7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.4 |
An IMAX 3D camera chronicles the effort of 7 astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
Narrator: Leonardo DiCaprioDocumentary | 100% |
Nature | 79% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 MVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.43:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: Dolby Digital 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
English SDH, French, Spanish
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (on disc)
DVD copy
Blu-ray 3D
Slipcover in original pressing
Region free
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 5.0 | |
Audio | 5.0 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
This is the last chance to save the Hubble space telescope.
Space is the final frontier, and these are the photographs of the Hubble space telescope, now on a mission of over 20 years to explore strange new
worlds and, who knows, maybe even stumble upon new life and new civilizations. Its lens has certainly seen farther than any man has gone before,
and certainly further than any man has seen. Gene Roddenberry would be amazed. Launched in 1990 -- a year before Gene's death -- Hubble never
actually transmitted any clear picture back home until 1993 when a faulty lens was replaced and man finally caught a glimpse of what this fantastic
piece of technology could see. Amazing new images of galaxies near and far, star formations, star collapses, stellar nurseries, nebulae, and other
astronomical wonders so fantastic, so out of this galaxy, that even now it's hard to believe they're not the work of a visionary Science Fiction master
craftsman. Indeed, Gene Roddenberry would be amazed at what really lies out there, what really goes on in outer space. While man
has yet to discover intelligent extraterrestrial life -- insofar as the "Average Joe" knows -- he's no doubt probably already seen whatever star they
might call home, if the're out there, now appearing as just another dot on a picture but maybe, who knows, one day a dot that will forever change the
course of human, alien, and astronomical history.
To the rescue.
Hubble 3D launches onto Blu-ray with an exceptional 1080p Blu-ray 3D transfer. Things begin with the opening titles dissolving into star fields and, with the subsequent "warp speed" effect (like that old screen saver), each appears to zip right on past the viewers's heads. The image also sports seamless general depth in just about every single shot; whether in the pre-flight prep room that practically transports the viewer onto the industrial blue/gray carpet or several distant shots of the shuttle and launch pad that see terrain seem to sprawl out for miles in between the camera and the shuttle, every shot delivers a perfect sense of space, whether on Earth or, yes, in space. It's extraordinary, too, how the transfer gives shape to some of the Hubble photographs; the Orion Nebula, for instance, takes on a real, tangible shape, allowing viewers to see the ups and downs and ins and outs of the "stellar nursery." Back on Earth, the six-million-gallon water tank where the astronauts train for zero-G missions is filmed from the surface level; all that seems to be stopping the water from spilling into the living room is the front of the television screen. Better still, the image features impeccable detailing, perfect colors, and great blacks. What else could anyone want? This is a seamless 3D presentation that will leave viewers saying "wow" time and again.
Hubble 3D's DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack is every bit as impressive as its 1080p 3D visuals. This is a smooth but completely engaging soundtrack that offers up seamless clarity, pinpoint accuracy, lots of surround activity, and precision dialogue and narration. Whether the almost otherworldly Science Fiction-like cues that sometimes work their way into the track or the more general accompanying music, the track enjoys a smoothness and effortlessness that gives it an almost weightless, airy sort of feel, the perfect companion for an outer space picture. The track delivers some extraordinarily robust, ear-crackling, ribcage-rattling sounds, such as when shuttles blast off, sending incredible waves of energy through the listening area that play with a startling amount of clarity; never do such effects simply sound like jumbled masses of loud but indistinct sound. It's almost as if the listener has been transported to the outskirts of the launch pad and experiencing the effect firsthand. The track makes almpost continual use of the surrounds, whether helping along the primary musical track or serving as a supportive element carrying various effects, both real and fabricated, such as the sounds of gusty winds through Orion that seamlessly blow through the listening area. Aside from the heft of the launch sequences, Warner's track also delivers some rumbly, potent low end effects in support of several scenes. Rounded out by stellar dialogue reproduction, this track plays as a wonderfully big, extensive, and exciting soundtrack that does the space program, the Hubble, IMAX, and Blu-ray all proud.
Hubble 3D features a few quality extras. Inside 'IMAX Hubble 3D' (1080p, 8:17) features the "cast" (read: astronauts) and movie crew speaking on how the project came together, why it's important, the splendor of viewing Hubble's images, the process of shooting "live" footage in 3D, extrapolating 3D images from Hubble's 2D photographs, the work of Narrator Leonardo DiCaprio, and more. Next up are seven short behind-the-scenes "Webisodes" (1080p, 26:44), most of which are hosted by Astronaut Mike Massimino, that take viewers behind-the-scenes of life as an astronaut. Segments include Space Is an Open Book Exam, The Swim Test, Space Glasses, Getting Dressed for Work, A Wild Ride, Tools of the Trade, and We're Go for Launch. These are very well-produced, informative, and entertaining shorts that NASA fans, budding astronauts (remember to stay under 6'4"!), and general space enthusiasts will enjoy a great deal. Also included is a digital copy of the film. Sampled on an iPhone 4, the 2D-only (obviously) image yields strong details, good blacks, a high level of detail, and minimal visible compression-related issues. Audio is satisfactorily crisp and accurate, delivering a fair bit of power and space where it counts, albeit sounding somewhat mushy and indistinct compared to the excellence of the Blu-ray lossless presentation.
Hubble 3D is an extraordinary film that stretches the imagination by bringing the vastness of outer space right onto the 3D screen. Displaying wonders far greater than anyone could have imagined existed while also sharing the stories of the people behind the mission to save Hubble and the technology that makes it all work, Hubble 3D is a short but complete motion picture experience that's sure to dazzle all audiences, both hardcore amateur space explorers and those just wanting to catch a glimpse of what lies beyond alike. Warner Brothers's Blu-ray 3D release of Hubble 3D is a must-own. Sporting perfect technical specs and a few good extras, this is a release worthy of every Blu-ray 3D collection. Very highly recommended.
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