Customer Reviews

Patrick Stewart: Narrates the Planets Epoch 2000

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As the person who created this video I want to clear up some incorrect information circulating about it. First, the animation. Much of it is dated, but this is not only the story of the solar system, but of our attempt to learn of its mysteries. Second, the audio. I have read reviews that the audio is analog and only 2 channel. That is incorrect. I was in the THX certified dubbing bay, when the transfer from Tomita's original 4 channel quadraphonic was made. Everything was done in the digital domain. As for the viewer who complained that Patrick Stewart's voice was too loud for her taste, I recommend she turn down the center channel on which his voice is isolated. This is a true Dolby 5.1 mix done by one of the finest mixers in the world, Bob Michaels of The Enterprise. These are the facts. So called experts, you have been advised.

This production uses not only the best in CGI technology to show how the planets most be, but it also includes the latest information and photographs from NASA. The music and the scenes are very well mixed. The magnificent interpretation of "The Planets" by Isao Tomita is fully enjoyable thanks to the digitally remastered recording of his quadraphonic version. But, most of all, the superb narration by Patrick Stewart is what makes this masterpiece go far beyond of what you can expect in just a beautiful documentary film.

Even though Patrick Stewart could make the phone book sound like Shakespeare, even he cannot save this DVD. While informationally rich, the sci-fi quality computer generated graphics (such as those found on Mr. Stewart's former TV gig) are SORELY lacking. Instead, the viewer is given a few NASA simulations which are good, and far too many 50's-era spacey illustrations--which are not.

To go to the trouble of having sci-fi's most famous face (& scalp!) involved in this project, one would have hoped for comparable graphics. Stellar Cartography, anyone?...

First, let me say that I really like this DVD. The scientific material is excellent and I love Tomita's version of the Holst symphonies. The problem is with the video quality. It would appear that the culprit is a combination of poor source material and really bad mpeg encoding. Hopefully it will be re-released in a cleaned up version with the option to turn off the narration so that Tomita's music can be enjoyed.

This DVD looks to be a very promising DVD. You have an good actor from Star Trek the Next Generation doing the narration. You have the very fascinating subject: our planetary system. You have lots of good information given. Lots of NASA material from the many planetary space probes. But the presentation is sloppy and inconsistent. There are high quality scenes mixed with scenes that look like a high school student put them together. Some of the animation in this film looks like "cardboard cutout" animation! ...This is not at all an impressive DVD. The "cardboard cutout" animation sequences have bad color, are blurry, and look like they were filmed using a low quality web camera! ...To top it off the narration is way too dramatic. At times the narration sounds like the man is about to have a fit. At other times his voice is so smooth and delicate he sounds like a woman about to cry. This is not a drama. This is a space documentary. ...

There are some very good still photos and film from NASA and some interesting facts and theories given in this film. But a lot of the visual material made for the DVD is of very poor quality. Its a DVD. I expect it to look at least as good as VHS. And its a documentary, not a horror film. Why is the narration so extreme at times? That type of narration does not belong in this type of film. Its ridiculous. I have other DVD's on the same subject and all of them are at least 4 stars or more. I gave this film 2 stars because the information is good, some of the animation is quite good, the NASA material is good and some moments of this film are quite good. But the presentation is way off base. This is the type of documentary that would make children in school crack up laughing. Its way over dramatized. I mean WAY OVER DRAMATIZED. We have possibly the producer to thank for that. I'm not sure if its the narrator's fault. He was probably told to overly dramatize his dialog to make it sound more interesting. I feel swindled by this DVD. I've seen many amateur documentaries that are far better than this production.

This film could be improved. If they cut the poor quality animated sequences, and toned down the narrator's emotional fits, and cut the 50's style sci-fi music, this DVD could be very good. The poor quality moments in this DVD ruin the whole thing.

I can't believe some of the reviews about this magnificent documentary. First someone says it's amateurish. Well, the guy that made it has won 5 video of the year awards from the American Film Institute, TV Guide and Billboard Magazines. This particular video was listed by the University of Kentucky as one of the 75 best films for the humanities of the 20th century. Then there are those who think Patrick Stewart overacted. Patrick's voice perfectly mirrors the music. What these reviewers fail to see is this is a breakthrough documentary cast as a dramatically narrated long form music video. It is currently in over 2500 school systems and has sold more copies than Cosmos. Give me a break. You've spent too much time watching the garbage on the Discovery Channel to know a true work of art, which this is. Oh yes, regarding the audio, on a properly maxed out sound system, it ranks with the best sound I've ever heard. If Patrick Stewart is too loud for one's individual taste, they can turn down the center channel where he is perfectly isolated. Bass? Listen to the blast off sequence with a subwoofer and your room will shake. There I've said it and I'm glad.

It's very, very good but it needs 5.1. There's no point watching/listening on an ordinary TV or stereo. There's no region coding. It plays fine on a region 2 player.

The narration of the planets is very imformative.The stunning pictures from nasa and the quadrafonic sound of the music sends your thoughts out of this world good C G I technology and the extea bonus of the voice of patrick stewart.

A sensational effort by Director Don Barrett and Star Patrick Stewart takes you on an updated tour of the Solar System, including Tomita's sensational soundtrack remastered from the original quadraphonic in Dolby 5.1 - Don't miss this best bet.

I've always found this topic irrestible; what could be better than NASA, Patrick Stewart, and Tomita all together? And on DVD with 5.1 surround, overwhelming, I thought. I was first introduced to this mixture via the VHS version in 92 or 93 and thought it was a peak experience. I am sorry to say that I am disappointed in this version, and am now looking for the older VHS tape, which I thought was much better. I found that most of the 5.1 sound coming out of the rear speakers was distracting, and the new, enhanced footage not in keeping with the original. Also, I wanted to hear Tomita, not a very loud Patrick Stewart, and the bass seemed to be lacking in the soundtrack. SO, back to VHS for me....