Amazon.com

When Cosmos was first broadcast in 1980, our world--and the context of Carl Sagan's eloquent "personal journey"--was a different place. The late Dr. Sagan would be pleased to witness the cooling of the cold war, the continued exploration of space, and ongoing efforts to curb our destructive dependence on fossil fuels. For Sagan's series is far more than a guided tour through "billions and billions" of stars and galaxies. It remains a profound plea for the unity of humankind, for the recognition that "we are a way for the universe to know itself," with an obligation to know our origin, our place in the universe, and our future potential.

In the course of 13 fascinating hours, Cosmos spans its own galaxy of topics to serve Sagan's theme, each segment deepening our understanding of how we got from there (simple microbes in the primordial mud) to here (space-faring civilization in the 21st century). In his "ship of the imagination," Sagan guides us to the farthest reaches of space and takes us back into the history of scientific inquiry, from the ancient library of Alexandria to the NASA probes of our neighboring planets. Upon this vast canvas Sagan presents the "cosmic calendar," placing the 15-billion-year history of the universe into an accessible one-year framework, then filling it with a stunning chronology of events, both interstellar and earthbound.

From the lives of the stars, to creation theories, functions of the human brain, and the ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence, Cosmos asks big questions. When appropriate, Sagan offers big answers, or asks still bigger--and yes, even spiritual--questions at the boundaries of science and religion. What's most remarkable about Cosmos is that it remains almost entirely fresh, with few updates needed to the science that Sagan so passionately celebrates. It is no exaggeration to say that Cosmos--for all the debate it may continue to provoke--is a vital document for humanity at a pivotal crossroads of our history. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (134)

science, the history of science, and its role in the future
It amazes me that to this day that no science series since Cosmos first aired has come close to illustrating both the scope of human knowledge and its practical purposes in our lives. Every parent with a DVD player should buy this if their children have the slightest interest in the sciences. Your kids will thank you when they're older. Carl Sagan must've had a talent for teaching as any intelligent young student will get something out this series. Cosmos ages well, serving as a springboard into other disciplines.

Watching the series again on DVD, I enjoyed the less-hard science episodes. All thirteen are great. I especially liked:

"The Harmony of Worlds"
"The Backbone of Night"
"The Lives of Stars"
"The Persistence of Memory"
"Enyclopedia Galactica"
"Who Speaks for Earth"

Each of these episodes is rich with history and gives me a new respect for the man as a speaker. Especially the last episode, though somewhat dated as it was written during the Cold War. The sound quality's excellent too.

Note: Science changes so fast, some of the updates may be 'out of date'. The final update, in light of current events, where Dr. Sagan expresses optimism for the future, well it's a bit chilling.

A Vision for All Mankind
After watching COSMOS for the third time, I am continously impressed by the bravery and insight of Dr. Sagan's vision for humanity. COSMOS's overarching theme is an introduction to the natural sciences for the general public. Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics are wonderfully reduced to their core concepts. Dr. Sagan may be the only person I know who manages to explain Einstein's special relativity without algebra. For those amongst the general public who wish to understand just what a four dimensioned universe is, there is no better series today than COSMOS. Dr. Sagan stays true to his populist belief that science belongs not only to the scientists, but to all humanity.

However, anyone with a university degree will probably be familiar with the science Dr. Sagan speaks of. The shining jewel of COSMOS is not its scientific content, but its deeply humanistic message of hope. We have all heard about the cruelty of the so called "real world" and "human nature." But Dr. Sagan shows us that human bravery and intelligence has transformed our world for the better and that our world is what we make of it. In one of the most poignant moments of the entire series, Dr. Sagan describes the human longing for an explanation of the universe as an eternal part of our species. We, citizens of the 21st century, are the first generation of human beings priviledged with some of the answers to the questions that have fascinated our ancestors.

Dr. Sagan also outlines the philosophy and history of science. This is especially essential to today's society in which science has become increasing gadgety. While cell phones, computers, the internet, designer drugs populate every segment of our society, the philosophy of critical thinking, factual analysis and of questioning every statement, the very heart of science remains as rare today as ever. Our present civlization is forever indebited to those brave men and women who choose the pain of truth rather the comfort of lies. For those who ever wondered how we human beings progressed from tribal hunters to technogical beings, Dr. Sagan's documentary provides a riveting account.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, Dr. Sagan's documentary provides a unifying vision for the future of human kind. We have reached a time in the development of our species when the power in our hands is extraordinary. The destiny of our world and our species is fully in the our own hands. We can either use this power to continously squabble amongst ourselves, to fight our pointless wars and to poison our environment with blatant waste and race headlong to self annihilation, or... we can set aside our differences, recognize the fragility of our world and embrace the common destiny of humanity to explore the final frontier. Dr. Sagan does not pretend that this journey will be an easy one; every age and time has had those who would at the expense of our world, stirr up hatred, fear and greed. However, by showing that science is our candle in the dark, Dr. Sagan encourages each one of us to struggle against the irrationality and ignorance inside each of us to literally reach for the stars.

From the beginning of time to the future of our world, Dr. Sagan's account of the struggle of the human mind to attain sentience is highly passionate while at the same time even and objective. Science, he describes, is the ultimate manifestation of our humanity, the quest of starstuff to understand itself.

I am pleased to say that as the light from Dr. Sagan's house continue to pierce the darkness of Ithaca's gorges to inspire me, so too does his visionary work: COSMOS.

the best science documentrary
This is prehaps the most inspiring documentary about the earth and our place within the universe. I have seen the series about a dozen times and its just as interesting each and every time. This would be great material for children learning about the world around them..

+Fred

Very Excellent!
A little expensive but very cool. Carl Sagan was the first man to break the sound barrier and this is his story. Carl also was a swimming contender in the 1968 Mexico Olympics but he felt the sting of defeat and didn't win diddley. We don't like losers, Carl. A famous scientist, Carl died of cancer some years ago because he didn't eat his broccoli. If only he's gone to Denny's every Thursday for their cream of broccoli soup, he would still be alive today.

Portuguese Subtitles ??
More than 250.000.000 people in the world speak Portuguese. Why didn't they made subtitles in portuguese language for Cosmos? I hope that in the next edition, this problema will be solved. How can we show this DVD for children and teens who doesn't speak english yet? This is my only complain about. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential video

Originally broadcast in April and May of 1998, the epic miniseries From the Earth to the Moon was HBO's most expensive production to date, with a budget of $68 million. Hosted by executive producer Tom Hanks, the miniseries tackles the daunting challenge of chronicling the entire history of NASA's Apollo space program from 1961 to 1972. For the most part, it's a rousing success. Some passages are flatly chronological, awkwardly wedging an abundance of factual detail into a routine dramatic structure. But each episode is devoted to a crucial aspect of the Apollo program. The cumulative effect is a deep and thorough appreciation of NASA's monumental achievement. With the help of a superlative cast, consistent writing, and a stable of talented directors, Hanks has shared his infectious enthusiasm for space exploration and the inspiring power of conquering the final frontier.

NASA's complete participation in the production lends to its total authenticity, right down to the use of NASA equipment, launch locations, and even spacecraft. The re-creation of the lunar landscape is almost as impressive as the real thing and is further enhanced by the use of helium balloons to lighten the actors playing moon-walking astronauts. (These and other backstage details are revealed in the "making of" featurette, along with a wealth of supplemental materials, on a bonus disc in the miniseries' DVD package.)With a fictional, Walter Cronkite-like TV reporter (Lane Smith) serving as the dramatic link for all 12 episodes, this ambitious production may not be a great work of art. But as a generous and definitive example of nonfiction drama, it's full of the same kind of awe, inspiration, and humanity that led to "one giant leap" in the all-too-short history of 20th-century space exploration. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (162)

It was 35 Years Ago Today
HBO's "From the Earth to the Moon" (E2M) is everything a good docu-drama mini-series should be. Tom Hanks has brought to life the true story of man's greatest adventure to "land a man on the Moon and return him safely to Earth". For those of us who were alive, E2M allows us to relive those incredible days. And for those who were born afterwards, it gives them a chance to understand exactly what it was they missed. If you have even the slightest interest in the space program, obtaining a copy of this DVD set is a must.

Coincidently, Apollo 11 landed exactly 35 years ago today. I was 13 years old at the time and living in Nova Scotia, Canada. The "Eagle" touched down at 5:17 pm, much to the consternation of my mother who was busy trying to prepare supper. Just like Tom Hanks would later relate, I had my models of the Command Service Module, Lunar Module and Saturn V rocket close at hand while I had claimed the living room armchair for the occasion. My family gathered around our old B&W television which was tuned to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), one of only two stations which were available to us back then. Much of the CBC's coverage consisted of a feed from CBS, so we got to watch Walter Cronkite's famous "Oh Boy!" commentary. My prized 3" reel-to-reel tape recorder (you could get all of 1 hour on a single reel) was busy taping a local radio station carrying NBC's coverage with Jay Barbree.

The entire family congregated again a few hours later for the moonwalk, just before midnight, and watched Neil & Buzz's first steps. I stayed up for the entire 30 hour televised stretch, from lunar landing to liftoff, stealing a moment every now and then to go outside and gaze up in wonder at the moon, filled with awe that two human beings were actually there, living and working on its surface. In this day of CNN and other all-news networks, it should be remembered that the coverage of this event was in itself history in-the-making - TV's longest continuous coverage of a planned event.

My interest in space began with the flight of Apollo 8. When I heard that this was the first manned launch of the world's biggest rocket, the Saturn V, I was sure that one of its million parts would go wrong with disastrous results. Thank God it didn't. I watched and I was forever hooked. A real space junkie, religiously watching each mission after that, coaxing my Mom to let me stay home from school (recurrent cases of "moon sickness", no doubt), clipping out every newspaper, Life, Time or Newsweek article I could find (now faded yellow with age) and trying to tape as much of the audio coverage as I could (few private individuals could afford a video recorder back then). By Apollo 14, I had earned enough money working at a grocery store to buy a 4-track 7" reel-to-reel recorder (which allowed one to put up to 12 hours on a single tape!) and had built a 15" Heathkit color TV. For Apollo 16, I had added a new-generation "cassette" recorder to my arsenal (don't forget that the venerable 8-track was still popular at the time). And, of course, I had acquired a VCR by the time the first Space Shuttle flew in 1981. It has always annoyed me that the more recording resources I could afford, the less TV & radio coverage there was available to tape.

But the effect of the Apollo program on me was profound. Because of it, I entered into a career in radio astronomy, enjoying the technical challenge of building instruments to investigate deep space from the Earth, perhaps recognizing the likelihood that I would never have to opportunity to leave its surface (although I did make the first cut for the Canadian Astronaut Program nearly 20 years ago). In tribute to Project Apollo, we named our son (now 16) after astronaut David Scott who commanded Apollo 15, my favorite of all the lunar flights.

In many ways, I feel sorry for the children of today - they will never experience the monumental awe and global celebration that we were privileged to witness back in 1969. Strange, isn't it, that although Apollo - the pinnacle of mankind's technical achievement - which occurred only 35 years ago is now looked on as though it was something out of our deep past rather than a part of our future. It's almost treated like it was a chapter out of ancient history, similar to other great accomplishments like the building of the Pyramids or the Great Wall. Although it might not seem so today, 500 years from now the moon landings will undoubtedly be remembered as the most significant event to have occurred in the 20th century.

It's hard to choose my favorite E2M episode since they were all so good. As an engineer, "Spider" resonated well with me, portraying the passion and dedication which many of us put into our work, albeit for projects with a much lower profile. "That's All There Is" brought back fond memories of the Apollo 12 mission. I distinctly remember there was talk at the time that astronauts Conrad and Bean may have been on an accidental oxygen high. It's good to know that there effervescent behavior on the surface was just a manifestation of their normal high spirits and comradery. I was delighted at how "Galileo Was Right" was able to present the training of the astronauts to be field-geologists in such an entertaining and informative manner. And finally, the bittersweet "Le Voyage Dans La Lune" brought a tear to my eye, just as happened back in 1972 when I watched Apollo 17 and the last lunar module lift-off from the moon. It's even sadder still, that we have not returned, nor will we for perhaps another 20 years.

Moving Soundtrack frames an engrossing story
If you enjoy the idea of the American entrepreneurial/pioneer spirit, and, though imperfect and at times prone to failure, this spirit is the best thing on earth...or the moon, you will enjoy this DVD set. Similarly, if you are intriqued by engineering and the process of getting technology from research to reality, this DVD will entrance you. And if a romantic, cinderela story, filled with real personalities is your cup of tea, you too will find yourself unable to wait to see the next episode in this series.

HBO did a wonderful job on this endeavor. Seeing Band of Brothers, and Apollo 13, I thought I would enjoy From the Earth to the Moon. I wasn't prepared for the quality and entrancing effect of this series. My wife and I found ourselves watching two episodes a night, instead of the agreed upon single installment!

I indentified with the engineers at Grumann as they worked the problems out of the LEM. I was intrigued by the political and media aspects surrounding the space program which I was too young to have known about. Alan Bean's trip to the moon was presented in a wonderfully hilarious way. And the characters had depth with common-man heroics as well as failings.

Do yourself a favor, and get a copy of this DVD to watch, learn and enjoy.

"The Golden Age Of Space Travel, Revisited"
This HBO production, executive produced by Tom Hanks is not without it's flaws. At times when it seems like the episodes should be searing, and dramatic, they instead wax sentimental. The music is also rather unremarkable, with the exception of Brad Fiedel's fine contribution to the installment "We Interrupt This Program."

For all of that, Hanks, and company manage to pull off the gargantuan feat of illustrating for us, the trials, and the victories that were Project Apollo. Considering the amount of material that had to be covered, they do so with finesse, and unwavering aplomb. No space historian would want to miss having this docudrama in their library.

An entry point to the "romantic era" of NASA
After watching the series, if you want to learn more, NASA has an amazing amount of historical books and stuff online on their website.

Try the following url, and scroll down to the "Project Histories" section. The title of the webpage is "NASA History Series Publications".

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/series95.html.

Warning: These documents aren't light reading for the TV crowd, but are more for the space nuts who might have a copy of the "Space Shuttle Operator's Manual" in their house.

The main entry point to the NASA history site seems to be:

http://history.nasa.gov/

Very good, although not a typical documentary film
Initially (first 10 minutes of the movie) I did not like it. I expected it to be more of a documentary kind of movie rather that actors and all that. Then I realized it was kind of interesting and more in depth, giving real feelings of the people of that era. Very nice. I managed to get the movie from my local public library. It is kind of expensive.

Now...
I agree with the reviewer bashing the conspiracy clown from Santa Monica. There is some "evidence" that the landing on the Moon has been staged. All that is pseudo science. Real scientific counterarguments EASILY debunk all those insane claims. Anyone who believes in the "conspiracy" is either not so intelligent or did not do enough research.

Do you really think it would be possible to keep all those scientists involved from telling the truth for all those years? I did not hear a SINGLE thing confirming the conspiracy from anyone involved in the apollo project. We hear these things only from so called pseudoscientists.

Why is it so hard to believe we landed? Did Russians fake their flights? Are space stations fake? Are the space shuttles fake? Are the shuttle accidents fake? Is hubble telescope a fake? Is the probe that landed on the Mars fake? Is the British probe that reached Mars but never landed a fake? Global conspiracy? Is there a conspiracy with Brits and Russians? Are satellits fake? Did we fake the Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Are nuclear submarines fake? It the nuclear energy fake? Are airplanes fake? Is quantum theory fake? Are computers fake? Is internet fake?

Is it really so impossible for us, humans, who came up with the above (iether before or after the Moon landing) to land and come back from the Moon? All that during the cold war when these kinds of achievements REALLY did matter?

People who believe that landing on the moon was faked should really do their research properly. If not, maybe they should keep believing in UFOs and area 51 conspiracies. I do not want to call them names. I am also a peaceful guy, but these kinds of arguments make me mad. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Finest planetary voyage
Welcome to the best documentary series ever. Yes, BETTER than Dinosaurs (which depended largely on sensational computer visuals)! Whether you have only a passing interest in astronomy or have read a hundred books about it, this series will steal your heart. Every single aspect is flawless. The musical grandeur of Gustav Holst's symphony and the warm, captivating voice of the British narrator make up the aurals. No artificial excitement, no badly chosen music, PERFECT. The visuals include stylish computer animations and footage that makes you wonder how deep they actually had to dig... The first footage of a human being outside the atmosphere (jumping out of a balloon), the first on-board rocket footage, the earth as a blue dot captured by an ageing Voyager looking back at its birthplace. The content isn't exactly dumbed down, either. Even for an amateur like me, there were plenty of new things to discover. It contains many interviews with astronauts, Russian and American space-project leaders, the finest available planetary geologists, exo-biologists and trendsetting astronomers. Providing not only information, but also a true sense of passion and childlike wonder. Hear how an American airforce officer tries to describe his silent jump through the outher layers of our atmosphere, falling back into "known territory". How Gene Cernan had the almost transcendental experience of covering all of human history (earth) with his thumb. How a NASA scientist was the first to see the other side of Saturn via a Voyager picture... If this series doesn't get you excited, you must be dead.

What we know so far - And well done too!
A solid trip through the drama that is the science of Space. Deftly delivered details of the wealth of data gathered thus far by the world's astronomical community. The masterfully designed menus move the viewer effortlessly to the desired content segment. They are SO nice, you can sit and watch them and be entertained.

As a documentary, the facts are well presented and conveyed in digestible chunks. Concepts like Earth/Mars similarities, and life's early transport across the Sol system, were introduced seamlessly and reinforced throughout the volumes. As a drama, yes a drama, thematic and conceptual material is expertly woven throughout the entire series.

Technically, this set is a gem. It is a shining example of masterful editing techniques, Computer graphics production, DVD production methods, and videography.

On the whole, "The Planets" is a must buy for anyone interested in learning more about the cosmos. There's even a cameo of the well loved and sorely missed Carl Sagan. Shine on Carl!

A MUST BUY.

Zooming back and forth


This is acceptable for young children, because no topic is covered at any length at any one time. This is fine for kids who can't sit still long enough to get a lot of detail. And the presentation continues for four disks, revisiting most topics at least once.

Unfortunately it doesn't really do more than reiterate pretty trite information and opinions, despite the abundance of interviews with quite a number of people in the US and former Soviet space programs. The fact that the USSR made an attempt to probe Mars in 1961 is remarkable, but the complete failure of the mission is not mentioned at all.

Probably the best of the eight programs in this collection is "Moon", which is strictly about the Apollo missions to the Moon, which remain the most amazing achievement of the space age. Also, that program has a single focus and doesn't jump around. The other program from disk two is "Giants", which recounts the US probes to Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

"Life Beyond the Sun" on disk four discusses the labeled release experiment, which did in fact detect microbial life on Mars. The program only gives the official NASA view that no life was found, and doesn't bother to interview Gilbert V. Levin, who designed the experiment, and has a long series of published papers defending the results of the experiment and debunking the inorganic chemical "explanations".

The oddly named "Terra Firma" (an ancient name for the Earth) gives a survey of various probe missions to Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and the Moon. "Atmosphere" again discusses Venus and Mars, and repeats the silly claim that there's a "greenhouse effect" at work.

The main deficiency of this package is the repetition and lack of focus. I would have liked more in-depth discussion of (for example) the search for the various planets X (Tombaugh, Van Flandern, but emphatically NOT Zecharia Sitchin, Andrew Collins, et al), focussed comets as an argument in favor of the existence of one, and critical arguments of the possible existence of a trans-Neptunian major planet.

I'd suggest getting this from the video store first and seeing if your children like it, then purchase it if they do.

Okay, but lots of talking heads
This series was okay, but could have been much better. Like all the BCC's work you can't fault it technically, but the abundance of talking heads does get annoying (though there is a little bit of CG). Any fan of space will find the knowledge they recite as rudimentary at best. It's okay for a novice, but otherwise it's pretty boring to hear a guy in a lab tell you basic facts about the solar system.

Some of the archival footage, particularly of the Russian space program is very interesting, however.

Space is incredible but show it to me, don't tell me about it! I think the BBC's upcoming 'Walking with Spacemen' series, which will be 100 percent CGI and use the technology to recreate what it would be like to visit various planets and moons in the Solarsystem will be much more interesting (If you have seen Walking with Dinosaurs then you'll know what kind of breathtaking visuals they should come up with).

Anyway, till then, the Planets is still a great series.

...
*I watched the original BBC version with the male narrating (i think Richard CHamberlain was name)... Apparently some people don't like the american dub.... why they bothered to make it in the first place is a bit confusing.*

Even if you're uninterested in space, other planets, or earth's own origins and achievements, The Planets is worth a vieiwing on the merits of the genrally spectacular visuals alone, and is very capable of sparking an interest in even the most dormant of brains (mine). Although much of the CGI is low-budget tv quality (from 1999~2000), it's generally kept to a minium and the better cgi (like the simulations of an expanding sun) is MUCH better. It avoids the overly serious tone in the narration that seems to be common to these types of documentaries, and although there is some content overlap between segments, it doesn't diminish the experience.

This is a must see for anyone and everyone (although you can probably catch it on A+E or one of the BBC america channels, rather than spend 80 dollars for this box set (which is worth it, I think- though there are a number of equally worthwhile documentaries that cover some similar ground in a much more intellectual fashion, like Cosmos and Stephen Hawking's Universe, but I haven't seen any that, visually, really convey how fantastic the universe is as much as this one). ... Read more

Description

A collection of space documentaries filmed in the expansive IMAX format: Hail Columbia, The Dream is Alive, Blue Planet, Destiny in Space, and Mission to MIR. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Simply beautiful & inspiring!
These DVD's contain some of the finest video of space and of our planet Earth. Taken over many missions and years by the astronauts in high-definition IMAX film, there are some truly georgeous and inspirational shots here.

It's a fantastic collection, and really should be in every video library! I love each tape but am particularly fond of "Destiny in Space". Also includes footage from the Russian MIR space station.

IMAX films are almost always 4:3 format
That's because IMAX theaters are that same 4:3 format. To get widescreen you'd have to either lose picture on the top and bottom, or stretch the screen out over two blocks.

IMAX Space Collection in standard format
I love the IMAX films but was disappointed that these DVD's were in standard 4:3, not widescreen 16:9 or 2.35:1.
Also, the audio naration is often drowned-out by the background music and is hard to hear.
Otherwise, the shots and scenes are outstanding.

disapointing
If you want to get a lot of brilliant space and launch shots, you won't find them here. The best parts of these movies could fit on one disc. "Dream" and "Destiny" are the better ones.
It's kind of creepy watching all of this taking place onboard Challenger.

Space Dome remembered
This is the perfect way to remember our Saturday nights that we spent taking the kids to eat chicken fingers and then to space dome to see destiny in space or the dream is alive. This is one level 2 counselor that wishes the management of the Space and Rocket Center hadn't driven me away. Bring the Duce back!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

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

Reviews (3)

Very Informative
For me, someone that doesn't have a science background and is not well read on the topic of the universe, this movie is very interesting and informative. The movie does an excellent job painting a picture of the size (unbelievable) and nature of the universe. Each of the specialist on the tape explain their theories in layman's terms with very familiar examples. Without it, the theories and numbers would be just too difficult to comprehend. The movie raises many interesting questions and presents a startling contradiction in theories regarding the age of the universe; one that could possibly be answered in our lifetime. Of course, there are more questions than answers, but that is to be expected. The explanation, spoken and demonstrated, of a black hole was very interesting. All topics are well presented and I enjoyed the tape very much. My only regret is that it was not longer (50 minutes). Worth checking out.

Awsome
If you want to know about the Universe you live in don't miss one.

Understanding The Universe
This is a awsome overview of the Universe. Excellent for anyone who would like to know about the universe we live in. ... 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

Amazon.com

Mankind's greatest adventure is remembered for the digital age. The DVD format changed the way we look at movies and especially TV series, with massive complete-season sets. That concept is spectacularly taken one-step further with Spacecraft Films' definitive collections of the Gemini and Apollo space missions, stuffing in nearly every scrap of TV transmissions and on-board footage. The three- to six-disc sets use the full functions of the DVD format; see a liftoff in six different angles (some remixed with 5.1 sound) or listen to a mixture of air-to-ground communications, official NASA narration, or post-flight debriefings, most often carefully synched to the exact moment of footage seen. Like any good research paper, every bit of footage may not be interesting, but taken as a chronicle of history, it's irreplaceable.

NASA's most monumental mission was Apollo 11, placing Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the moon. Unfortunately, it's one of the least stunningly photographed missions, with grainy black-and-white TV footage for the two-hour moon walk. However it's so rare that hardly anyone has seen more than a few seconds of this broadcast since 1969. Watch the broadcast as it was (alas, no Walter Cronkite, but this is the NASA feed--not a network), or watch the 16mm color footage shot by a stationary camera inside the lunar module, or watch a composition of both that also displays the famous photographs at the moment they were taken (how cool is that?). The moon walk is only one of three discs and there's another eight hours of footage, including all the onboard film and TV transmissions, pre-and post flight news conferences, and 15 views of the launch. Plus there's plenty of behind-the-scenes footage--the assembly of the giant Saturn 5 spacecraft, moon-walk rehearsals, and capsule recovery.For space junkies, it's the ultimate visual treasure trove. Any kid who has primed himself watching Ron Howard's majestic Apollo 13 (which featured no real space footage) will probably be disappointed in the lack of "cool" footage (oddly, the earlier Gemini missions have more "whoa" photography), but anybody interested in the moon mission finally has a complete chronicle of what it looked like when it happened. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Must See
If you were alive in July '69 , then you know the feeling the world had as they followed the Apollo 11 astronauts to the moon.This DVD set is a very impressive piece of work.The images may be raw and the audio scratchy,but it is a true representation of what went on that summer in space...I found it most interesting and informative...I have seen most films of this flight,so I was surprised to see a few clips that I had not...If you are looking for a documentry or hollywood version,look elsewhere, because this is the REAL thing...I enjoyed the multiple angles at liftoff and the multiple audio tracks to choose from during the lunar landing clip...I will definitely purchase the Apollo 16 and 17 versions as they become available...If you were interested in these missions 30 years ago and enjoy space flight today,get these DVD's before they are out of print,you will not regret it...

An Amazing Wealth of Information
I have been wanting someone to do this for years. The first memory that I can recall is at age four watching the telecast of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walking on the moon, and I have been hooked ever since. There have been many excellent Apollo documentaries over the years since, but this is a totally different concept.

Instead of taking the strict documentary approach and editing the raw materiel until only the subjective 'best' materiel is left, the producers show basically all the uncut, raw materiel, frequently from different perspectives or with different options. Examples here are watching the Lunar Landing film taken from the LMP window synched with numerous different soundtrack options such as the Flight Director Loop, the TELCOMM (later TELMU) loop (which is of particular interest during the 1202 and 1201 Program Alarms), the PAO loop, or the onboard recorder from Eagle. Similarly, you can select up to six different angles to watch the launch from.

This set is simply amazing to watch. It includes all the TV transmissions and onboard 16 mm film. If you are interested in Apollo or space exploration, you absolutely must have this DVD set. You will love it.

Humbling Experience
This is not the only DVD set that I would get on Apollo 11, but I believe it is an important one to have. I'm only 27 years old and I feel that I was greatly brought up to speed on what happened with the Apollo 11 mission during the summer of 1969.

The raw, continous footage shown that was accompanied by the actual air and ground communications was surprisingly satisfying. Surprising, because I wasn't entertained at first. No, instead, this DVD set, without hardly any narration, gave me a greater appreciation for what was experienced and accomplished during Apollo 11's flight. Man, I love it.

Comments from the producer
When we set out to create this series of DVDs, we wanted to achieve something that all of the previous accounts of a documentary nature had not - to present this material without a filter, in a way to allow the viewer to see the maximum amount of material - both video and audio - in the best quality possible. In short, as lifelong students of the U.S. space program, we wanted to put together a collection the way we wished to see it - the way it happened.

Most importantly, we set out to present the complete television transmissions and onboard motion picture film for individual missions - material that just hasn't been available before. This material is purposely left in its original form, albiet with new digital transfers, color correction where necessary and possible, and digital noise reduction.

To do this we realized we would have to use certain unconventional methods. For example, we wished to present multiple angles of footage from rollout, suitup, etc. To do this required us to use different angles out of context, so that from time to time certain events were shown a couple of times so that the varied angles could be presented. Unless one realizes this was done to present multiple angles one might mistake it for material out of order.

Nearly all of the 16mm film from EVA training, suitup, astronauts visiting the launch pad (all of which was re-transferred from the original using modern, digital telecines) was shot silent, and since we also wished to present as much audio as possible from mission events such as countdowns, we have married this audio to that footage. The result is the maximum amount of primary source material available on the subject and results in important audio from other events used on previously silent film.

Lastly, especially for launch vehicles, we wanted to present the material we had only previously seen in short clips on documentaries, such as pad cameras, in its entirety. For those interested in the creation and flight of these vehicles, this material is fascinating, and filled with insightful information.

Much of the material on these sets is presented, purposefully, the way it was shot. Some of the Hollywood storytelling created on this subject is wonderful, we love that, too, but as a chronicle of the greatest explorations of mankind the material deserved to be presented without such a filter. This is the way it happened, and it is amazing.

Very soon in 2004, a six-disc chronicle of Apollo 15 and a three-disc edition on the Saturn V will be released.

Minority report
After reading the other reviews on this site, all of which granted five stars, I bought this disk set. As a great admirer of the Apollo program and a reasonably well-informed student of that effort, I fell compelled to offer a different review.

Positives: As others have noted, there is seldom-seen footage and it is really good to see. The use of NASA audio and the definite lack of overdramatization (that smothers some other notable multi-disk videos) is also welcome. Seeing the entire lunar EVA is good to see (finally). The minimalistic narratives at times help focus the viewer on what was really going on. There are some uses of multiple-angle views that are novel, but the astonauts' post-flight audio commentary (covering some key mission events)are more interesting. These are significant positives that the Apollo fan will appreciate.

Negatives: While there is some great footage and audio bits, one should remember that that was the result of NASA's prodigious work -- and considerable public money. The producers' job was to assemble and present them as a coherent narrative. They do their best when they simply let the NASA video play (for example, in the case of the entire EVA). But what they themselves have done is quite modest and at times thoughtless. First, they provide absolutely no overall narrative, although several methods -- a second audio track, accompanying booklet, use of subtitles, an occasional diagram -- could have been used. Those not familiar with the mission's major milestones (preparation, science goals, staging, critcal manuevers, etc.) will not gain insight and will be confused by some of the offerings. Take, for example, the footage labeled "probe and drogue" (disk 3), presented after the landing footage. With knowledge of the mission, one can figure out that it was taken shortly after LM-CSM docking, before the landing. But if you don't have this knowledge, or even what the probe and drogue assemblies are, you're left in the dark and perhaps puzzled as to its place in the mission. The lack of context confuses and fails to educate. Repeatedly, the disks choose not to illuminate the viewer when they easily could have (again, through optional subtitles or 2nd audio track). On disk 1, one sees ~15 minutes of video from a top-mounted camera looking down at the vehicle, poised for launch. It is accompanied by very sparse commentary from an Apollo public-affairs official who largely marks time until launch. One sits through at least five segments of no audio, each lasting 1.5 to 3 minutes! Even one predisposed to like this kind of DVD gets restless at staring at this uninformative shot for that long. Finally, the editing at times is thoughtless. During the section on vehicle roll-out, there are many nice shots of the vehicle, launch tower, and mobile service structure. However, they are inanely and repeatedly shown out of order, one minute ready to launch, the next with the service gantry surrounding it (i.e., events that are days apart). And while presenting NASA audio of the countdown 2 hrs prior to launch, they show the 3 astronauts on top of the launch tower...in shirt sleeves! Later, they show them getting suited up, again with the audio mismatched to the time when they're already in the command module! These large mismatches were simply not necessary.

In summary, I think a die-hard Apollo fan (such as myself) will welcome the additional footage and the lack of over-the-top dramatization. The moon EVA footage is a real highlight. However, the $45 cost, the nice packaging and dramatic menus belie the lack of useful editing and supportive narrative. This set is will interest Apollo admirers, but doesn't do the less-informed viewer any favors. Finally, I have no financial interest in this product. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before man ventured into space, Walt Disney took the nation there. This set of the Walt Disney Treasures consists of "Science Factual" shows that aired mostly in the 1950s. On the first disc, Ward Kimball, one of the company's ace animators, directs three 50-minute segments on space travel dealing with space flight, going to the moon, and going to Mars. A combination of lecture (by the tops in the field, including lead rocket designer Dr. Werner von Braun), animation, live-action segments, and models, the three segments are still relevant as they effortlessly teach such elements as why rockets are in stages, what is gravitational force, orbiting, air pressure, and even the psychological effects on the mind. It is impressive how easily these Tomorrowland features entertain audiences of all ages. Of course, some of the details are wrong, but the wonder is not, and the final segment--a most poetic survey about what life might be like on Mars--illustrates Disney animated magic at its best.

The second disc takes on weather reporting (including a James Bond-ish way of changing the weather), how satellites work, and the touchstone 1958 short "Our Friend the Atom," a staple of explaining the world of atomic energy. Shown for the first time in its entirety is an informative pitch for EPCOT. It's not a version of the theme park now in Florida, but Walt Disney's lyrical vision of a city of the future, a dream never realized with his death two months after filming in 1966. Leonard Maltin introduces each segment, putting it in historical context and noting some political incorrectness and oversights, like atomic energy having no downside. The programs still entertainingly show the promises of the future: humans on Mars seem so tangible, even though the space program lost its way in the forthcoming decades. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Classic Futuristic Television
Although this appears to be a less popular release than the other 2003 Disney Treasures, the contents are very special. The programs are entertaining, educational, and important in a historical context. As listed in various websites, the contents are scheduled to be the following (first release date/TV showing listed after each title): Man In Space (3/9/55), Man and the Moon (12/28/55), Mars and Beyond (12/4/57), Our Friend The Atom (1/23/57), Eyes In Outer Space (6/18/59), and EPCOT (filmed late 1966, first shown 1967).

The first three are TV shows exploring different ideas on how space travel could and would be accomplished. Each show combined entertainment with scientific facts known at that time. President Eisenhower arranged to show a screening of Man In Space at the Pentagon and later credited the show with helping to further the progress of the American Space Program. Mars and Beyond has a funny scene in which Donald Duck is shown among a long line of Martian monsters.

Our Friend The Atom explores the early potential of atomic energy - the benefits and dangers. There is a fun animated tale of "The Fisherman and the Genie" included as part of the history of the atom.

Eyes In Outer Space was released to the theaters and explored satellites' future ability to forecast and control weather. Later shown as part of the later 4/1/62 TV show Spy in the Sky.

EPCOT was the last film Walt Disney appeared in, in which he explains the company's plans for Walt Disney World and EPCOT.

I have seen all these TV shows and films and have loved them throughout the years. I look forward to owning DVD quality copies of these.

Lost Treasures - Found
Disney completists, 1950s cultural collectors, animation fans, history buffs and sci/fi fans will be overjoyed with this set. I had never seen any of the material contained in this set before and now I can't keep these films out of my mind. I was amazed that Walt Disney had the guts to tackle these subjects in such a serious manner. Yet they aren't presented as fluff nor as a boring PBS documentary but some marvelous combination of the two. I've heard people tell of how they had seen these films in school as a supplement to their science educations. Now I can see why. You learn hard facts about the subjects of space travel, atoms, and rockets in an entertaining and unforgettable way. I think the Discovery Channel could learn a thing or two from these films.

The bulk of these films are live action, but the animation that is included is stunning in that it is so different looking from what we normally consider Disney. Animation fans will be pouring over these segments in awe. And as proof of Walt's forethought we are able to enjoy these shows in full technicolor.

Included as a bonus are two interviews. One with Ray Bradbury and the other with Marty Sklar. I can't overstate how excellent these interviews are. They both knew Walt personally and their accounts of working with him and his personality are priceless. As much as I loved the main features, I'm sure to be watching these interviews again and again.

Parents can easily allow their children to watch this set and they're sure to learn a thing or two. For the whole family, Tomorrowland is a triumph of ideas, entertainment and imagination.

Nostalgic, Fun & a Little Disturbing
I saw all these shows except "Eyes In Outer Space" & the EPCOT promotional film, when they were originally broadcast, when I was very young, and they began my education in science and astronomy. Seeing them again 50 years later is a blast. First off, they look GREAT! They are immensely interesting and very entertaining. The stuff they predict correctly is amazing. The first show basically lays out what became the space shuttle program very accurately. In "Mars & Beyond" it apparently didn't occur to them that we would send unmanned probes before sending men. They don't get the first moon trip right. No ships were built in space, and we went to the moon before building any space stations, and to go all the way to the moon and just come back after ONE orbit would have been idiotic. Needless to say, our first trip to the moon involved orbiting for a while. Of course, on the second trip, we landed.
But there's disturbing aspects to these shows also. First off, most of the scientists whom Walt has explain rocketry to us are NAZIS, like Werner Von Braun. They mention his developing of rockets, but omit that he did it for Hitler to use murdering people in England!. When a German scientist, in "Our Friend The Atom" asks what three wishes we should ask of atomic energy, and then says, "Our first wish is for POWER!" I was completely creeped out. We're supposed to just forget that these men had no compunctions about letting Hitler use their genius for mass murder. These guys weren't Mousekateers. They were war criminals who we took for our space programs. They apparently didn't care who they built weapons for. That's what we call whores. It was just ten years after World War II, and Disney was bringing these Nazis into our living rooms to teach our kids. Ew!
Speaking of "Our Friend The Atom", it's a huge commercial for atomic energy, designed to make us baby boomers all want a nuclear power plant in OUR neighborhoods. The atom isn't our friend! They imply that atomic energy COULD have been dangerous, but fortunately, we've tamed it and it hasn't been used to kill and is now not dangerous. Excuse me! Hiroshima and Nagasaki were already history. "Our Friend The Atom" was all about sending us on the inevitable path to Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. Very creepy.
Several of the historical segments make note of the 1000 year gap in scientific development, the Dark Ages, and let us know that this was a bad time of superstition and ignorance, but it never mentions how the Catholic Church deliberately created the Dark Ages, by ruthlessly repressing all learning, and burning you at the stake if you dared to think for yourself. Copernicus and Galilao's discoveries are cited several times, but no mention is made of their being forced to recant by the Vatican, or of any of Catholicism's other crimes against learning and science.
Similarly, "Eyes In Outer Space" suggests that satilites would just be used for weather control. Any more sinister uses, like spying or weaponry, are never even hinted at.
I am amused by the reviewers who think it's a shame that Walt's ideas for EPCOT were never realized, and who wish they could live in Walt's supercity. Actually live in a city owned and RULED by Disney? No thanks.
But this set of programs are fascinating artifacts from my youth. I enjoyed them tremendously.

Some of the Greatest Animation Ever Created, etc.
To say the least, this collection features some of the greatest animation ever produced for television, if not ever. Mind blowing, wildly inventive, and overwhelming. Ward Kimball, I would argue (with this set as evidence), was Disney's greatest animator, and, when you consider the starchy conservative reputation Disney had during the mid-50s, it's astonishing to consider how willing and trusting he was to both hand over creative control to Kimball, and to present this profoundly innovative and often extremely abstract animation to the common public. It goes a long way toward the potential for discussing Disney as being far more complex than the overly reductive dismissal of him as reactionary moralist in the cultural realm. In addition, this set encapsulates the bright-eyed utopianism of the era better than any other pop culture artifact, the mood and representation of which clearly informed Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (it also sheds light on the somewhat disturbing Germanic influence on the technology of the space age).

Immeasurably entertaining
Well, I came along too late to have seen these programs on t.v. in the fifties. But I can't imagine I would have enjoyed them anymore than I did today! I don't think it's an exaggeration to say the "Tomorrowland" programs may be the BEST documentaries I have ever seen. Who else but Walt Disney (teaming up with space exploration pioneers like Willie Ley and Warner Von Braun) could make a series like this that ANYONE can enjoy, even 50 years after their release?

Yes, some of the speculative material therein has been proven wrong over the years. That's part of their charm...the people who made these things seem certain that their ideas would become reality. And speaking of charm, anyone with even a passing interest in the history of animation simply MUST have this set. I don't think any other Disney production looks quite like this. The episode on Mars in particular contains some of the most bizarre images, animated or otherwise, to ever appear on screen.

I would highly recommend this to anyone (1)like I said, with an interest in animation; (2)interested in the history of astronomy; (3)who likes 50's science-fiction or science-fact. And of course, anyone who likes classic Disney should have bought this one already.

If I had the money I'd buy it FOR you. But I don't...so do yourself a favor and get this one before it's gone. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Mankind's greatest adventure is remembered for the digital age. The DVD format changed the way we look at movies and especially TV series, with massive complete-season sets. That concept is spectacularly taken one step further with Spacecraft Films' definitive collections of the Gemini and Apollo space missions, stuffing in nearly every scrap of TV transmissions and on-board footage. The three- to six-disc sets use the full functions of the DVD format; see a liftoff in six different angles (some remixed with 5.1 sound) or listen to a mixture of air-to-ground communications, official NASA narration, or post-flight debriefings, most often carefully synched to the exact moment of footage seen. Like any good research paper, every bit of footage may not be interesting, but taken as a chronicle of history, it's irreplaceable.

The fourth landing on the moon was a big step up for the Apollo missions--color TV cameras, more flexible suits, and a rover to take astronauts David Scott and Irwin several miles around the Hadley Rille hills--the most dramatic terrain of any of the moon shots. With all the new technology came a lot more film (21 hours), much of which is the very watchable, yet grainy feeds that were seen on millions of TVs in July 1971. You also get the audio-only portions when the rover moves between the station stops--long moments of static, thankfully accompanied by many of the still shots by the astronauts. The clarity of the 16mm segments is always a welcome sight, although surprisingly little was shot on the moon. Two split-scene sequences of the lunar module leaving the moon are excellent. Those who are moon-shot newbies may scream for an editor, or at least a short documentary (or Walter Cronkite) explaining the terms, mission goals, who's who, or what the "Genesis rock" is (it's an ancient moon rock, far different from the others). Except for a quick CGI segment of the landing site and a DVD booklet, there is no outside explanation. --Doug Thomas ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great DVD of the Greatest Apollo mission
This is a fantastic and historically wonderful DVD of the famous Apollo 15 moon mission. It is literally ALL here -- everything the hardcore Apollo enthusiast would want. It is a labor of love and well worth owning.

I just wanted to add for the previous reviewer from Mexico: Scott and Irwin did deploy the American flag at the end of EVA 2 (the one that went to the flank of Hadley Delta and on which the famous Genesis Rock was found). On their return to the LM, they deployed the flag. However, Irwins camera had malfunctioned and Scott's camera was black and white only. So Scott decided that rather than have B/W photos of the red, white and blue, they would wait until the next day and have their color camera loaded.

So the famous color photos you have of Scott and then Irwin standing at the deployed flag were actually taken by the astronauts on the next day, at the beginning of EVA3. That is why the positioning of the Rover camera looks different -- because the flag deploy was on day two and the color photos of the astronauts with the flag was on day three.

Enjoy these marvelous DVDs of one of the Great Explorations of all time - Apollo 15

What we knew but never really saw
Wow! The landing at Hadley was really the most spectacularly beautiful site in all the Apollo missions. This set shows all available footage (both video and 16mm) of the Apollo 15 landing and in full colour as well!

OK people who are interested enough in Apollo to sit through the complete downlink series may be few and far between, however, in all cases I have found myself compelled to watch. These missions really were the greatest moment in human history.

Spacecraftfilms have made these sets with so much passionate love about what's in them, that you'll be hard pressed to fault them. EVERYTHING is there. No curtailed mix of several Apollo mission footage generally trying to represent one landing, no cheesy music, no voice overs telling us what we can plainly see on the screen.

The chapter sections are chronoligically arranged, and subchapters allow you to review film magazine pictures, assembled moon landscape panoramas, and the seperate 16mm films. Not only the moon EVAs are there. You get the pre-flight tests, suit-ups, multi angle launch views of the Saturn V rocket, mid flight downlinks, news conferences, splashdown recovery and even CM lunar survey film footage.

Prepare a weekend of couch potatoe asorbtion with this (and the other Apollo Downlink sets). You will not be disspointed. Furthermore, the educational value of these sets cannot be overstated. WELL worth the moeny hands down.

Exploration at its greatest!
Definitely, this set of 6 DVDs is for true Apollo hardcore fans. Almost every TV transmission is included, as well as all the photographic magazines used by the astronauts on the surface of the moon. Apollo 15 was the only lunar mission on which a site observation was made (by CDR Scott) on the surface of the moon by opening the docking hatch and standing on the ascent engine cover, so the pictures and audio are included too. The pre-flight videos are quite interesting, since they show some of the procedures performed to fine-tune the LM before the flight. One of them shows the reception of the LMÂ's descent stage at the Cape, with technicians unboxing and unzipping the module. The LRV (Rover) attaching procedure to the LM is also fully covered.
One of the things that amazed me is that on EVA2, on the "Back to LM" portion, both astronauts deploy the US flag while the Rover camera is watching at them. I have had for
years two pictures of LMP Jim Irwin standing at one side of the Rover while saluting to both Scott and the flag. In this pictures is obvious that the Rover remote-controlled camera from Houston is watching at the photographer, not at the subject as it happens on EVA2. After reviewing once and again the video and pictures AS15-92-12444 to AS15-92-12447 on magazine OO/92, I said to myself that, finally, I had found an obvious error and that every single Apollo flight was a hoax. But then, reviewing EVA3 and magazine TT/88 on chapter "Farewell to Hadley" I discovered that, indeed, CDR Scott takes the picture of LMP Irwin while the Rover camera is pointing at him. Picture is AS15-88-11865.
A weird thing I discovered and that should be explained is that on "Farewell to Hadley" the video shows both Scott and Irwin working on the Rover at one side of the LM; at 40:25 mins the Rover camera fails, and without audio interruption it works again some 200 m away from the LM at 41:20 mins on its final spot. So that means Scott drove the Rover off some 200 m, parked it and re-arranged the camera in just 55 seconds!!!
Another strange thing is that the sixth DVD shows the last transmission from the Rover, on 4th August 1971, more than 24 hours after they took off from the surface, but nothing is shown between the LM take off and this last show. Perhaps a little green man with horn-shaped nose and gloves started to dismantle the LM...
Anyway, this set of videos is worth every dollar I paid for and truly an outstanding document of one of the mankind's greatest adventures.

Fantastic! Give Us More!
Truly fabulous. This is history at it's best and it's all here for the veiwing. Nothing like these sets (however they ARE for the "hardcore" fans). Along with these downlink DVDs the book "Exploring the Moon" by David Harland is as detailed (and more so because not everything was filmed)and is a great companion to these DVDs

This is incredible!
I remember following the space program as a kid. I knew all the astronauts names, etc. I even locked myself in my closet in a kind of simulated spacecraft I'd whipped up with Christmas lights and what-not. I think Mom let me stay in there for about 3 hours, then I had to go to dinner.
This DVD has got to be a dream come true. Apollo 15, if I remember correctly, was one of the best photographed of all the moon missions, at least up to that time. And I also believe it was all color. This DVD, very simply put, has EVERYTHING. All the footage of everything that was filmed. And there was a LOT. 6 discs. Indulge yourself. I know I will ... ... Read more

Description

In July 1969, the space race ended when Apollo 11 fulfilled President Kennedy's challenge of "landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth." No one who witnessed the lunar landing will ever forget it. Breathtaking both in the scope of its vision and the exhilaration of the human emotions it captures, For All Mankind is the story of the 24 men who traveled to the Moon-told in their words, in their voices, using the images of their experiences. Criterion is proud to present Al Reinert's award-winning documentary in a new special edition. ... Read more

Reviews (46)

The Real Deal
Science fiction movies and computer digital effects are great, but they don't compare to seeing actual footage shot in space, such as the case for this documentary. The scenes are spell-binding as ships manuever in the cold blackness of space, eventually landing on the surface of the Moon. The feature follows the sequence of an Apollo mission from the astronauts' dressing rooms, through the launch of the mighty Saturn V rocket and traveling through space, climaxing with views on the Moon's surface. Scenes are inter-mixed with footage from different Apollo missions, but it's not that displeasing and shows particular highlights such as Man's first step on the Moon, to later missions when astronauts had a lunar vehicle for traveling on the barren landscape. Brian Eno's music is perfect for this feature; if you could hear music out there - this would be it. Listening to the astronauts as they narrate this feature is nice and makes you feel even closer to them as you watch them progress through their missions. What's great is that it is all real footage, there are no actors and no FX, you get to see how it really happened.

We choose to go to the moon
"We choose to go to the moon, not because it is easy, but because it is hard." Kennedy's famous speech opens up this movie and sets the mood for what is to follow: wonder. As noted in other reviews, "For All Mankind" is not a detailed, factual account of the Apollo program. Rather, it is an impressionist painting captured on film. Brief glimpses of footage and voiceovers flow together to create an atmosphere of wonder and awe. The feeling that the astronauts had when they took their historic flight.

This film gives a tourist's eye view of a trip to the moon. One astronaut comments that, when riding up the elevator to the launch pad, he realized just how complicated the ship was and how little he knew about what made it go up. These men were not scientists, they were adventurers. They had fun in space, and had a difficult time paying attention to their duties while in weightlessness. There was a connection made as you hear their jokes, and listen to their insights. It was really nice to see the humanity behind the names. Through their home movies, I feel like I went along.

Additional note: The DVD itself is excellent, with relevant, interesting features. Hats off again to the Criterion Collection.

Criterion mutilation of a classic space journey experience!
...read the reviews with interest - but frankly I was gutted to discover that Criterion have 'mutilated' this superb doc by messing with the original score/arrangements.

'Deep blue Day' by Brian Eno and intermittant musical inserts lasting only a view seconds (which previously transported the viewer away from the immediate scene with the Astronauts) have all been removed - the magic has been squeezed out of this classic piece of video/doc architecture by a company who have done the equivalent of a painting a moustache on a classic oil with a black felt tip pin!

Please cure my depression with some info on how I can get my hands on the original classic version on DVD or VHS? (unmutilated)!

Bill Andrews

A great film about the Apollo missions!
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

This film is a documentary and is well compiled. Consisting almost entirely of stock footage of the missions, it has audio interviews with the astronauts and mission control technicians.

The film has a superb score by Brian Eno. One particular piece of music in the film, also heard on the main menu of the DVD has been resued for two other films: Traffic (2000) and 28 Days Later(2002).

Much of the footage taken in space is high resolution and very well preserved as it was stored at the NASA film archives in liquid nitrogen.

The special features on the DVD are audio commentary by the Director Al Reinart and Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan. There is subtitle identification of the astronauts and NASA employees when they appear on screen. There are Audio and Video highlights from several NASA missions. My favorite is the soundbyte of the apollo 8 astronauts when they gave a radio address by reading parts of the Bible on Christmas day.

There are also paintings by Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean and interviews with him describing some of his paintings.

For anybody interested in the space program, this DVD is a musy buy!