Customer Reviews

Imax: Hubble

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I've been an astronomy buff ever since I was a small child. So, when I learned that the Denver Museum of Nature and Science was showing a new IMAX movie about the Hubble Space Telescope, I had to see it. The theater hadn't yet upgraded to a 3D projection system, so the version I saw was in 2D. Believe me, that was plenty good enough.

It is said that Hubble is the most famous telescope ever built, and there are about 20 years' worth of fabulous cosmic images to prove it. When NASA initially announced that it was too dangerous for the Space Shuttle to make one last Hubble servicing mission to do needed repairs and upgrades, a lot of us went into mourning. And when they changed their minds, we rejoiced.

The movie is partly about the 2009 servicing mission, along with archival footage from earlier missions. This part is interesting, but not particularly new to me -- the PBS science program Nova has done at least one hour-long segment which goes into much greater detail. We get to meet the seven very brave astronauts who were literally willing to risk their lives to get the job done. Space is a dangerous place, and a single careless slip of the hands can lead to a sliced glove and a fatal loss of suit pressure.

Also, two space shuttles have been lost over the years, along with 14 astronauts, so they had a backup shuttle on the pad just in case a rescue mission was needed. Thankfully, it wasn't.

We learn a few fun things about life in orbit, such as how to make a chicken burrito in microgravity, and how to get ready for a space walk. I discovered that, even though space is silent, the sounds of power tools can be transmitted through a space suit, to be picked up by the helmet microphone.

Where the movie really shines, however, is when they show footage of the Earth from orbit, and especially when they begin to explore the cosmos. Decades of effects-laden blockbuster films have tended to jade us, but what we see in Hubble IMAX is real, as seen from the Hubble Space Telescope itself.

I about lost it when the camera began to zoom in on Orion's Belt, and slowly the Orion Nebula swam into view. It was as if we were spanning lightyears, at warp speed, in mere seconds. Then the camera began to explore an enormous cosmic valley with walls of gas and dust, some 15 lightyears across, hollowed out by fierce interstellar winds and dotted with infant solar systems dubbed "tadpoles" by scientists. One particular system looked like a tiny golden gem swathed in a huge, black nest, and might well resemble our own solar system aeons ago when the planets were just beginning to form.

What struck me more than anything else was how uniquely privileged our generation is, of all the generations in human history. The ancients could gaze up in awe at the stars from their campfires and make up poems and stories, but only we, thanks to telescopes like Hubble, can see such stunningly beautiful images of planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies, even the entire visible universe looking like a piece of gauze, the strands sprinkled liberally with gem dust.

I was struck also by the fact that there was hardly a peep from any of the children in the audience. They were all paying rapt attention.

I've never before seen any IMAX movie more than once. So far, I've seen Hubble three times. My most recent trip was to a 3D showing at a local cineplex. That was a plus. Now, as the camera zoomed, the stars actually came out of the screen at me. The 2009 shuttle footage, presumably shot in 3D, was incredibly real -- I was tempted to reach out and try to touch the astronauts' equipment as they got ready for a space walk. Archival footage, most likely converted to 3D, had a peculiar, subtle flatness to it I've dubbed 2-1/2D. It just didn't look quite right. I'm sure the producers did their very best, but the technology is still evolving.

A note on the music: The film featured two familiar tunes -- "Somewhere, Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World". I would have loved to have heard, respectively, the original Judy Garland and Louis Armstrong versions. However, what appeared in the film did the job -- and I can't get the tunes out of my head.

In conclusion, this movie is well worth watching, if you're into astronomy or if you have kids who are. I'm seriously looking forward to the DVD. Even in 2D, it will be worth it. For the first time, I can imagine why someone would want a giant-screen TV in their house. If ever I come into a large amount of money, maybe I'll build my own IMAX theater in the basement.

I saw this movie last night and am still in awe at what the space program has done and also how IMAX filmed this incredible movie. I worked for NASA during the development of Hubble and felt pride (and goosebumps) seeing it put into place in this film. Amazing to witness and see the stress on the astronaut's faces as they were being dressed in their flightsuits just a few hours from liftoff.

It also left me a little sad that we're so blessed to live on such a beautiful, miraculous planet and to know how society (and terrorists) are trying its best to ruin life on this planet Earth.

I've just ordered my copy; can't wait to share it with family and friends.

I am a huge fan of NASA and highly respect the brave astronaut community. I visited Cape Canaveral a few years ago and was mesmerized. That said, this film is a disappointment. FIRST - WHAT IT IS NOT: It is NOT a film about the fantastic images shot through the Hubble telescope. Yes, about 1/4 of the film is that, but it is far too short. MOST OF IT IS about the astronauts, suiting up, launching and then repairing the telescope. We were disappointed. This was a grand opportunity to present the awe and wonder of space through visualizing the images brought back from the Hubble itself. Instead we were given images of astronauts unscrewing bolts in space and discussing the lack of toilet facilities while on EVAs. Again, hats off to the courage of the astronauts. However, PLEASE PRODUCE A FILM WITH THE MAJORITY OF FOOTAGE COMING FROM THE HUBBLE ITSELF. The magesty of God's universe is a show of a lifetime in itself.

Dont know whats wrong with Warner Bros recent DVD releases. The transfers are unsuitable for display on large screens, exhibiting macro-blocking and pixelation. This one will be relegated to the shelf along with: Sherlock Holmes, Inception, and Legend of the Guardians. Yes, it took 4 purchases to see the pattern.

This movie is so good I saw it twice at the IMAX. I can't wait to get it on DVD.

The footage of the astronauts and the trip to repair the Hubble telescope was cool. But what's really special about this movie is footage from the Hubble itself, which takes you deep inside nebulae and galaxies to see incredible views of our universe.

I had to keep pinching myself to remember that it was not CGI... all of that amazing stuff really exists out there.

HIGHLY recommended.

Several minutes of commercials and trailers for completely un-related videos into the program, you finally get the rest of the thing which is merely bragging about how they went about making the video, with frequent references to the personnel on the three missions to the HST, most of these lifted directly, or shared with, the footage from the NASA website and/or NASA TV. There are precious few shots of a VERY few of the discoveries of the HST over the years. A few of these are animated to abstraction, closing in or moving away from the objects that are subjects of the current view. I'll save the jewel case and toss the rest of it. I'd be too embarrassed to sell it to anyone, even used, and I surely wouldn't wish to build up anybody else's hopes and have them crash as mine did. The Hubble Space Telescope was a brilliant and quite valuable project; this video is not!

Save the money, or use it on something worthwhile. Like a box seat to watch paint dry.

I've felt like in a spaceship liftoff to space.

Amazin pictures in 3D make all difference.

The price is a little bit spicy. Some elements weren't necessaries, like the cover of the Blue-Ray in a 3D picture.

But the stuff is really what matters, and in this case it really matters.

I wanted to hear the narration and the words of the astronauts, but the music drowned out everything. This is a problem I have found with a lot of DVDs lately. The music is supposed to be in the background, and the spoken words should be audible, but they got it backwards. I wonder if it was like this in the movie theater, or is this just sloppy transferring at the disc level? The images, though, are wonderful. Sharp and clear. I wanted to see more of the Hubble pictures, too. There was too much of the suiting up and so on, and not enough space photos. -

"Hubble" takes us out into space viewing through the eyes of the famous space telescope, Hubble. The 3D documentary is narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio and tells the tale of the telescope's origins, threats, successes, and the tale of one mission taken by astronauts to make some important improvements on it so it doesn't suddenly fall to Earth one day.

"Imax Hubble" would undoubtedly be fascinating in 3D, I missed the screening for it. As soon as the introduction gets away from the astronauts and worries on Planet Earth, we are guided by Leo's voice into a rose cloud 90 trillion miles across where stars are made and "baby stars are nested in cocoons" where each cocoon holds their own solar system in Orion's nursery. It looks like something that could have been made up for a science fiction movie, but this is actual footage taken from the impressive Hubble space telescope. It's beautiful and dreamy.

After showing off what Hubble can do, the film brings up the dangers of keeping Hubble out in space and the daring mission proposed to increase its longevity. It is very interesting to see how this all works, especially if you are really into space or interested in becoming an astronaut. Otherwise, it's like watching mechanics in giant suits work on a giant structure you can't even begin to comprehend how it works.

Watching the DVD at home without the 3D did make me want to snooze a little. The calming voice of Leonardo DiCaprio combined with astronauts talking to each other through their helmets made my eyelids flutter a few times. Then oooh, back to pretty pictures! But I still felt sleepy watching them....and there was some overuse of that Hawaiian "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" song. This DVD is only 44 minutes long so just as I was about to conk out, it was over. For sure the highlight of the film was the rose cloud less than halfway through.

Bonus Features:

"Inside Imax Hubble 3D" has interviews with people involved on the project and shows the Imax camera. If this feature wasn't so concerned with the making of the film, the interviews about the mission itself could have been added to the feature. Oh, if you leave the menu on too long while you're typing your review...it automatically starts the movie again.

I know these films are very expensive to make, but the suggested retail price of $27.98 sounds extreme to me for a forty-four minute film.

Received the 3 d movie as described, all looks 100% ,arrived in a timely fashion, will be checking back for more things, thanks