurs Asecial
I was more than pleased with the DVD and SERVICE!! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Behind the Scene of the Medical Examiner's Office!
Great DVD, not for children, but very educational. This DVD shows every aspect of an Autopsy, from Speculating the cause of death, preparing the body, incisions, descriptions of what is being looked at and why, including weights, to the conclusion of the autopsy! This DVD gives you the feeling that you are actually a part of the Autopsy yourself!
... Read more

Description

New Blood, Time of the Titans, Cruel Sea, Giant of the Skies, Spirits of the Ice Forest, Death of a Dynasty.Ride the ultimate time machine from the beginning of dinosaurs to their spectacular end! Using the latest in computer animation, this series puts you in the middle of Jurassic stampedes and T Rex battles, through 155 million years of pre-history. ... Read more

Reviews (148)

the future of dinosaur documentaries
Walking with Dinosaurs is, quite simply, a dinosaur documentary presented in the same style as a Discovery Channel documentary on lions or other modern wildlife. It fills the viewer, not with a sense of loss at their passing, but with a sense of wonder in that they truly lived. Walking with Dinosaurs uses 6 loose "stories" to flesh out its subjects but focuses less on the speculative details and more on the overall picture of the three eras of dinosaurs.

The sounds and imagry are simply wondrous. Whereas Spielberg's Jurassic Park used only a minimal of well-lit outdoor scenes and kept primarily to controlled indoor locations or night shots (which helps the special FX considerably), Walking with Dinosaurs is almost entirely bright outdoor shots and creates scene after scene of wonder at dinosaurs moving and living out their lives and the anamorphic widescreen puts them right in your living room. Only the close-up animatronic shots look artificial on occasion.

This version is somewhat different from the US Discovery Channel version. Both are 3 hours in length, but without commercials this version has included all the little "sub plots" that were omitted for time constraints and is uncensored (though only a couple of shots were cut for content). Though listed as 230 minutes, 50 of those are the "making of" documentary included on the second disc - which is equally worthwhile. Also, this version splits the 6 segments with opening and ending credits whereas the Discover Channel used commercial breaks to mark the intermissions. Also clearly marked is the Kenneth Branagh narration. I would've liked to have a choice of narrations on a second audio track (particularly for the imperial units of measurements which Avery Brooks used in the Discover Channel version - my older relatives were a bit confused by the metric system used in this version). And while this is no "Abyss" in terms of DVD extras, there's certainly more here than most.

If you have even the slightest interest in dinosaurs, Walking with Dinosaurs should be part of your DVD collection.

Absolutely amazing!
All I have to say is that this series is excellent. We get to see amazing computer animations at work putting together these amazing creatures. I learned a lot about dinosaurs that I didn't know before. Even if there is speculation about their behaviors, this is the best interpretation I have seen yet interpreted from scientific discoveries. I would highly recommend this to anyone.

Entertaining..but science fluffy
It was a good mimicry of Wildlife Shows but some of the science involved is questionable. The picture quality of the DVD is good and practically grainless. The FX were a mixed-bag. Some were quite good, but NOT better than the ones in Jurassic Park. Others were lit improperly against the background. Most of the tracking shots are simplified. Many shots of them interacting with their environment, were either static, or showcased very little camera movement. Much of the animation had nice colorful skin textures, but the joints where the legs meet the shoulders and hips had lots of geometry seams that intersected each other, giving away that the skin is fake. The sauropods had a nice weighted look but some of the other creaures like Allosaurus in some scenes looked way to light bordering on defying gravity. The puppets, for the most part were badly done, with movements like hands, and not matching wider shot animation. Maybe they should have used mimes for them or something. Even with flaws, its quite a television acheivement, with a 6 million pound budget.

WOW!
I wasn't sure buying a DVD player was a good idea until I bought this. Put simply, this is a fascinating look at what the dinosaur world may have been like. The dinosaur animations are, for the most part, amazing and really bring that world to life. The series may have been a bit overly speculative for some tastes, but paleontology has always been a speculative science. I can easily understand why BBC audiences were so captivated by this. I was too. Very highly recommended.

Twice on TV not enough
After we all sat fascinated by this series through its first and repeat runs we had to have a copy. The only annoying thing is the present-tense use in the narration. it did somewhat confuse the junior member of the household(aged 6), and became a lesson in the use of language for particular effect (he having grasped the concept of dinosaurs being extinct a couple of years ago!)

I don't know what the Discovery Channel version was, but I know this one was superb. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Boasting material that was recently declassified, this documentarypresents some startling material about how the United States detonated a numberof atomic bombs in space during a top-secret cold war weapons program. The history of military rockets is detailed, beginning with the Nazi V2 rockets that attacked England late in World War II. The problems encountered in the America's cold war rocketry program is dramatically illustrated with a film montage of U.S. missiles spectacularly blowing up on their launch pads. After the Soviets launched Sputnik, America's resolve to be able to wage war in space stiffened, and test detonations of atomic weapons in space began. The effects of these little-known tests were bizarre and included electromagnetic disturbances that blew fuses in Hawaii while creating beautiful, if dangerous, artificial auroras that gave the tests the nickname of the "Rainbow Bombs." Of particular interest in this documentary are tapes of White House meetings at which President John F. Kennedy and his top science and military advisers discussed the atomic tests in space. The bomb detonations caused radiation problems in space,damaging fledgling communications satellites, and the government eventually called an end to the program. This is an entertaining and very informative look at a piece of cold war history that seems like vintage science fiction, yet it's all real. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The Bomb Set
This set of 3 documentaries is both visually stunning and very engaging. All 3 movies are very interesting, but i would say that Trinity And Beyond is the coolest of the bunch. It is a little more sweeping than the others, and covers a more broad amount of general information on the history of nuclear weapons. It also has the most actual bomb footage, and the DVD extras- like the 3D short movie on a Nevada test site, are fantastic.

Nukes In Space has some startling footage of atmospheric nuclear testing which resulted in rainbow auroras and electromagnetic disturbances. It also dives into the space race and how it was connected to the nuclear arms race, very interesting stuff. Atomic Journeys is pretty cool too, but just not quite as exciting. The movie returns to ground zero at several different nuclear sites, and then proceeds to dive into the history of the site. Both Nukes In Space and Atomic Journeys have great DVD extras as well.

All in all, this set contain 3 great documentaries with some truly spectacular and frightening footage. All 3 DVDs are presented wonderfully- from the way cool DVD menus to all the extras they packed on, Goldhil Home Media and Peter Kuran have presented a wonderful addition to anyones DVD collection.

great documentary
I have only seen TRINITY AND BEYOND straight through recently enough. It is a great movie--fascinating. The background musical score by John Morgan and Bill Stromberg is especially dramatic.

Recommended!
If atomic bomb explosions fascinate you, then this is a must-have collection. There are three DVDs:

1. Trinity & Beyond
2. Atomic Journeys
3. Nukes in Space.

Trinity & Beyond documents the history of the A-Bomb tests from
July 16 1945 (Trinity test) to the last atmospheric Test (by China in 1964)

Atomic Journeys visits numerous US & a few Soviet Test sites and there is plenty of footage of explosions at each site.

Nukes In Space deals with among others the Rainbow series of space atom tests - some of which knocked out communications (and worse) in the USA for many hours afterwards.

This collection would have gotten five stars from me but for a couple of minor niggles.

1. Particularly in Trinity & Beyond, the DVD could have done with being an extra half-hour longer to allow longer footage of the various A/H-Bomb tests. As it stands some of the sequences appear very hurried. For instance, the footage of the first H-Bomb test (Ivy Mike) is butchered to hell and the superb original soundtrack is ruined, which IMO spoils some of the most spectacular footage of a nuclear test ever shot. And on occasions the original footage of some tests has been dubbed with CGI enhancements which don't enhance but detract from the viewing experience.

2. There is a heavy USA bias and at times a slightly nauseating USA patriotism portrayed in the DVDs. Understandable I suppose considering they are made in the USA!

But don't let these gripes put you off buying. This is on the whole a well-made, informative and strangely compelling set of DVDs which contain a lot of atom test footage that has never been shown elsewhere. The collection comes highly recommended!

Essential Viewing
This collection is essential viewing for anyone interested in this subject.

I live in England and had heard of these DVDs but was never able to find them. I finally found them... and ordered them. Boy was it worth it.

The images of the detonations are spectacular, beautiful, and absolutely terrifying. Couple this with superb narration, research, and extra features, and you have probably the best all-round documentary on the history, science and politics of nuclear warfare around.

The definitive story of our atomic weapons program
In what is probably the most dramatic look ever at the U.S. atomic weapons program, the Atomic Bomb Collection is a stunning and oftentimes frightening realization of what man can create. Using declassified footage from government archives, you can now view material never shown or reported to the public.

The material shown on all the discs is remarkably clear, well defined, and visually impressive. The audio for all programs are in Dolby 5.1 surround sound and, believe me, will give your home theater system a serious workout. Each disc also contains a large amount of special features that make this set a very worthwhile value.

Trinity And Beyond is the starting point of it all. You are treated to the inside story of our atomic program from it's infant stages at the Trinity site in Alamagordo, New Mexico and continuing on to designing, making, and producing hydrogen thermonuclear weapons. The footage of hydrogen bomb testing in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific ocean is truly astonishing and disturbing both at the same time.

Atomic Journeys: Welcome to Ground Zero is probably the most outstanding of the lot showing dozens of bomb detonations in startling detail. Much footage is relegated to the Nevada Test Site which was openly known in those days to conduct such tests. What wasn't widely known to the public is that subterranean detonations were also performed in Mississippi and Alaska and some other areas. This footage is featured also and is quite unbelievable. One subterranean detonation in Alaska was so large (incredible footage here), it permanently changed the landscape of the surrounding area.

Lastly, we have Nukes in Space: The Rainbow Bombs. This is the least interesting of the 3 discs but still has good material to offer. You are shown nuclear detonations, performed by the U.S. and Russia, in our upper atmosphere. Whatever the intentions were by our scientists, this was probably not the best of locations to test atomic weapons especially considering the bombs affected radiation belts around our planet. Pretty scary.

If you're interested in the entire history of our atomic program from start to finish, look no farther than here. This is the premier collection that won't ever be matched. Highly recommended to everyone. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Voyage to the outer planets and beyond
A FIVE STAR PROGRAM. And the new NASA extras are great for teaching my classes.
The program was first released on VHS,(I bought it then)and now the new DVD has additional footage that most people have never seen.
My science lessons are made easier when we discuss the planets.
I can show the children each section, planet by planet.
Also, the music fits, and the descriptions written out on the screen are perfect.What a great tool to teach with.

Gustav Holst meets Isaac Asimov
This video which combines footage from NASA with the music from
Holst's "The Planets" is a feast for both the eyes and ears.
Even my children were kept interested for the entire program.
It was also good to see Isaac Asimov. Most people don't know
what he looked like. He was both informative and funny.
A great school item.
I hope they put this on DVD, so I can really pump up the sound.

Fairly Entertaining
The idea of combining images of the planets with passages from Holst's "The Planets" was a good one, and the resulting video is rather interesting.Some of the footage is quite good (particularly the time-lapse images of Jupiter, and the representations of the rings of Saturn and the Martian surface.However, there are a couple of flaws which seriously mar the finished product.The animated footage of the surface of Venus is very amateurish, and there are some glaring typographical errors ("Matian" for "Martian", and "shrowded" for shrouded".This is an entertaining video, but certainly not essential. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Buy Walking with Prehistoric Beasts
This is good for watch on television once in a while. But if you want a good film about mammoths watch Walking with Prehistoric Beasts. It has just as many mammoth shots as Land of the Mammoth but are much more realistic. Not to mention all the great other creatures beasts describes. Land of the Mammoth had bad special effects. It should have talked more about cloning the creature itstead of digging in the ground and repeating the same shots over and over again. They were diging in the block but the film stops before they got to the interesting part of the block. Now it is good for hard core mammoth fans but I suggest Walking with Prehistoric Beasts.

Oh dear
I saw this when It first aired on Discovery. The program is trying so hard to be like Walking with Dinosaurs but it totally fails.

The main problem is there is just not enough footage and so many shots are shown repeatedly. While some of the footage is indeed interesting there are only so many shots of hairdryers thawing out a lump of hairy ice that I can take, and while them finding the first mammoth tusk was interesting by the time they had dug up the 50th I was almost asleep...

There is also a problem with the CG. It is just terrible!!Whereas in walking with dinosaur you really felt that the dinosaurs were alive, in this the mammoths look horrible and dont walk relistically.The program looks like it was rushed so that it could jump aboard the Walking with Dinosaurs bandwagon.

I'd recommend trying to catch a repeat on Discovery before buying this disc

Mammoth DVDs were very good
I have both of these DVDs, both this one, and the previous, Raising the Mammoth, which I found to be fascinating, informative and entertaining. Granted, they are not Jurrasic Park or some such, but they were not intended to be. They are documentaries, not feature films. And true, the Computer Graphics, in some cases, was not up to the standards of Walking with Dinosaurs, but again, I don't think that was the intent of the producers, although I think they would have liked it to be.

These two films, seen back to back, show the efforts being made and the studies conducted in the scientific field of endeavor, not the made for TV movie. If you really want to learn what is going on with research into these areas, you will really enjoy these films. And, it is true, in the end, they discovered that the animal they had hoped to be intact seems to have been damaged, either by injury, exposure or predation after death, there is still a lot to be learned from these films and I urge you all to view them, if you have the slightest interest in this field of study.

very good video on prehistoric Ice Age mammals
Well, just saw the Land of the Mammoth special on Discovery. Not bad, nice to have a two hour special on one of my passions, paleontology. It seemed to wander a bit, and if you curious mainly about the Jarkov mammoth it was full of padding, though of course the other stuff was acutally more interesting. The mammoth CGI segments were nowhere near as great as those in Walking With Dinosaurs which stilll remains the standard for these types of programs, but they tried and have more than I have seen anywhere else. The CGI woolly rhinos were pretty good, and it was nice to see attention devoted to them, being a prehistoric rhino fan. I liked how they discussed how they used insect and plant remains to infer the environment and habits of mammoths, good to see that addressed on Discovery.

They discussed the ideas about mammoth extinction, primarily disease, climatic change, and human hunting. I have never subscribed the disease theory and I thought their case for it was weak, but they did a reasonably good job covering climatic and human reasons for mammoth (and other Ice Age megafauna) extinctions.

They also discussed the notion of bringing back mammoths via cloning, one of the main reasons the Jarkov mammoth has received the attention it has. Discovery did hint at the fact that the Jarkov mammoth may be only scraps, but didn't definitely say so. I have read that there is some controvery that the Jarkov mammoth is not a complete specimen, and towards the end of the program they did seem to acknowledge that it might be the complete specimen they had hoped.

All in all not bad. One of the very few videos on extinct mammals, a subject that needs much more coverage. A good buy in opinion. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Good Documentary about Pathologists
This is a good documentary about pathologists. It takes a closer look to their life, their family and their background. It's interesting to see the pathologists interviewed really love their job examining dead body. This documentary takes a serious and respectful approach, rather than overly emphasizing the graphical parts.

However, if you are more interested in Autopsy itself, you might find it a bit dissatisfactory because it only spends less then 15 min in two real cases. The scenes will leave you in awe though. When I was watching it, I keep thinking about how fragile life is. One moment we are walking, the next moment we might be the one being examined.

Overall, this is a good one for those who are interested in this subject. 4 out of 5 ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Media Tech for Students and ahem Older Community
Just saw this on video from library and ordered DVD from Amazon. The best media experiences lately both entertain and educate, if subtly. Think back to "Back to the Future" which Michael J. Fox described as "a comedy-action-fantasy-adventure-coming-of-age film", and "a very life-affirming story about relationships, as well as a 'what if?' movie which audiences love"

I rate "Thrill Ride" high because of its value to "edutain" high school students I am working with who are interested in media technology. I am a volunteer looking for ways to clarify to them WHAT "media technology" is, HOW it connects to their school classes, and HOW graduating will help them make good careers and community impact.

It's tough keeping the connection between school and real life present in kid's experience and this film is a great way to connect "marketable skills" with "academics". It shows LOTS of rides and still shows how roller coaster design, combat flight simulators, and hollywood film making combined to make the current thrill rides.

Any teacher worth their salt (and I am married to one) can make the connections between the film and their academic subjects, including: (AND IF YOU THINK THIS IS A LONG LIST, IT'S WHAT MY HIGH SCHOOL KIDS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLETING TO GRADUATE!) English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Computers, Graphics, Photography, Health, World Languages, Arts, Speech, and Technology.

For those of us who are ahem older it also reminds us how much has evolved in a few short years from old amusement park rides to new.

The kids I am working with have been taught more and more by volunteers about real-life connections. This has raised their desire to 90% to: 1. Complete high school with a full load of academics, and 2. Go on to 2 or 4 year colleges. This is good for their future and good for us as parents and community!

Fabulous Movie
This is a fabulous IMAX movie about Motion Simulators. It would be of great interest to those who do 3D Computer Graphics programming, and looking for some great project idea for their course.

An uninteresting disappointment
Thrill Ride The Science of Fun is a movie made for the IMAX theater, focusing on thrill rides. This is a boring, uninteresting film that gives a one-sided view of today's thrill rides. The producers of Thrill Ride think that the only type of thrill rides available today are motion simulators, and they are convinced that simulators are able to live up to real thrill rides, and may someday be the only type of thrill ride available. 32 out of 40 minutes are spent covering simulator rides. Unfortunately, this film was made in 1997, and a lot of new technology has since come on the market, leaving older, relatively low-tech attractions on this film. I am not one who enjoys motion simulators most of the time. This film spends a lot of time explaining how high-tech and very good quality computer-generated images are created and used. Of course, in 1997 technology was not that advanced, so the images they're talking about lack the realism of today's CGI. 5 minutes is spent on explaining how simulators for full size airplanes and jets work. I want thrill rides, not airplane sims! A portion of the film is hosted by a crazy old farmer/miner whose accent, attitude, and antics are completely unentertaining. The majority of thrill rides are roller coasters, not simulators, yet this film spends only 8 minutes on coasters and droptowers. Included are POV footage on Kumba and Montu, and Big Shot droptower in Las Vegas, as well as some rare footage from the old movie "This is Cinerama" featuring the defunct wood coaster from New York's defunct Rockaway Playland. Unfortunately, especially in the case of Cinerama, the entire ride is not shown, only a portion. I really wanted to see more of the Cinerama coaster, considering how it is impossible to ride it in reality. This video gets one point for two reasons. First, the minute or two of Cinerama POV footage was interesting (just not long enough). Second, the video offers a behind-the-scenes look at Back To The Future, the ride, from Universal Studios. This was also interesting. Unfortunately, about 80% of this video is sleep-inducing and uninteresting. All in all, I do not recommend buying Thrill Ride - it is a boring disappointment.

GREAT!
This movie was great but not really about roller coasters. They were more focused on simulators and computerized graphics.It is probably alot more thrilling to see in the Omni Theatre.All in all,it is a fun and interesting movie to watch.

Not very thrilling
This was my first rollercoaster DVD purchase and I am terribly disappointed. I was expecting more "front-seat" coaster rides. I am afraid now to purchase other simular titles. I would prefer no sound other than actual effects of track noise and rider whoops, screams and yells. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

not inside the space station
Out of about 45 minutes total, maybe 15 minutes are in space. Of this some is space station Mir, some is looking at Earth, and only maybe 7 minutes is actually "inside the space station". Most of the Video is things like survival training in Alaska, people designing robots for space, or computer simulations of what the space station is planned to look like. So it is mostly not what I was expecting/hoping for. But the short time that was in space was very good.

Out Of This World!
In my opinion this video should be on the shelves of every school science library! It is truly an EXCEPTIONAL video that not only documents the construction of the International Space Station, but reaches beyond to help viewers understand the need for the space station and for future space exploration! The video's photography, music, and dialogue captivates the audience from the very beginning and never lets up until the closing credits. I showed this video to my sixth grade science classes and every one of my students agreed that it was one of the best educational and documentary type videos viewed.

A Good Introduction
While I was disappointed that this wasn't the full three hour doco shown on Discovery, I did enjoy this DVD immensely. It managed to capture the excitement of the project and illustrate some of the issues the designers and builders faced when creating the station.

Oh, by the way, to the guy who was concerned about all the foreigners involved in the construction, last time I checked it was the INTERNATIONAL space station. Get a grip.

Cheers

Very Good, Informative, Too SHORT
NOTE: **No running time is listed in the contents or technical information**. THIS IS NOT the same set of 3 documentaries that very recently premiered on the Discovery channel. It is only the 45 minute documentary of the above title. It is a good, informative though not entirely balanced program. This show is basically a glossy promotional 'puff piece' for the very worthwhile but (in the past) troubled International Space Station. There IS some discussion about the tortuous political, financial and technical journey the Station went through before becoming a reality. But many of the problems are handled in a once-over-lightly manner, that brooks little negativity. Which is good, I suppose. ANY space endeavor needs support these days. I.S.S. truly is a geopolitical and engineering labor that has tested the resolve of 3 Presidents and no less than 3 Nasa Administrators. But it is finally coming together relatively nicely and after watching this well-photographed and slickly-made program, you'll wonder why there was so much moaning and where the years have gone. The Space Station is needed badly, because the benefits from space, at least for the short term, will come from near-Earth space. And then the Station needs to be completed A.S.A.P. because Mars (and maybe the Moon) Awaits!

National security
This show left me very concerned with the way NASA handles national security and technology transfer issues.

There are foreign people everywhere in this program. For instance at some point in the show, NASA congratulates itself for having Europeans in the X-38 program. We even get to see French guys fooling around the prototype.

NASA would like to transfer reentry technology for future launchers (and missiles) to Europe, it would not behave differently.

Hasn't the Chinese spying in Los Alamos been enough??? ... Read more

Amazon.com

The question of whether we are alone in the universe has intrigued humanity for centuries, and journalist Timothy Ferris presents an extensive look at the quandary in this fascinating and beautifully produced program from PBS. Ferris, as an engaging and inquisitive host, begins by discussing the development of life and the theory of evolution, as what we know about life on Earth could indicate whether it's possible for life to have developed elsewhere. Showing how scientists would expect life to exist elsewhere, Ferris then devotes his attention in a section entitled "Is Anybody Listening" to explain how radio telescopes are being used in hopes of making contact with intelligent beings beyond our own solar system. Throughout this documentary Ferris finds creative ways to make fairly complicated material easily understandable, and his offbeat approach to serious science is always entertaining and often fascinating. Experts such as scientist and bestselling author Stephen Jay Gould appear briefly in interviews to offer their insights, but for the most part the presentation is astoundingly visual. Ferris wisely opts to show something rather than merely talk about it, and the DVD is filled with startling and beautiful special effects as well as gorgeous footage shot both on Earth and in space. This is an excellent documentary that also happens to be a pleasure to watch. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great film - but a major video problem with the DVD
Life Beyond Earth is a wonderful film. Unfortunately the DVD picture suffers greatly from frequent frame stuttering and staggering - most prominent during the many animation sequences. What I recall as a smooth animated glide through the Eagle Nebula is now more of a bumpy bus ride. It's too bad, because other than that, the picture/color/clarity is greatly improved via my s-video connection, and the dolby surround, though not 5.1, does the soundtrack justice. Whether it's a flaw in the original transfer, or just bad duplication, I do not know, but I've now tested two copies on two different DVD players, and the flaws are consistent... and ohhhh so frequent. It's maddening. I certainly expected better from PBS.

Fantastic!
I saw this program on PBS and was so impressed that I wanted to own the DVD. I have yet to see more thorough and comprehensive coverage of this subject in a single documentary. It examines the basis and origins of life on earth, and then proceeds outward to the rest of the universe. Timothy Ferris' insights, anecdotes, and relaxing tutorial style, combined with the incredible CGI visuals, kept me captivated from beginning to end.

A "Love-Letter" Monument to Carl Sagan's work
Having seen this glorious program on PBS, I immediately purchased the video. I can't count how many times I've watched this. It is a love-letter to Carl Sagan and pays homage to our most beloved space-scientist. It also explains many things that most people take for granted - LIFE & TIME. How it evolved, branched out, died, and survived; and the millions of years it took to get us to where we are today. All the things on this planet, including us, are gloriously connected. Who needs religion when the wonders of the Universe is at your fingertips.

Stimulating and brilliant!
Timothy Ferris is both a intelligent and humorous guide in our journey through the two parts of this tape. In the first part, the first 60 minutes, he explores how life developed on Earth and if there can be life on other worlds. On the second, he examines how man became intelligent, if intelligence could develop on other worlds and how to communicate with that alien intelligence. Lovely special effects, a great musical sore, interviews with scientists and just plain common sense makes the tape a MUST for any library. From PBS it has nothing that might upset the kiddies, so let them view it also!

"The long twilight of human loneliness may come to an end within our lifetime." - Timothy Ferris.

Great work with a tough topic.
Yes there is or no there isn't. Either way, the logic is presented flawlessly for both arguments.
Are there other civilizations out there? Odds are yes.
Will we ever find them? Odds are no.
Life on our world was a bilion to one shot, but there are billions upon billions of other worlds.
This is the perfect film to learn how to present an argument. Support your facts, lead your listener to the conclusion you want. But don't push. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

What a disappointment.
I now wish that I had read some of the below reviews before I bought this DVD.
Raising The Mammoth is an interesting story showing how difficult it was to retrieve the iceblock,but couldn't they have waited until later to actually show us the Mammoth?
All we see is some red fur at the top of the Mammoth and the tusks which had already been removed.
Apparently,most of the head had already rotted away after being left to the ellements by people retrieving the tusks,but the rest of the body was intact.
The DVD does have some good extras such as a Mammoth timeline and an interview,but the end is disappointing because we never get to see it.

For well-informed die-hard Pachyderm fans only
Raising the Mammoth is a two-hour Discovery Channel documentary about an expedition to Siberia to remove a complete mammoth body frozen for twenty thousand years. The project was completed in one ten-thousandth of the time the creature lay undisturbed; bad weather closed in and caused delays of a year. Partly fascinating, partly annoying, mostly informative but not altogether so, Raising the Mammoth seeks to inspire and awe us and sometimes stretches the point in order to do so. It tries too hard to become a drama, and doesn't focus enough on getting the scientific issues right.

A few examples will prove my point. The first concerns the difficulty in removing the block of permafrost that encased the mammoth. It is hard to believe that the scientists involved would have left to chance the matter of whether or not the block was too large to be lifted by the helicopter at hand, as was portrayed. Surely calculations giving them some reasonable hope of success were in hand or some other method of removal would have been pursued, but the last-minute suspense was played to the hilt like a Bruce Willis thriller.

At one point we are told that the Siberian Woolly Mammoth stood twice the height of a man and weighed as much as 10 elephants. Almost immediately following we are told that the Columbian Mammoth, prospering in the milder climates of North America, was the largest of mammoth species and stood twice the height of a man and weighed as much as 10 elephants. Which is true? How could the largest of the mammoth species be