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Note: Science changes so fast, some of the updates may be 'out of date'.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

Description

Get both videos! Anatomy, featuring Slim Goodbody, will teach you the fundamentals of the human body. Learn about anatomical position, the skeletal system, the muscular system, the central nervous system, and much more! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Thumbs up for Standard Deviants Anatomy!
This video set is spectacular for presenting anatomy in an educative and entertaining style. Having used many videos to explain various anatomical concepts and principles, I have found this set keeps my student awake, and even more importantly, helps them learn and apply this knowledge in a difficult and demanding curriculum---Naval Hospital Corps School! ... Read more

Description

Survival of the fittest. Raw competition? Or, a level of cooperation indispensable to life? Evolution tells us that both are important. We explore our own spiraling arms race with microorganisms, the only entities that can pose a threat to our existence. We follow the struggles of medical detectives uncovering the roots of epidemics and trace the alarming spread of resistance among pathogens that cause disease, like the new virulent tuberculosis--nicknamed "Ebola with wings." Interactions between species are among the most powerful evolutionary forces on earth, and understanding them may be key to our own survival. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great for Biology Classes!
By tracking TB and a few other examples this video shows the process of evolution as an interactive exchange between organisms as they change in relationship to each other. It is an excellent video - along with others I have seen in this series - for use in biology classes from high school through basic college courses. This one can be used in discussions on disease or evolution. Very interesting, fast paced and Great science! ... Read more

Description

For 21 years, Charles Darwin kept his theory of evolution secret from all but a few friends. He confided to one: "It is like confessing to a murder." His torment resonates in society today--in the challenge his incredibly powerful idea poses to our understanding of our world and ourselves. We interweave the drama in key moments of Darwin’s life with documentary sequences of current research, linking past to present and introducing major concepts of evolutionary theory. We also explore why Darwin’s "dangerous idea" matters perhaps even more today than it did in his own time, and how it conveys the power of science to explain the past and predict the future of life on earth. ... Read more

Description

Is gravity weighing down your understanding of physics? Well, gain the momentum you need to increase your knowledge with the Standard Deviants. Students can now easily understand the complex concepts of physics in this award-winning video. Includes such topics as: adding vectors, angular momentum, multiplying vectors, projectile motion, conservation of energy, Newton's Laws, centripetal acceleration, kinetic energy, the big three equations of kinematics. Running time: 1 hr 45 min

"By focusing on the most complicated elements of a subject the tapes key in on areas where students are likely to need additional help." --The Daily Progress ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Extremely dissapointing!
I expected demonstrations, experiments, animations. And what did I get? People sitting and talking! What's the point in making a video, if you don't use the capabilities of this medium? If I want equations and problems, I take a textbook. This video is nothing more than a (very superficial) textbook which is read aloud. And that goes for both parts.

For Dummies Style Genius
This is a great tool for those who would like an introduction to a tough subject. The pace is faster than I might have liked, but hey thats why I bought the DVD player. I learned at my pace and look forward to buying more. This program is perfect for the beginner or as a review for a college class. ... Read more

Description

Is gravity weighing down your understanding of physics? Well, gain the momentum you need to increase your knowledge with the Standard Deviants. Students can now easily understand the complex concepts of physics in this award-winning video. Includes such topics as: work, work-kinetic energy principle, The Law of Universal Gravitation, Kepler's Law of Planetary Motion, Harmonic Motion, waves, heat, phase changes, The First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics, Entropy. Running time: 1 hr 45 min

"Who would have ever thought how well cheesy puns would help me remember such difficult concepts?!" --Judy Fontana, junior, College of William and Mary ... Read more

Reviews (1)

long day long night
a man who is a artor now is fifty years old .he is landing in toyko for an ad.the woman who with her husband in same city same hotel as the man and getting a soul searching with each other. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Standard Deviants, a troupe of energetic young performers whose specialty is presenting serious academic subjects in an offbeat manner, turn their attention to the study of life itself in The Dissected World of Biology. Fervently believing that a truly atrocious joke is so memorable that it's a brilliant mnemonic device, the Standard Deviants gleefully ham it up in this production while managing to make solid points about the subject matter. For instance, a presentation on a chemical principle transforms into a James Bond parody in which the protagonist, after a fight with three people playing a water molecule, reveals his name as "Bond... Covalent Bond." Ouch! A skit about proteins takes place in a beauty shop, and a truly horrendous rock singer moans about being "stuck in the middle of a cell." All this foolishness has a purpose, of course, and there is a serious curriculum hiding just beneath the unorthodox presentation. Cells, DNA, RNA, metabolism, and other concepts of biology are all covered, and a solid academic panel approved the presentation. Whilethis video doesn't intend to be a substitute for a course in biology, it does make the basic concepts easier to remember. --Robert J. McNamara ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Informative
This is a great intro to cells and cell structure. However, if you are using this for CLEP, be mindful that this tape covers only a relatively small portion of what is covered on the CLEP biology test.

Order It At Once!
This is a MUST for anyone who is struggling to pass a Bio test. I can tell you it was a deciding factor allowing me to pass my Bio Clep test last month. It is supremely entertaining and covers key areas. I found that its focus on DNA and RNA were particularly key for questions I later encountered on the test. I would also recommend Jack Rudman's Biology review, REA's Problem Solvers book in Biology, and the Online Biology Book at

http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/BIOBK/BioBookTOC.html
Voila! That is my formula - along with prayers - for passing the Bio test. Study hard.

A good, light-hearted look at biology
This video is very funny, yet covers the major subjects in biology very well. It is a must for anyone having a hard time with the subject. The cast and crew make an attempt to repeat the important concepts over and over again and in many different ways...including some cheesy songs and weird skits, but it all works together to help the student remember what is being taught. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Anthropology, psychology, cultural history, and biology provide key filters in this breezy but substantial exploration of the focal impact of the face. Produced by the BBC as a four-hour series and broadcast in the U.S. on the Learning Channel, The Human Face benefits from host, narrator, and cowriter John Cleese's signature blend of erudition, enthusiasm, and wit. Along the way, Cleese presents information on the evolution of human facial features, the face's role in sexuality (including the biological significance of "bedroom eyes"), communication through facial expressions, and the face's essential role in defining identity. Ideals of physical beauty, the reasons why visual development and artistic expression focus on the face, and the nature of celebrity are examined, as are medical anomalies such as Mobius syndrome, a condition that eliminates the ability to smile. The presenter gets strategic help from guest Elizabeth Hurley, who gamely lampoons her own celebrated beauty in various sketches, and Cleese's fellow Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin, who pops up in Python-esque skits during the program's fourth segment on fame. Comments from scientific sources are augmented by thoughtful interviews with Pierce Brosnan and Candice Bergen, who convincingly address the downside of being drop-dead gorgeous. --Sam Sutherland ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Marvelous, a Cleese Classic!
If you're fan of the Python team or
If you're interested in BORING scientific stuff, this DVD is for you.
When I saw this series on the bbc, I was looking for it.
Funny, interesting, enjoyable, I can't believe that you learn .

Very Interresting
I'm a bit early in rating this because I've just watched the first half tonight but... I think it's very interresting and a very enjoyable piece of work. Elizabeth Hurley is great, and I thought the chemistry between her and John Cleese was very good. I especially liked the study on what defines a persons features as beautiful and the relative 1.6 to 1 measurement ratio system. I also liked the beginning when they teach or try to teach how to detect when someone is lying, they mentioned watching the forehead if someone rinkles up. Later notice the fellow who was just given acting advice and his reaction, he say's something to the effect of she really helped me alot and then he rinkles his forehead. Is he lying?

This is not a laugh fest, it's a serious documentary with some laughs. So far I've enjoyed it very much

Quirky Romp
The Human Face is a fascinating but scattershot approach to the topic. John Cleese's approach is sure to delight his fans and annoy his detractors. He manages in his own unique way (while ripping Elizabeth Hurley's face off and shooting fellow Monty Python alum Michael Palin not once, but twice! Pythons always were excessive!) to convey many interesting and pertinent facts concerning the human face and our reactions to it.

Several sections were absolutely fascinating. The discussion on the evolution of the face claims that humankind's move toward an upright posture created an emphasis toward the eyes and visual stimuli and away from the nose and the sense of smell. Our profound reactions to facial expressivity are demonstrated in MRI brain scans that reveal activity deep in the amygdala as a reaction to faces showing fear although no conscious reaction was felt. Several curiosities reminiscent of "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" are explored, including a man who, following an automobile accident, wholeheartedly believed that his parents had been replaced by other people who looked exactly like them--he was able to recognize their physical appearance but had lost the emotional attachment that allowed him to recognize their relationship. Most heartening was a young woman with an exceptionally large jaw who had not only come to accept her looks but further to find her unique appearance a source of pride.

The series closes with an examination of fame, and here it seems to go astray--so much so that Cleese resorts to acts of gratuitous violence against Palin. The focus shifted rather unsettlingly away from the face to the idea of fame. The linking premise, of course, is that in the modern day it is our faces which make us famous (or not), while in the past it was our actions, and before the days of photography and portraiture particular faces were unknown. This departure is not enough to spoil an otherwise excellent and wildly quirky series, though.

A great documentary with a nice touch of Python nonsense.
John Cleese takes a different style in teaching us about the power of the human face. The documentary does contain tons of interesting facts about the human face and its role through history. What makes it stand out as a documentary is the twisted humor John Cleese, Michael Palin, and Liz Hurley (to name a few) inject into it. Subjects of Beauty, Expressions, Identity, etc are explained not only verbally, but with great skits and sketchs. Everything from skits with Michael Palin trying to get his face on a coin to Cleese and Hurley posing for the 18th Century French paparazzi painters, help make this as entertaining as it is educational.

Great for the whole family.

Face Facts...
John Cleese is the writer and creator of this fabulous series. But, in addition to it being a fascinating topic, it is also presented in a wonderful manner. It mixes comedy and fact, testimonials and mockery and all in all is a great social commentary. And the delicate balance allows Cleese to have fun and explore serious issues within minutes of each other. With proper implementation, this series could literally change lives. Here is a look at the individual episodes:

"FACE TO FACE." The first episode in this fascinating series examines the power of the facial expression. There are several case studies including a young girl born unable to show any facial expressions, a young couples failing marriage and the possibility that it stems from their facial expressions, even a study of the facial musculature of Elizabeth Hurley.

"HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU." The second look at THE HUMAN FACE tackles the brain and its relation to the face through visual recognition. The case studies include a young child viewing photos of her Mother, a Father who has lost his ability to recognize anybody and a young man who was legitimately convinced that his parents where replaced by look-alikes. Also featured is a young woman who feels a need to change her normal face and a young woman who sees no need to change her extremely unique face.

"BEAUTY." In Part 3 Cleese examines Beauty. He begins by getting where many would sell their nose to get... extremely close to Elizabeth Hurley's face. This fun episode has several celebrity interviews including Candace Bergen, Joan Rivers and Pierce Brosnan. It also follows a young girl picked to be the next super model. Once again, the content puts 'just a pretty face' on its ear.

"FAME." The last session is also the least intriguing as most of the episode is focusing on one thing, Fame. And that only relates to the face indirectly. Much time is spent following 3 wanna-be actors who are to meet a great casting agent... And so the series ends without a final close-out of any sort.

The 2-DVD set has all four episodes on the 1st disc in a Widescreen format and the 2nd disc contains several unused interviews, information on the face, cast information and trailers for the BBC television special... ... Read more

Description

Are you bored by atomic bonding, confused by calorimetry, or stumped by standard enthalpy? Well put your worries to rest! Sit back and enjoy the eternal struggle between superheroes and villains while reviewing difficult concepts such as percent composition and stoichiometry. With the Standard Deviants, your grade will rise faster than a hydrogen atom. Includes such topics as: States and properties of matter, atomic and molecular weight, solution stoichiometry, atoms, compounds, molecules, The Periodic Table, isotopes, ions. Running time: 2 hrs 10 min

"The Standard Deviants are funny and they helped me understand chemistry better than before." --Tiwa Anunpatnum, junior, Western High School, Las Vegas ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Attend Class Every Day, Read Your Chem Book Ahead of Time...
... and then, and only then, should you give Standard Deviant's Chemistry a look. First, the topics and the way they are covered is pretty basic. Second, not much is said in regards to the most common mistakes that chem students make (not reffering to Kelvin temp. in terms of degrees and Sig. Figs. are mentioned.) Third, the Deviants are somewhat distracting but hilarious nonetheless. But overall, these are excellent review and supplemental aids for they help impress upon you what is critical, but only slightly effective on their own and by themselves. Good luck with Chemistry!

FUNNY! Explains the subject matter very well.
Makes chemistry very entertaining. Remember, sigma does not equal beer!

Wonderful chemistry learning tools.
This series of tapes is great. They have a sense of humor without clouding the details of the science they are teaching. They present the topics in rapid fire action that prevents any thought of boredom. Great learning tool that makes learning chemistry easy and fun. Good for elementary through college levels. ... Read more

Description

Packed with essential scientific knowledge, the Super Science Pack gives you 5 Standard Deviants videos. Each pack comes with: Chemistry Parts 1,2, &3, Biology, and Physics Part 1.The Super Science Pack is the perfect resource for academic success.Using the Standard Deviants' entertaining and enjoyable teaching style, each tape breaks down difficult subjects into a clear step-by-step format. ... Read more

Description

Get both videos! Is gravity weighing down your understanding of physics? Well, gain the momentum you need to increase your knowledge with the Standard Deviants. Students can now easily understand the complex concepts of physics in this award-winning video. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Great physic reference
This is an excelent tool for student that are taking Physics and also for people that just want to refresh many concept of the science.

Good Learning Aid
You can learn more in 2 hours than you could in 2 weeks. It's a great way to start learning the subject.

Not your father's old Physics class
Excellent and entertaining way to learn and understand Physics. These two DVDs are every well put together, explaining from basics to more challenging different laws and formulas of Physics. You can view different subjects, or view the whole program and later take exams on your DVD to see how much you learned from the program. It's a great way to review for CLEP testing, or to be entertained and learn about Physics. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

STILL OUTSTANDING AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS
I REMEMBER THIS MOVIE IN JR.HIGH IN THE LATE 50'S AND EARLY 60'S. WHEN I CAME BACK AS A TEACHER IN THE 70'S, IT WAS STILL BEING SHOWN. IT REALLY HELD THE ATTENTION OF STUDENTS WITH ITS FRANK CAPRA FORMAT AND ITS HOST, DR. FRANK BAXTER. MANY SCHOOLS STILL USE THIS MOVIE, 43 YEARS LATER.IT HAS GOOD ANIMATION, A GOOD SOUNDTRACK AND MR. SUN IS MARVIN MILLER (THE VOICE OF ROBBY THE ROBOT). IT COVERS THE BASIC ASPECTS OF THE SUN IN A INTERESTING AND ANTIMATED WAY.

Get the inside facts on how the sun was formed.
Great old video from Bell Labs. I remember this movie in grade school. Lionel Barrymore, Eddie Arnold and the Sun, discuss what scientists know about the sun. They discuss early man's facination with the sun, and how modern man could not live without the sun. Funny and educational. ... Read more

Description

Opening with an animated demonstration of how light and shadow work in an eclipse, this program shows how light and reflection are necessary for us to experience the world through sight. Graphics clearly reveal the mathematical angles involved in various reflections in a mirror. ... Read more

Description

Of all the species on earth, we alone attempt to explain who we are and how we came to be, through the prisms of both science and religion. How has the tension between the two played out? Today, the theory of evolution still is dogged by controversy. This program explores the creationist movement and its arguments by drawing on real human stories of people struggling to find a balance between faith and reason. Through the perceptions of theistic scientists and credible religionists, we underscore the point that science and religion are compatible, although they play very different roles in assigning order to the universe and a purpose to life. ... Read more