Customer Reviews

From Here to Infinity [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Forget all the boring documentaries from NASA and the BBC. From Here to Infinity is as much a work of art as it is science. World premiered at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory before 2000 invited guests, this voyage to the edge of the known universe uses excellent (1994 era) CGI, a fantastic musical score, and the host - Patrick Stewart, whose presence completes a fantastic journey of discovery. This beats anything ever aired on the Discovery Channel or TLC. You must own this video if you love the sky, space or the possibilities of the future. The Geminga segment is worth the price alone - much less a realistic trip down the event horizon of a black hole that takes you to the Andromeda Galaxy! Great experience, don't miss it.

This video won 2 "Best Video of the Year" awards from TV Guide and BIllboard Magazine. Patrick Stewart is your inspirational host as he takes the viewer via edge-of-the-art computer generated imagery through the solar system, the Oort Cloud, a look at Alpha Centauri and the Search for ET. Then director Barrett takes us past the known into the world of supernovas, finally flying the viewer down a wormhole on the way to Andromeda.

This may be this director's best work, although his 1990 classic "The Voyager Odyssey" was rated as the 6th Greatest Documentary ever made, by Entertainment Weekly.

If you love the sky, the stars, the universe, and of course, Star Trek, this video is for you.

While I enjoyed much of this VHS video, which I recently picked up at Goodwill for 2 dollars, this 1994 feature falls flat here in the modern decade of the Tens. The pictures and particularly the renderings are poor by today's standards, so don't expect to be visually wowed. The film is also hampered by some outdated information and lackluster script. That is not to say that I walked away from it disappointed. I learned several new things, enjoyed the mental trip into the cosmos, and the score was mostly decent. This is a film I would feel quite comfortable showing to a young mind who desires to be opened to the wonders of the universe, but I would highly recommend follow up research after seeing it to get the full picture of what we understand today.

The video starts with some promos to sell Star Trek VHS tapes, then Patrick Stewart's voice over begins. Patrick's audio performance is top-notch, like all of his works. He tells the viewer that he will be taking them on a "ship of the imagination" (The term Carl Sagan used in his Cosmos series) across the universe. He briefly talks about the outer planets as the viewer "passes" them, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Pluto. (Uranus is barefacedly skipped as 'off the route'), and then moves on to the Oort Cloud. The film is divided into segments, beginning with an intro title of white text on a black background. The Outer Planets. The Oort Cloud. The Road To Alpha Centauri. Seti. Etc.

This is where the film shows it's age. Our galaxy is "suspected" to have a black hole at the center. It's stated as a mystery whether the universe will expand forever or collapse (we've learned it will keep expanding). Extra solar planets are referenced hopefully, with the best evidence given as a gap in a star's dust belt. 1994 suddenly seems so long ago. And I burst out laughing when the ship of the imagination travels into an inescapable black hole, and Stewart mentions that since the black hole is (fortunately enough) rotating, the viewer could escape through a wormhole to the Andromeda galaxy.

If this subject interests you, and you know very little about space, this is worth a view. If you're already quite educated on space and are craving more, I just have one thing to remind you: "1994"!

I have to agree with the other 2-star reviewer--this video is corny and outdated. There are some interesting parts and pretty pictures, but most of it is pure speculation (the hypothetical Oort cloud and SETI, to give two examples) and rather melodramatic. I'm sure there are better space videos/DVDs out there. Guess I'll keep looking!

"From Here To Infinity" is one of the best astronomical displays I've seen, short of going to the Adler Planetarium. The Journey begins at home Planet Earth and ends with a return home but with an increased sense of wonder that speaks to the uniqueness preciousness of Life here. I love it, but my autistic son loves it even more. Its combination of breathtaking visuals and classical music never fail to capture his attention and keep him entertained through the full length of the tape. Wonderful stuff.

I don't know what planet the other reviewers are on but it's certainly not this one. I waited months in anticipation for this 'rave-review-video' but it is so cheesy! Factually it is OK but the graphics and whole flow of the documentary are 50 years out of date. I was really, really disappointed especially since it had my hero from Startrek narrating it. Primary School astronomy classes might appreciate it but not grown adults with real money to spend on much more worthy videos.

Director Don Barrett and Patrick Stewart have combined again to create a masterpiece. As its predecessor (Patrick Stewart narrates The Planets) the entire production is cut to music. This time Patrick takes the viewer beyond the solar system to the edge of the known universe. Spectacular Computer Animation makes it all so believable.

Audio is exceptional; worth the price of the video alone.

Patrick Stewart is in rare form as he hosts and narrates this journey not merely to the nearest stars, but to the end of the Universe and the beginning of time itself. Sensational graphics make the trip all so believable.

Sensational, soaring, inspirational

Patrick Stewart and Director Don Barrett have combined to create a dazzling audio and video experience. You must own this video.