Product Details

• Actors: Walter Cronkite, David Leestma, George Nelson, Sally Ride, Kathy Sullivan
• Directors: Graeme Ferguson
• Writers: Toni Myers
• Producers: Graeme Ferguson, Phyllis Ferguson
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Imax
• VHS Release Date: June 12, 2001
• Run Time: 37 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005BCOR
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #396,937 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superlative Space Shuttle DVD, With Stunning Launch Footage!, February 20, 2004

By 

David Von Pein (Mooresville, Indiana; USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dream Is Alive (IMAX) (DVD)

"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.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Be Inspired, January 24, 2002

By 

39ejhsosjdovnhbd-[-=wicncdp[-w9cdjh (dkdjnsd02h2bf9]) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Dream Is Alive (IMAX) (DVD)

This is the second or so IMAX film I remember seeing. I think I saw it in 1986, soon after the Challenger disaster, although the film is dated 1985 (Challenger was lost on 28 January 1986.) Remember when they used to show these movies in big inflatable bubble-buildings at the State Fair?

The beautiful scenes of Earth from space, narration by the immortal Walter Cronkite, inspirational music, and scenes with astronauts Resnick and Scobee, later lost with Challenger, make this everything that I think an IMAX movie should be - awe-inspiring, a little patriotic, and flat-out spectacular. This film always brings tears to my eyes and reminds me that the American spirit that made the space program possible can be used to accomplish remarkable things.

Technical note: I expected unbelievably fine image quality from a DVD of an IMAX movie but the master used to make this DVD was not completely pristine. About the same quality as a regular 35mm movie.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sound, Views - Warning: Features Challenger Victims, August 20, 2001

By 

Audiopro "audiopro" (Charlotte, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Dream Is Alive (IMAX) (DVD)

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.