7 | / 10 |
Users | 4.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Travel through the galaxies and explore extraterrestrial phenomenon with this sweeping examination of the universe from The History Channel, which uses state-of-the-art computer technology to take viewers up close to distant planets and stars. Topics include black holes, comets, alien galaxies, star deaths, the moon, the interior of the sun and much more. All 13 episodes from the first season are included, plus the bonus episode "Beyond the Big Bang."
Documentary | 100% |
Nature | 80% |
History | 42% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: Dolby Digital 2.0
English: LPCM 2.0
DD Season 1, LPCM Season 2-3
English
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Ten-disc set (10 BDs)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 2.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Has there ever been a more compelling, more confounding quest than the search for the secrets of the universe? How many billions of people have asked themselves whether chance, fate, or a supreme deity holds the reigns of existence? How many intellectuals and laymen have longed to understand the very nature of the cosmos? Young or old, rich or poor, brilliant or simpleminded, curious souls have spent countless millennia searching for answers they may never find; investing their days, faith, money, and effort into uncovering the truth at the heart of reality. Thankfully, we live in a day and age where the latest information is available at the click of button, making our search for answers decidedly easier. Whether perusing the internet or soaking up a sprawling documentary series like The Universe, anyone with the time and willpower can begin to amass as much knowledge as they desire.
The strange wonders of our universe are simply breathtaking...
The Universe Megaset features a trio of decent presentations -- seasons One and Three include a pair of 1080i/AVC-encoded transfers, while Season Two offers a comparable 1080i/VC-1 transfer -- that handle both the series' scattershot video sources and budgetary constraints in stride. Long's vibrant palette comes alive in high definition, flooding the screen with blazing suns bent on their galaxies' destruction, vivid waterworlds teeming with life, and inky expanses that extend beyond the series' star-soaked space. The CG sequences (while of varying quality) are fairly impressive, injecting color and visual oomph into what could have been a bland and cynical overview of the heavens. Textures are nicely rendered, edges are satisfying, and the overall presentation bests the seasons' DVD counterparts. Interview segments are strong as well, blessing each passionate participant with lifelike skintones and revealing fine details. Minor softness plagues their faces, but it isn't overly distracting. Granted, the series' video sources (comprised of everything from standard definition archive footage to problematic telescopic photography) make for an uneven viewing experience, but documentary enthusiasts will be completely unfazed by such inherent inconsistencies.
If I have any lingering complaint with each season (and, subsequently, each episode), it's that the technical image is unpredictable and unstable. Frequent (sometimes debilitating) artifacting is a constant distraction; black crush haunts the depths of space; heavy banding occasionally surrounds light sources, hurtling debris, and glowing particles; and minor aliasing continually threatens to undermine the otherwise attractive CG sequences. But all things considered -- including the limitations of the series' modest production values -- The Universe looks pretty good.
Sadly, The Universe's three seasons are burdened with unfulfilling PCM stereo mixes that rarely capture the pulse of the cosmos as readily and effectively as their video transfers. The series' narration and the majority of its interview segments are clean and intelligible, but a tad hemmed in. Likewise, outdoor interviews occasionally suffer from a variety of minor issues (air noise, hiss, and wind among them), but generally sound as good as can be expected. Unfortunately, effects are little more than flimsy additions to each mix, bass tones are dull and muddy, and scene transitions are thin and tinny. The series' musical score helps matters a bit, but ultimately underwhelms as the front-heavy sonics fail to draw the listener into the many wonders on display. I would have loved to hear solar flares blaze past my ears, to sit boldly amidst the destruction of an imploding star, or cower at the aural majesty of a massive black hole. Instead, I was left to my own devices on the outskirts of such phenomenal events, longing to hear them as they were meant to be heard.
Ah well, I suppose the PCM mixes could be a lot worse. Considering this is a History Channel documentary series -- one whose audio tracks weren't designed to deliver the weight, presence, or immersiveness of other high-end presentations -- the stereo mixes are passable additions to this release.
Like most documentary releases, The Universe Megaset doesn't offer much in the way of supplemental material. Season One delivers the meatiest extra of the bunch in the form of an extensive 99-minute documentary called "Beyond the Big Bang;" Season Two includes a 56-minute bonus episode, "Backyard Astronomers," that delves into the world of amateur star-gazing; and Season Three serves up a bland, text-based list of "Universe Facts" and a "Photo Gallery." While the discs aren't overflowing with supplemental content, it nevertheless adds some value to this somewhat pricey 10-disc set. As for the packaging itself, the Megaset consists of a lightweight cardboard collector's box that houses three, separate multi-disc cases (one for each season). the box set is attractive, practical and, above all else, doesn't look out of place next to other Blu-ray releases.
The Universe Megaset collects all three seasons of the History Channel's successful series -- that's forty-four episodes and more than thirty-five hours of universal exploration -- and presents them with an AV presentation that outclasses their standard DVD brethren. While its video transfers are problematic, its audio tracks underwhelming, and its supplemental package leaves something to be desired, it's difficult to deny the value of this mammoth 10-disc set. Newcomers should sample a few episodes before committing to a purchase, but fans (at least those who haven't already picked up one of the individual seasons) should give this aptly titled Megaset some consideration.
2007
2008
2008
2009
2009
2010
2011
2011
Ancient Mysteries Solved
2013
IMAX 3D
2008
IMAX
2007
2009
2010
IMAX 3D
2008
IMAX
2007
2003
2011
IMAX Enhanced
2002
IMAX
2006
2007
IMAX
2009
2011
2004
2006
IMAX
2010
2013
2011
2010
IMAX
2010