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The greatest basketball player of all time gets an appropriate clip reel in this 45-minute documentary, which was originally released in the IMAX format. While you can't simulate IMAX's 80-foot-high screen in your living room, you can still get the thrills and awe-inspiring footage of this tribute to one man's talent and endurance. Much of the original footage was shot during the 1997 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz. With great behind-the-scenes footage and terrific game material, the film gets close to Jordan in practice and on the court. And the film includes a number of greatest hits, including his commercials and most memorable dunks. Still, while there are intriguing interviews with everyone from former Bulls coach Phil Jackson to professional Jordan hanger-on Bob Greene, this film seems a little self-serving at times (Jordan's company coproduced it). Also, some key voices from that team are conspicuously absent, including Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Ron Harper. In the end, however, it's all about the highlights--and Jordan's career (and his NBA finale) was one long one. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Description

Shot on location, Fires of Kuwait takes viewers to the very center of the terrible Gulf War legacy. Firefighters from 10 countries answered Kuwait's cry for help. Supported by more than 10,000 people from 40 nations, they battled and won. A 1992 Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature, Fires of Kuwait is a dramatic story of human ingenuity, cooperation and courage. 39 minutes. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Documentary Treasure
This film is a masterpiece. "The fires of Kuwait" takes you on a visual trip which is as beautiful as it is emotional. IMAX have made a great decision by releasing this one on video. But I guess this year is the 10th anniversary of the gulf war, and the time is appropriate for the release. The film is decicated to the bravery of the fire fighters who helped put off the fires. I think the film is awesome, and to me it stands as witness to the calamities of unconventional warfare. Seldom, if not never, do war crimes make such beautiful documentaries. That is probably why most war crimes are forgotten. Because I lived it, I remember that the war in the gulf led to many shattered lives... including but not limited to brave allied soldiers & over 600 innocent Kuwaiti civilians who were randomly rounded up during occupation- still prisoners in Iraq today. This award nominated film is fun as well as educational... I would highly recommend it to Documentary/History buffs, film students, History students, Environmentalists & people whose lives were touched by the gulf war in one way or another: This is the one piece of memorabilia which you should treasure & it is probably the most telling, compelling and by far the best presented.

Disappointed.
I bought this video by mistake. I honestly thought I was buying a "documentary" illustrating the fires in Kuwait in high speed photography (slow motion) that I had seen years ago. What I got was a 39 minute version of John Wayne's 1968 "Hellfighters"-'Behind the scenes'. There is so much detail overlooked, and so much unnecessary commentary, that the photography, and subject, took a back seat. It was designed to be more of a PR vehicle for supporting the Kuwaiti regime, if it had any specific message at all.

The movie I _was_ looking for is "Lessons in Darkness" and blows this Discovery Channel excuse for a documentary away in all categories. I eventually got the right film (ASIN: B000059PPP Director: Werner Herzog).

Do not, repeat NOT, miss Lessons of Darkeness if this film intrigues you. I don't respect Rip Torn any less for his work on this film than I did after seeing Beastmaster, but a buck is a buck.

Content aside, the audio was extremely well mixed for 5.1, especially when 2-way radio traffic was faintly put on the rear effects channels. Video transfer from the IMAX format to DVD was absolutely horrible. Final credits are do bad that many are unintelligible. This was not put together to be visually entertaining, as in LiD.

yikes.

Most visually stunning documentary I have ever seen
I saw this in the IMAX theater and was blown away. I don't know what the reviewer called 'ptrainor' is talking about. He/she seems confused. Being there in the midst of these huge plumes of flame and nighttime darkness at midday is surreal. I've never seen anything like it, even in today's special effects-laden fictional movies. And the ingenuity and raw determination of these firefighting teams is amazing. I agree with the reviewer who said the scene looks like "hell on earth". If you wonder what the end of the world will look like, it probably resembles this. The cool thing is that this 'hell on earth' was conquered by human creativity, bravery and determination. Get this movie and watch it on a big screen with a good sound system. It's been 12 years since I saw it, and I've never forgotten its vivid images.

Fascinating
Even on the small screen this a fascinating documentary. Seeing what Saddam Hussain did to the deserts of Kuwait made me glad to know that he will soon, at long last, be brought to justice for his crimes against man and nature.

Great cinematography
This video is WONDERFUL in the cinematography that it has. Unfortunately, the writers and directors failed to properly tell the story. Thankfully, they didn't have a bias but were looking at just telling the story, but the need to tell us a little more. There was no map of where in Kuwait the fires were. The audio between the ambient sounds and the narrative voice-overs occasionally blended too well.
If you are looking for a DVD with a lot of oil well fires, great cinematography, and a little historical background - this one is for you.
If you are seeking a little more in the Gulf War and it's ramafications, you might want to consider a different source.
Pretty good - needed a little more work with the story. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As a primer on up-to-date scientific theory about the nature of the universe and our place in it, Cosmic Voyage is visually sumptuous and just plain fun. Shot in the mind-blowing IMAX process, this combined live-action and computer-generated production has (even in video format) an immensity of scope befitting its grand subject. Beginning, lyrically if unexpectedly, in Italy's magnificent Venice, Cosmic Voyage draws inspiration from airborne perspectives on the city's famed network of canals and streets, leading to further appreciations of dense systems in nature. From the subnuclear to the physical limits of the known universe, Cosmic Voyage explores a resonance between all things while making sense of such inscrutable phenomena as the birth of stars and planets, black holes, supernovas, etc. The marvels of cosmology are rarely so accessible as this. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Extremely short, disappointing, and intellectually insulting
While I realize that this DVD is IMAX and therefore intended for broad audiences who may or may not be familiar with scientific terminology, I do feel this offering has been too dumbed down to be enjoyable for adults. I would recommend it for an elementary or junior high school class-- maybe even an introduction to astronomy class, but for someone who wants to see space, this is not the DVD to buy. "Cosmic Voyage" is a misleading title, as there is very little space to be seen and far too much on-the-ground footage. Equally appalling is the 36 minute duration of the video. This is far too short a time in which to adequately cover all the concepts the back of the DVD box promises. All in all, I was bored and frustrated at the amount of money paid for something so short and unimpressive.

Great Educational Video
I've bought several Imax DVDs over the last year, and I've found all of them impressive. This one is no different in the impression department, but I felt that the overall tone of the video was directed much more towards education than the previous videos. The text or the narration (performed wonderfully by Morgan Freeman) sounds like it was written for one of those old videos we were forced to watch in science class as kids. While I always found those videos to be so poorly produced they became boring - this film has such amazing video that you become engrossed in the movie, even with the educational tone. I would have given it 4 stars because of the educational feel, but after thinking about it for a few minutes, I decided that it still deserved 5. If you have children, I doubt you could find a better movie to inspire them with science. If I were a science teacher today, I'd start the term with this video to motivate students who might otherwise shy away from sceince.

Sure, outstanding picture quality in a bloody boring 'movie'
This is IMAX: Big screen Imax geeks have their 5.0 Dolby DTS , 6.7, 9.8, Super Duper Bit, Super Duper Duper Bit, Monster wolf, Hi Fi, super Hi fi, 9.99999999999999999 Mega Hurtz .....
Oh, the movie. What movie, man? Check out my woofers!
Let's go rent Earthquake and Airport 77!

At the Speed of Light...
This movie is a brief one, which hurls you from the earth into the universe at the speed of light, then in a millisecond, you are yanked back to the smallest particles on earth. This movie is too short, and certainly not spectacular enough to make you feel as if it was worth your money. It doesn't cover enough information about the universe, nor anything else. It barely spends any time with animations of the universe, and shows too many scenes of regular earth dwelling places and things, such as the scene in Venice, a supposed lead up to nothing, which takes up half of the movie. And the animations aren't that great, I've seen better on the Discovery channel. This movie gets you thirsty for science, and leaves you uneducated, and longing for more. If there is another movie out there, I suggest buying it over this one.

YAWNNNnnnnnn
I thought this DVD was a real BORE! In fact I have watched it twice and dozed off both times. This is a DVD for a classroom (science) at a high school, or junior high level. I was hoping to see some great space footage but instead got second rate animations and graphics. (Although I agree with one of the other reviewers M. Freeman is good narrator)
In the special features area of the DVD, hearing the producers, writers, artists EXTOL what a cutting edge, masterpeice, thrill, etc etc this is ....PLEASE give me a break. SAVE your money...do yourself a favor and purchase IMAX 'Blue Planet' or 'Dream is Alive'! ... Read more

Description

Dinosaurs are very much alive - at least in the mind of teenager Ally Hayden.When a museum accident transports Ally on an adverture back in time to explore the terrain and territory of life-size dinosaurs, she is thrust literally nose-to-nose with the largest and most realistic dinosaur ever to appear on a movie screen - the fearsome 20-foot tall, 15-ton Tyrannosaurus Rex. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Short, but entertaining
From the bulk of reviews on this site I gather most people don't realize that IMAX is about presentation and style rather than story and content. Shot on vertical 70mm film the reels in the projection booth take up a huge amount of space, thus the running time of IMAX movies tends to be kept to around 45-50 minutes. Thus the format lends itself more towards the documentary/short movie genre. Most of the movies are factual but sometimes original stories come along. T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous is one of them.

It came out in 1998 and when I was at the Trocadero IMAX-3D cinema in London I had to choose between this movie and another called Across the Sea of Time. I chose the latter. Which is a shame coz the dinosaurs and huge shots of this movie would have looked better in 3D.

T-Rex begins with an impressive opening shot of the camera swooping over the Arizona desert, which still looks great even on a widescreen TV instead of the huge IMAX screen. There's a hefty narration from the lead actress conveying relevant information about dinosaurs. In this respect the film feels a bit like a 10-year-old's educational program. But being familiar with IMAX movies I was expecting this. I think too many people were expecting a Jurassic Park variant.

Tho I would have expected a few more dinosaurs. In the 45 minute running time there wasn't much dinosaur action. Though there was a good amount of story that I did get into. Plus the movie has a great score by William Ross. He released a promo CD of this score but it's impossible to find.

Hey, I was entertained and I thot the brief story was quite okay. The horribly slanderous reviews on this site really baffle me. The IMAX format does not work well on DVD, you have to see these movies in the cinema. But if you have a good sound system then the DVD is still worth it.

The DVD is in 1.33:1 full frame (they are shown theatrically at 1.44:1 so there isn't much modification to the framing) with a Dolby 5.1 soundtrack that is quite impressive. A slight featurette and an IMAX movies trailer are also included.

IMAX 3-D viewed as DVD 2-D
This is one of the few IMAX "educational" films to have a storytelling presentation. It's 3-D was well shot for the IMAX format (70mm film). An IMAX 1.44 format is close enough to a standard 1.33 TV video, that it should translate to DVD well. It also comes with a "making of" short featurette.

The film centers around the daughter of a paleontologist, who's induced imagination brings the museum's displays to life. A few (good) educational encounters with historic figures, and realistic (though brief) prehistoric lifeforms, are interwoven by a father/daughter storyline and a contrived, disoriented, hallucinatory run through the museum.

So, why only 2 stars? An attempt to add storytelling to education, without being firmly committed to either (or both), leaves everyone expecting more than this film provides. Little boys will find very little dinosaur sightings here, along with too little action to hold their attention. Little girls might identify with the lead character, but it's not likely to have enough storyline to be their favorite DVD. Adults will find the children's "edu-drama" well under their heads (something you'd like to show your child, but too dull to watch by yourself). This is not at all a bad film, but there's just too little of the good stuff.

Film fans will be disappointed that the well done 3-D isn't presented here...even though the film is only 45 mins long, and the DVD could easily have included a field sequential 3-D "bonus" version, which would've sold the DVD the same way 3-D sold this IMAX film in theaters. This film was written to be shot in 3-D, and technically executed flawlessly for IMAX 3-D presentation. I'd buy a 3-D version of this DVD in a heart-beat!

IMAX is HUGE, so the impressive size is lost on a TV...and 70mm film versus DVD quality is like illustrating an atomic blast with a BB gun.

The only thing that could be of value is if there was a thorough "making of" focusing of the rules of 3-D filmmaking (and IMAX) versus standard filmmaking, which would pull in the 3-D lovers and film students.

Terrible, about 10 seconds of actual dinosaurs in it...
I saw this at an Imax theatre, I was thinking what awesome potential seeing dinosaurs in 3D would provide. Boy was I wrong, there was around 10 seconds of CG dinosaurs in this, and they were badly animated. The rest is the most banal story imagineable about a girl and her quest to find an egg or something (I forget, it was _that_ dull).

Check out Walking with Dinosaurs instead.

Saw this in the Smithsonian
I saw this in the Smithsonian with my kids, and even with the novelty of seeing a movie in 3D it was *boring*. It was a complete waste of time and money.

If you are looking for eye candy, there are very few scenes that actually have "live" dinosaurs. If you are looking for science, and you're over 5, I doubt you'll learn anything new.

Great for children who aren't fanatics about dinos
Clean and decent entertainment. Saw it on the IMAX screen with a 10 year old boy who loves the dino's. He wasn't thrilled but I (33 yrs old and sick of shoot 'em ups) thought it was clean decent and even slightly educational. My dvd collection is 200 movies strong and I will add this for entertainment value for adults and children alike. (Although I know it won't be as grand as on the IMAX screen.)

Worth the under $$$ price tag. An even better value at the used prices. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Want a a DVD about Yellowstone? This isn't it
This DVD is terrible. There is barely any coverage of the Park. It's mostly a reinactment of Indians settlers around a camp fire or explorers hiking and discovering Yellowstone. The DVD is horribly short too.

DON'T BUY THIS
I buy lots of DVD titles, and this title is the MOST disappointing one. I wasted my money totally. It's seems like everyone agrees with me, so go figure.

Waste of time and money
I am a fan of IMAX movies in general, own several and have seen dozens. This one is the worst. I want to see IMAX movies to see stunning images of places that I likely will not ever get to visit in person. For example: in IMAX theatres I have been able to visit, via film, the Russian space station, participate in a climb of Mount Everest, explore underwater caves, etc. THAT'S why I want to see IMAX movies.

The IMAX producers however, have put out several movies which are very short on those stunning images and long on filler material which consists mainly of new age propaganda and historical re-enactments. To some degree one has to put up with this stuff in most IMAX movies, but it can usually be overlooked if you're not interested. However, in Yellowstone, the producers made a short movie of only about 30 minutes and then packed in about 25 minutes of this garbage. The viewer only gets to see the stunning sights of Yellowstone for a few minutes. Those sights are indeed excellent, but its far too little, far too late. This DVD is a total waste of time and money and should be avoided. IMAX Producers: you should be ashamed of yourselves!

One word, "Weak"
I own and love many other IMAX DVDs, but this one was a huge disappointment. I never thought a director would need "reenactments" in a film about Yellowstone. I expected plenty of shots of geysers, animals, and scenery, they were very few. I was surprised when I watched it and found very little good to say about it, but one star is all I can give it.

A Disappointment
The disappointment was due to my expectations. I was hoping to see lots of wildlife footage, but had to settle for an apparently computer-generated bear in one of the historical reenactments. I also expected more beuatiful scenery of the park --surprisingly absent for an IMAX film. I've seen more interesting documentaries about Yellowstone on television. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Superlative Space Shuttle DVD, With Stunning Launch Footage!
"The Dream Is Alive" is a beautifully-done, albeit fairly short (36 minutes), IMAX film.

Narrated expertly (as usual) by veteran newscaster Walter Cronkite, this program takes the viewer into space via NASA's remarkable Space Shuttle Orbiters. We see the astronauts working, eating, and sleeping in the vacuum of space, as they orbit hundreds of miles above our Earth at a speed of 17,500 MPH.

We also see three breathtaking Shuttle launches (including one beautiful nighttime lift-off) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, all of which are photographed from different viewpoints and with crystal-clear clarity. These launches look magnificent on this DVD release!

This program was originally filmed in 1984. In addition to the copyright date on the packaging (which is actually 1985), we can tell the timeframe of this footage by the missions being photographed for the program -- including STS-41-C (launched on April 6, 1984), which was a mission of historical significance, marking the first time a satellite had ever been repaired in space.

Another Shuttle mission we get a first-hand, in-space glimpse of is STS-41-D, which took to the skies on August 30, 1984.

Sadly, two of the astronauts we see performing their duties in this IMAX presentation (Francis Scobee and Judy Resnik) were lost in the Challenger disaster less than two years after the filming of this program.

The DVD gives us a good 5.1 Dolby Surround soundtrack; while the video is presented in Full Frame (1.33:1), which is the original aspect ratio of the film.

In addition to the splendid-looking (and sounding) launches, we also see some rather unique camera angles while the Shuttle is landing (one sequence filmed from -- I think -- one of the "chase" planes that always fly alongside the spacecraft as it's landing). Great footage here!

There's also time given to provide some gorgeous pictures of our blue and green planet as photographed by the Shuttle astronauts on their various missions. The "Pause" function on the ol' DVD Player comes in handy when viewing these pretty Earthly images. You can "pause" them with perfect clarity too. Not a sign of blurriness to be found. Ah, the beauty of DVD. :)

The "pause" button is also great for freeze-framing the spectacular launch footage shown here as well. Just like a picture postcard it is. :)

Even with its brief running time, there's still plenty here for space fanatics to sink their teeth into.

This is one space-related DVD to watch over and over again. A class act all the way.

Great Sound, Views - Warning: Features Challenger Victims
As I was growing up, we would occasionally view my parents black & white (no sound) wedding video. While my mother would point out certain events, my father would always remind us of who was no longer alive - sort of a dark humor thing.

I found myself doing the same thing with this movie, which was made before the Challenger Disaster. There is extensive footage of the Challenger spacecraft, as well as astronauts Francis R. (Dick) Scobee and Judith A. Resnik - all of whom perished in the fatefull Challenger Disaster in 1986.

Assuming your not bothered by images of now deceased astronauts, this is a terrific IMAX transfer. I first viewed this film at the Air & Space museum in Washington, DC. The shuttle launches and opening sonic booms, alone, make this worth the price. Excellent background music and stunning views of Earth from orbit make this very enjoyable.

The only technical drawback is a lack of an index, but this is not a long movie to fast-forward through.

Overall, highly recommended.

Only 36 min
The movie is really good, but only 36 minutes long (short).

AWESOME JUST AWESOME
one of the finest dvd i have ever owned it blows star wars away in terms of footage nothing is as beautifull like the shots of earth from space and the launch shook my room so did the sonic boom awesome sound.

buy it for the finest dvd experince ever and go a place far far away.

If you buy one film on space, this is the one...
I saw The Dream is Alive when it first appeared in 1985, and was absolutely blown away by both the photography and the music; IMAX was in its infancy then, but the crispness, the color, the imagery, and the thoughtful editing combined to make this a truly unforgettable documentary. It may well be the benchmark for all IMAX productions. The theme is simple: Space is meant to be explored, and we can do it. Thankfully, the producers concentrated on the visuals rather than clouding the images with technotalk. I spent years trying to find both the DVD and the VHS version, and finally -- 15 years later -- found it at the Reuben H. Fleet Space Center in San Diego, where I first saw it. Micky Erbe and Maribeth Solomon produced a most powerful and moving set of musical selections -- TDIA's signature theme has remained with me through the years. Their mix of syhthesized, symphonic and vocal performances are absolutely stunning, and adds a dimension of synergy to the visuals that I feel has been unmatched in any IMAX production since. Every time I watch the film, I am moved by its sheer power and unparalleled splendor. This film reinforces the belief that, in spite of the 1986 and the most recent shuttle tragedies, the dream truly is alive. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Good Straight Forward Presentation
There are not many frills; the DVD trailer's are a bunch of quick hit's with no titles. The big plus is the space photo's of earth. I never realize we were covered with so much water; thus the title Blue Planet. The emphasis is on education and the enviorment. This is a safe bet for the Imax enthusiat. It has the picture's that are hard to find on another DVD. Were I found the film lacking was in the music and the naration. I felt they could have had more fun with it. After all this is space and the pictures are spactacular yet the music is basic and the naration is monotone. A small complaint. A good addition for your Imax collection but not in the league with The Living Sea. I resevre the 5 star rating for the one's that have the complete package. A solid 4.

Outstanding!
I saw 'Blue Planet' several years ago at the IMAX, and it has remained my favorite. The surround sound is astounding, and the DVD transfer is excellent; if you have an HD-ready projection TV with progressive-scan DVD player, you'll be amazed at the resolution. Unlike some other films that display compression artifacts on larger screens (unfortunately, "The Living Sea" is one of them), this film looks just as crisp and beautiful as the original IMAX presentation. It's only 42 minutes in length, but you won't be sorry you picked this one up.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Certain reviewers say you can't go wrong with this picture and then proceed to talk about it only in techinological terms. Of course I suppose that's because that's the whole of their attention span.
Like most IMAX drive 'movies'; a bloody bore

Preserve Our Planet!
After seeing this for the first time at Parmount's Great America in Santa Clara, CA made me wanna do whatever I can to preserve the Earth. This video is truely amazing and gives a wonderful and deep view of our Mother Earth. Very beautiful scenery and awesome narration.

An Awesome Experience
"Blue Planet" is a very beautiful and powerful film. The perspective it provides of our precious planet Earth from outer space is invaluable. Although the small screen version is not as visually overwhelming as the IMAX format it nonetheless conveys the awesome message of wonder yet danger to the amazing gift of life on Earth. (The narration and music are excellent.) I urge everyone to see this film and urge IMAX to release it in 35mm so it can reach the vast audience that needs to see this critically important film. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

THIS WILL MAKE YOU A NASCAR FAN!
This is a must see experience for everyone who has even the slightest interest in stock car racing. The 3-D effects are awesome and brings you up close to what goes on behind what you see on the track. You felt as though you could just reach out and touch the cars, drivers and pit crew! It was also informative, giving the history of the history of how NASCAR got it's start.

It's an experience you won't want to miss!

'Experience' the Power of NASCAR in 3D
The people at IMAX have taken the realm of 3D filmmaking to an entirely new level with this insiders view of the world of NASCAR stock car racing. The movie, filmed entirely in 3D, features a cinematic experience that puts the audience in the driver's seat of one the truly great spectator sports.

The movie, narrated by Kiefer Sutherland, is a comprehensive, behind-the-scenes look at the history behind NASCAR, as well as an in-depth look at the engineers, designers, spotters, drivers and fans that make NASCAR the second most popular spectator sport today. Featuring interviews with many of today's most popular drivers and rising stars, this film also showcases many of NASCAR's most famous families, including the history of the multi-generation Pettys and Earnhardts, whose names are as synonymous to stock-car racing as Tiger Woods is to golf.

The film also takes an in-depth look at the intense engineering that goes into developing today's stock-car. With an insider's look at Rousch Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and DEI, audiences will be given an in-depth look at the immense team of people and parts that make these cars the most powerful and complicated machines on the racing circuit.

Ultimately, though, the fans will be given a special treat as they are transported from spectator to driver in the final portion of the film. By brilliantly using the IMAX 3D technology, audiences will weave between cars, drive bumper-to-bumper, and race around some of NASCAR's most famous tracks at 180+ miles an hour as they ride along with their favorite drivers.

With a soundtrack that boasts 20,000 watts of power, the film promises an experience thats as close as it gets to being behind the wheel of these immensely powerful and popular race cars. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the sport, this is a great introduction to NASCAR, and for those that have longed to get behind the wheel, here finally is your chance to have the ultimate experience: The NASCAR Experience!

-Scott Kolecki

ASTOUNDING IMAX 3-D IMAGES...A MUST SEE!
This contains some of the best IMAX 3-D yet. If you've not yet seen a good 3-D film, start with this one. It will show you what the future of cinema can look like. There are a couple of very brief troublesome shots, but the vast majority of this film is jaw droppingly good. SEE IT NOW! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Huntsville U.S. Space & Rocket Center
Wow! I saw this video for the first time in the IMAX at the Huntsville U.S Space & Rocket center. This video gives you a whole new perspective to space flight. I felt as though I was going to literally float out of my chair. And, there is an added bonus of having an excellent narratation from Leonard Nimoy. A must buy!

Only 37 Minutes Long
This movie is alright. That's it. Just okay. Mediocre. Because of all of the glowing reviews I thought it would be better, so I guess because of my expectations I was let down. I've been looking for a really good movie that shows footage of space and the planets that I could play through my projector at 12 foot wide. But alas, all I continue to get are 20 minutes of astronauts working out or floating around in zero gravity and 10 minutes of footage in space. If anyone has any suggestions for some jaw dropping planetary footage on DVD, please, by all means, let me know. I don't care if it's actual footage or computer generated (as long as it's up to date graphics).

Three stars is fair for this video, but I wouldn't pay over ten dollars for it. This is way over priced for 37 minutes. It's like charging $20,000 dollars for a couple of bolts for the space shuttle. Ridiculous. I'm glad they've started to privatize space flight, maybe we'll actually see some real progress in the field of space exploration. Since NASA doesn't seem to be making any.

Just Amazing!
I first seen this one at Paramount's Great America in their IMAX theater several years ago. When I seen this in the stores, I couldn't believe it! This wasn't the first IMAX movie I've seen. The first one was Blue Planet, which I highly recommend. Now, I'm shopping for other IMAX films I've seen in the past.

second only to the great "the dream is alive"
I got both this dvd and "the dream is alive" today from Amazon.
I give this one a 4 star only because of the other one which is the best!

Like taking the space shuttle
This amazing dvd has one of the crispiest images I've ever seen. Filmed using IMAX cameras, only the digital media of the dvd can truly live up to it. Through more than 50 minutes, the apacible music and the soothing voice of Leonard Nemoy's take you trhough a journey of the metaphisical. Learn how the Space Shuttle deploys satellites, what it may take for us to go to other planets, or simply relax and hold your breath at the many sights of earth from 400 KM above ground. If you are into space, this one is a must! ... 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

Reviews (2)

Well done
This is a very well done space video. You actually see the rockets taking off and people up in space. Other videos get distracted and go off into computer simulations or random things only sort of related to space, but this one is focused on the real life good stuff.

NASA's Best IMAX Yet
This IMAX video takes you through the first flights and cooperative training that joined the US and Russia on MIR. It chronicles what US astronauts experienced in their training with the Russian cosmonauts in preparation for their experiences aboard MIR. Never before seen footage of Russian space sites and training along with footage of the first woman aboard MIR Shannon Lucid are included. This video gives you the history and work that led up to the eventual construction, launch and deployment of today's International Space Station. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

IMAX factor = 2 stars ... Goosebump factor = 5 stars!
This DVD won't make you stare in wonder at beautiful IMAX space vista's, as the later IMAX/space shuttle films do. Only a minority of the film is in actual IMAX 70 mm. That aside, the later offerings don't get my goosebumps going quite like this DVD! Don't buy this DVD for the IMAX "wow" factor, but instead buy it for the incredible story of America's first shuttle launch and landing. The ending has some very interesting film of the shuttle being transported on the back of a modified 747 as they take off from the runway. Also at the end is a very inspiring segment of shuttle lift-off's. The screen is divided into three vertical slices, while footage of different launches cycle simultaneously. Quite moving. Audio quality of the main launch are not quite up to the standards set by the later IMAX/shuttle offerings, with noticeable distortion in the recording.

GREAT UPLIFTING STORY BUT IT'S NO IMAX MOVIE
This is a great DVD and is certainly worth the money just for the story alone. However, I think calling this an IMAX movie is really stretching the truth. The first IMAX movie I saw and subsequntly purchased, was 'The Dream is Alive'. Although 'Hail Columbia' is no compairison in film and sound quality, the story it tells more than makes up for this and therefore it is a must have for anybody who loves the space shuttle program. Now if only the IMAX theaters would wake up and start showing the space series movies again!

I will buy this DVD
I have always been a fan of the Space Shuttle IMAX films. And after the events of Feb 2003, now is a great time to pick up this collector's DVD to appreciate the power that Columbia brought to the world.

Early IMAX, but Thrilling
I watched this movie about 50 times when I was a counselor at Space Camp years ago and it was always my favorite of the IMAX films. While The Dream Is Alive, Blue Planet, etc. have much more IMAX footage, none of them compare with the adrenaline rush of Hail Columbia. The other space-oriented IMAX films that I have seen are much more documentary, while Hail Columbia is telling the exciting story of the first Space Shuttle launch. That storytelling aspect alone makes the difference for me and keeps me on the edge of my seat each time I watch it.

IMAX Space Film, Version 1.0
Although "Hail Columbia" is a fine movie, it does suffer in comparison to later IMAX productions in that it has a lot less actual IMAX footage than following films, like "The Dream Is Alive".
I think they were just starting the concept when this film was made, as IMAX cameras weren't actually taken into space until later missions. As a result, much of the in-space and pre-flight training footage sourced here comes from 16mm film and T.V. The negative upshot of this is that on some TV screens, the footage will look a bit small and boxy.
But like I said: This film was the prelude before the "main event" IMAX space movies to come later. And it's worth the price alone to see Astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen confidently dismiss the nervous-nellies asking nagging questions about the Shuttle's troublesome heatshield tiles! ... Read more

Description

Named Outstanding Film Documentary by the Genesis Awards (the major award for works about animal issues) and filmed in the lush mountain cloud forests of Rwanda, Africa, Mountain Gorilla provides an amazing encounter with the highly social species that is the largest of all primates. Eat, nap, travel, eat, interact, eat: that's a typical routine for adult gorillas. But for rambunctious three-year-olds, the routine is more like play, play, play, play as they tumble, swing, wrestle and twirl. Overseeing all of the troop's activities is the proud, massive silverback male whose dominance is unchallenged - until a young silverback tries to exert his newfound sense of power. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

When your subject is boring, so is your movie
I've heard primatologists say that their research is really boring for the first couple months, before they get to know the fascinating web of social structure of the primate society that they study. This DVD supports those claims.

The writers try to make it interesting, giving names to the gorillas, but it's hard to keep them straight (now was that Mbugwe grooming Gmubwe, or vice versa?). But I left with the impression that gorillas spend most of their time eating leaves and relaxing. That may be true, but I think that it's the job of the directors to make eating leaves and relaxing look really really interesting. Maybe get some MTV style quick cuts instead of the lazy slow tracking shots through the jungle.

Also, some gorilla fights would be fun.

It seems that the film doesn't seem to take advantage of the Imax format. But maybe I just think that because I am watching it on my 13 inch computer monitor.

not bad others are better though
this is okay and interesting subject matter, but not as good as many other IMAX films-favorite places is one of the best ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Like a runway model...
...this DVD may be beautiful, but it is utterly lacking in substance. With not nearly enough meat to warrant a DVD, Into the Deep runs like a long teaser for a much more in-depth and expansive exploration of underwater life, deep sea exploration, particular species of sea life...just about anything except what you might see in your first scuba lesson, if you were lucky enough to go on that lesson in these particular California depths. Leave this one on the proverbial shelf.

soothing deep
Into the deep is a nice soothing film with a gentle score. The opening sequence of the Califonian kelps is breathtaking. The rest of the film comprises a wide range of colourful species, a damaged shark, fish, squid, crabs, seals and more fish. The film moves at a slow pace and you do feel like skipping a few scenes to more action-oreintated sequemces. But it never happens, and the film just sildes gradually from one species to another. The music and the tender feminine voiceover might make you go to sleep half way through. It's that soothing! Also, some of you might find it uninvolving mid-way through because of the slow -pace, and the music. Overall, a nice film for those who like to chill and observe the beauty of underwater life, with gentle music and a cute voiceover. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

waste of money
The title is misleading - it is not about Galapagos Islands, as I expected but mainly shows boring underwater pictues. I do not recommend buying this DVD. It the same waste of money that I suffered buying IMAX Antarctica.

Stunning, but stunningly disappointing....
If for you the remarkable things about the galapagos include the iguanas, tortoises, and finches, you will be disappointed in this program. After a cursory glance at the earth- and air-borne species, the camera goes underwater and examines fish. The imagery is lovely, but we are NOT seeing those creatures which have made the galapagos famous! A fairer title would have been "OCEAN ENVIRONMENTS AROUND THE GALAPAGOS AREA."

No quibbles with the glory of the presented creatures, but we had been expecting much more about what makes these islands unique!

Startling in 3-dimension. See it if you can.
The Galapagos Islands are located off the coast of Ecuador and is the site that Charles Darwin visited in 1835, viewing some of the marine life from a glass bottom boat. His observations on these islands formed the basis for his eventual theory of evolution. Now, all these years later, a marine biologist from the Smithsonian Institute, Dr. Carole Baldwin, makes the same trip. Darwin would have been amazed at all the technological equipment she has, and even more amazed if he could have viewed it as I did, in startling three dimension.

We saw it on a screen that was 80 feet high, and the three dimensional effect was so intense that I kept trying to reach out and touch the rocks and small birds that always appeared in the foreground. It was distracting at first, so distracting that I was more impressed with the technique than with what was actually going on in the film. But within a few minutes I was right there with the scientists, literally inside the picture as they climbed the rock mountains and descended into the ocean's deep in a submersible boat that seemed to come straight out of science fiction, not real science.

I was fascinated throughout the 40-minute film as the camera went where humans have never been before, filming sea lions, iguanas, giant tortoises, birds and lizards and using a special device to capture live sea creatures from the bottom of the sea. I felt I was climbing the lava rock mountain, descending into caves, and feeling the brush of foliage against my face. And the whole time I kept wondering how it was done, and enjoying the fact that I live at a time in history that a voyage to Galapagos can be enjoyed so much because of modern technology.

I did some research on the web later and discovered that during the filming a cameraman and a pilot died when their lightweight plane crashed on a volcano, and realize the dangers that it took to make this film. Then I went to the official website and found more details about the technical aspects as well as some excellent photographs. Recommended. See it if you can.

Why don't film-makers show love for this format??
I was anxious to get in and see this movie.

For the record: I LOVE 3-D Imax. I literally get excited at the thought of heading in there with the glasses and settling back for an immersive experience. I will see anything shown in this format, and the premium price I pay for the tickets seems perfectly reasonable, given the fantastic environment (and i am NOT rich).

Over the past few years I have seen just about every 3-D Imax movie that has made the rounds into San Francisco's Metreon. And hands down, the best film yet made in 3-D Imax is "Into the Deep". Oh man. It is beautiful. Long, lingering, pondering shots. Just running the camera, letting the viewer's mind and senses adjust to the new realities brought by each change of scene. Alien vistas brought to you in an unhurried way, allowing your mind to run free in the 3-D space in front of your eyes, choosing which creatures to watch and how deeply to focus... Virtually unstructured, accompanied by a soothing female voice-over, the film takes you through a series of vignettes, each focusing on the intimate realities of specific life-forms. It's magic and amazing.

"Galapagos" itself is a heartfelt, environmental documentary... which should have been make in 2-D!! The 3-D aspects of it seem "thrown in" not part of the ride. It's written like a TV documentary. Why?? I can watch those at home. The voice-over script seems to drive the whole film: the film-makers apparently have a point to make about evolution. C'mon! We've only got 45 minutes here. The point of a 3-D Imax movie is the immersion, not the plot. I can get great plots already on VHS (and plenty of Kenneth Branagh too).

3-D Imax is a treat for the senses. A simple dissolve from one scene to another plays deep tricks on you brain's sense of depth perception and space. In the hands of an artist, this can be great (like the foreground/background mass transitions in "T-REX: Back to the Cretaceous", a visually excellent piece). But the makers of "Galapagos" seem to be in over their heads. Trasitions that must have looked fine in the storyboards did not translate at all well.

Basically I am left feeling like I paid ten bucks for something I could have watched on the Discovery Channel for free.

PLEASE FILM-MAKERS!!! If you read this... please make 3-D Imax movies that respect the medium and propel it forward. Quick edits and boilerplate pans and trucks from the 2-D Imax cannon just don't make it worthwhile without some 3-D "sculpting" of your transitions and shot set-ups.

Larger Than Life
This 3-D IMAX film at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History offers the Galapagos islands as thrill ride, but that's OK, it really is a thrill. The rollercoaster tours of the stark, rocky island scenery from the air and from below the waterline are breathtaking but expectable in a big-screen 3-D movie. What makes the film unique are the surface-level extreme closeups of the islands' strange wildlife - a far more intimate view of these creatures than you could get by going there to see them for yourself. The film is plotless but not long, and with the superb camera work and Branagh's smooth narration you are happy to just let it all unfold. ... Read more

Product Description

Michael Jordan explodes on screen in this box office hit, Michael Jordan: To the Max. Get ready to experience some of the greatest moments in modern sports history from one of the most dominant sport legends of all time. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Sensational
This is, in my opinion, the finest video/documentary on Michael Jordan. It is head and shoulders above all of the dunk'o'rama highlight fodder which fills all of the other Jordan videos.

The production values are top notch. The colours are vivid and the sound is crisp. The voiceover commentary is provided by Laurence Fishburne and sets the tone well. Because the movie was filmed using IMAX technology it has a wide view of the on-court action which allows the viewer to take in everything which is happening. The DVD extras are more of an afterthought and do not really bring much to the mix.

As I alluded to before, this film focuses more on Jordan's leadership and his burning desire to win, which is a refreshing change.

Jordan is one of my favourite athletes. It is nice to finally see a production which actually pays him and his abilities the respect he deserves. I highly recommend this film, even more so to those people who never saw him play prior to his comeback with the Wizards, as they will see him when he was at the absolute pinnicle of human skill and ability.

Larger than Life
Michael Jordan, whether soaring through the air in highlight-reels or examining his life and achievements in more staid documentaries, is always worth watching. This film uses a little of each while chronicling his final season as a Bull. Though it is not nearly as exciting as when viewed on a gigantic IMAX screen, the DVD version retains the vivid colors and crisp sounds that set this documentary apart from others that have focused on Jordan's career. With interesting commentary by people such as Phil Jackson and Bob Greene who know Jordan well, there is more insight into the man than in standard NBA Films type-material, and the flashbacks to Michael's struggles during high school, his brief stint in baseball, and the death of his father, really make the story of his triumphant season compelling. I would highly recommend this DVD to any fan of Michael Jordan.

Ultimate Jordan is a lot better
I bought this DVD with great anticipation only to be let down. Sure the visuals are great but I'm more interested in the plays that made the Jordan experience special. The Ultimate Jordan is a much better DVD.

The tale of a man and his basketball.
I've always been a huge fan of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls (especially since I live in Illinois). I went to an IMAX theater to watch this documentary. Once I got there, the IMAX screen was huge and looked nice (something that I would later realize was more of a hassle than a benefit). For starters, the screen was so big that you're constantly looking around you just to see the movie. But enough about my personal experiences and how I dislike the IMAX screen, lets get on with the actual movie/documentary(This is a standard documentary to me, but it seems like some people insist on calling it a movie). I have to be completely honest here: "Michael Jordan to the Max" is somewhat boring. Don't get me wrong, it well documents some of the highlights of M.J.'s career, but even a person that said he was one of Michael's biggest fans was sleeping during it. I suppose this documentary is something nice to have to complete your M.J. highlight DVDs, but some might find this thing to be a little boring.

Decent
I did not see this on the IMAX screen (but I have seen other films, so I can extrapolate somewhat). There is good background on Michael Jordan and some good shots. A lot of it focuses on the Chicago Bulls versus Utah Jazz rounding out MJ's career, but it is done well. Some things are his baseball career and the positive influences of his father are worthy additions. Overall, good for any basketball fan, especially fans of MJ. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Must have been great in IMAX, a little short for DVD
This is a fine documentary about the animal life of the sub-Antarctic Island of South Georgia.

You see elephant seals, fur seals, at least two species of penguin and Wandering Albatross. The vast numbers of each of the species featured is impressive by themselves. Of course, you get interesting info on all these species. The male elephant seals fighting for the right to a harem until they are a bloody mess while disinterested penguins look on is particularly memorable.

Unfortunately, this is only 35 minutes long. As good as this documentary is, it could have been much better with additional analyses and commentary. The cost of a DVD will be too high for many to justify this short piece. However, this is a solid nature documentary and well worth watching. I certainly recommend it for libraries, etc., where frequent watching will justify the cost. ... Read more

Video Description

The living sea takes you to the "world ocean" traveling to Palou, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Alaska, Nova Scotia and the Red Sea. Explore the mysterious depths and come face to face with humpback whales, swim with thousands of golden jellyfish and witness the bizarre spawning behavior of giant clams. Surf in Hawaii, deep sea dive in Palau and test your courage with the Coast Guard in some of the world's roughest seas. ... Read more

Video Description

Stormchasers" understands the power and potential of the IMAX format; the ability to take viewers to a place they've never been and that few ever venture to. In this IMAX feature, we are along for the ride as we journey with storm chasers to track forces of nature such as tornados, hurricanes and more. The tornado chasing sequences are certainly some of the best in the film, offering an up close look at the equipment that these scientists must bring along with them to measure the atmosphere and other essential elements of the weather. During the other sequences there are some remarkable scenes, such as a plane flying into a forceful hurricane to take measurements. Like the best IMAX features, "Stormchasers" combines the right balance of educational information and entertaining sequences. There is a wealth of interesting information and visuals about weather, and there are also a few shots that are quite entertaining, as chasers get a little too close for their own good to the weather as it passes through. ... Read more