Making Stuff 2 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.5

Making Stuff 2 Blu-ray Movie Review

In need of a serious Pogue.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 26, 2014

Credited as a “technology columnist and best-selling author,” David Pogue is one animated guy. He’s the host of “Making Stuff 2,” a follow-up to his lauded 2011 series for “Nova,” once again embarking on a journey around the globe, now on the hunt for scientific breakthroughs born from “Wilder,” “Colder,” “Safer,” and “Faster” exploration. The goal of the series is to display the enormity of human ingenuity that remains active, with geniuses and ambitious types searching the natural world for inspiration that could possibly fuel innovation, with many of the visits concerning radical changes in bioengineering. The result is an entertaining show that values a sense of discovery, allowing the viewer to find excitement as experimentation unearths surprising results, creating a more advanced scientific viewpoint. The series is also comedic and slickly edited, making sure accessibility greets even the most complex theory. Pogue works to maintain dignity about the work, but he’s not above a cartoon moment or two.

Pogue’s mischievous personality is perhaps the one major drawback to “Making Stuff 2.” Often caught clowning around for the camera, he’s like a failed stand-up comedian forced to suffer through banalities of research, deathly afraid he’ll lose his audience if a moment of the series stops for contemplation. Pogue isn’t funny, and his mugging is tiresome, especially when the finest moments of “Making Stuff 2” are focused on the facts, working through the steps of wonderfully bizarre scientific study as it reaches amazing results. Pogue tries too hard to command the program when all he has to do is sit back and pepper his subjects with questions.

Disc 1

“Faster” (54:14)

To best appreciate advancements in the arena of speed, Pogue travels to San Francisco to ride with Oracle Team U.S.A., out on the waters testing their new ship for the America’s Cup race, which utilizes a special carbon fiber wing to cut down on resistance. At Southern Methodist University, the host submits to a sprinting analysis, which highlights the nuances between average running and a professional gallop. In Holland, Pogue meets up with champion cyclist Sebastiaan Bowier, who displays the difference between speed on an average bicycle and the velocity of a recumbent bike, which has been fitting with a special shell in an effort to bring pedal speeds up to 80 mph. At a UPS hub, Pogue explores the complex computer system employed to simplify enormous delivery needs, eventually suiting up in brown and testing his own map of service against the company’s software. In Phoenix, airplane boarding is stressful work, yet astrophysicist Jason Steffen claims to have an efficient system that would bring seat-selection time down. Facing off against Southwest Airlines employee Doug Lawson and his faith in the company’s free-for-all coordination, Steffen hopes to prove his elaborate theory. At Tradeworx in New Jersey, high-speed stock trading finds even faster speeds through microwave towers. And in Kansas City, Pogue experiences the fastest internet speeds in America as Google wires the community with specialized fiber optic cables.

“Wilder” (54:14)

At the University of Guelph, a pair of materials scientists is working with hagfish and their natural defense of slime to create a synthetic material similar to thread. Pogue visits a German zoo to observe animals in motion, with one local bio-engineering firm using the design and pinch of an elephant’s trunk to inspire a next generation of robotic arm that’s lighter and less threatening to humans. Traveling to the headquarters of Boston Dynamics, our host is exposed to a new frontier of transport robots that walk on four legs, able to traverse uneven ground using complex computer adjustment systems, paving the way for humanoid incarnations built for rescue operations. At the University of Pennsylvania, Professor Vijay Kumar is overseeing the development of robotic swarms, with tiny flying machines following computer instruction to carry out tasks. At Harvard, the pitcher plant and its unique trapping system for prey has inspired the creation of SLIPS, a synthetic nonstick coating intended to replace Teflon. And MIT Professor Angela Belcher takes Pogue to the sea, where viral inhabitants in the water contain the potential to inspire a new type of battery.

Disc 2

“Colder” (54:15)

Looking to understand the impact of heat and cold on the average human body, Pogue visits the Army’s Dorio test chamber, subjecting himself to temperature and environmental extremes, with data fed into the creation of a cooling garment. In Pittsburgh, therapeutic hypothermia is being implemented to aid the destructive effects of cardiac arrest, while cryobiologist Jon Costanzo is experimenting on the North American Wood Frog, which contains cryoprotectants used to prevent death when frozen and thawed. Scientist Greg Fahy looks to share the biological wonder with mammals, testing the boundaries of human organ preservation. Traveling to Alaska, Pogue confronts the troubles with permafrost, with thermosiphons helping the locals combat thawing ground with devices engineered to balance the needs of heat and cold. Exploring the depths of the Kelvin scale, our host meets up with Melissa Gooch from the University of Houston to explore the possibilities of liquid helium. In Vancouver, physicist Geordie Rose at D-Wave Systems has created a quantum computer in frightfully low temperatures. And at MIT, Pogue makes time to visit a lab that offers the coldest temperatures around.

“Safer” (54:14)

Visiting Stanford University, Pogue meets Chris Gerdes, who’s working on a self-driving race car used to test out the extremity of computer-controlled automobiles for everyday use. At Colorado State University, scientists have developed plants that detect explosive devices, strengthening security at airports. The host stops by the offices of Decision Sciences in Southern California to test a radiation detector that uses solar influence to spot even the most hidden threats on trucks and inside shipping containers. In San Diego, earthquake testing is underway to help reinforce soft story buildings in San Francisco. Pogue travels to Minnesota to inspect TetraKO, a goopy, all-natural concoction that’s more effective at fighting fires than water. At MIT, the tradition of vaccines delivered by long needles is being challenged with a painless patch that delivers critical medicine. And a team at the Perdue Neurotrauma Group has embarked on a mission to research and indentify concussion patterns in contact sports, with football head injuries taking top priority, influencing the construction of next-generation helmets.

Making Stuff 2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation preserves the production's distinctly HD-shot look. Crisp details greet the viewer as facial particulars are easily surveyed, while visits to labs and locations bring out satisfying textures, and graphics are richly defined. Colors are most impressive here, with a full sense of primaries as the series uses intense hues to explore its arguments. Skintones are full-blooded and true. Black levels remain tasteful and communicative, but rarely challenged in full. Some banding is detected. The program does employ a wide net when it comes to the use of file footage from film and video sources, but the changes aren't distracting, smoothly integrated into Pogue's adventures.

Making Stuff 2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix doesn't provide the type of weight normally associated with PBS documentaries, sounding a little shrill at times, though the highs are easily managed. Pogue's narration and on-camera quips lead the charge here, and while his voice lacks dimension, it's always cleanly presented, preserving the informational tone the program is after. Scoring cues are mild and never intrusive, finding comfort in the front stage without overwhelming the balance of voice and music. Atmospherics and sound effects are satisfactory, selling the amplified nature of the show when called on.

Making Stuff 2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There is no supplementary material on these discs.

Making Stuff 2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

From the possibilities of fish slime to controlled chaos of UPS routes, "Making Stuff 2" does a fine job exposing the wonders of the world, exploring with aplomb the ongoing curiosity and determination that fuels these often odd discoveries. Despite Pogue's needy behavior, the series invests in speed and awe, showcasing some amazing improvements in numerous scientific fields. It's almost reassuring to find brilliant minds still chipping away at everyday concerns, making these four hours fly by as they detail authority and curiosity on a grand scale.