If you’ve enjoyed the previous seasons and/or specials, “The Universe: The Complete Season Five” is a pretty good season exploring more elements of the universe and educating viewers on some real interesting scientific aspects mixed with some cool graphics to aid the visuals and show what happened – or what could/will happen – to our universe and plant earth.
“The Universe: The Complete Season Five” (2010)
Genre(s): Documentary
New Video | NR – 376 min. – $39.95 | January 11, 2011
MOVIE INFO:
Directed by: NA
Writer(s): NA
Cast: NA
DISC INFO:
Features: None
Number of Discs: 2
Audio: English (DTS-HD 2.0)
Video: 1080p/Widescreen 1.78
Subtitles: English
THE MOVIE – 3.5/5
Outline (from Blu-ray back cover): It’s been 50 years since man ventured into the unknown, and the heavens are only now yielding their greatest secrets. Follow in the galactic path of “The Universe”, which this season leads us further into the world beyond our own.
From robotic rovers on Mars to NASA probes slamming into comets and deep space telescopes capturing violent images of the birth of stars, season five explores how these discovering were made—and who made them. Dramatic CGI and interviews with expert cosmologists, astronomers and astrophysicists bring the history of the heavens down to earth and provide a glimpse into our future.
I’ve never considered myself a guy who immerses himself into science outside of the occasional documentary but I do have a casual interest in the universe and more importantly what else is out there and just how perfect we here on the planet have it being at the right place and the right time to sustain life where other planets are unable to. This season explores that aspect some more from the distance from the sun to provide the energy to earth’s magnetism which shields the planet from the Sun’s harmful elements while still letting in the stuff we need to live.
While most of the 8 episodes of season 5 are quite interesting, there were a couple that were a tad tedious and far too long that they began to bore me some. The one that springs to mind is “Total Eclipse” which examines the phenomena of a solar eclipse and just how special it is and the circumstances for it to happen. And although this is an interesting topic, I got a little bored by the end and just wanted to move on from the subject.
Outside of a couple of topics that didn’t exactly capture my fascination, this fifth season overall is good and recommended for fans of the previous seasons and specials produced by the History Channel.
EPISODE LISTING:
01. 7 Wonders of the Solar System
02. Mars: The New Evidence
03. Magnetic Storm
04. Time Travel
05. Secrets of the Space Probes
06. Asteroid Attack
07. Total Eclipse
08. Dark Future of the Sun
SPECIAL FEATURES – 0/5
No features have been included.
VIDEO – 3.5/5
“The Universe” is presented with a 1.78 aspect ratio and 1080p high-definition. Like the previous series’, the video doesn’t look especially fantastic when it comes to live action or interview footage though it does surpass somewhat during the CGI parts even with some banding issues here and there.
AUDIO – 2.75/5
The DTS-HD MA 2.0 track is pretty basic with flat sound be it for the interviews or sound effects. Basically it gets the job done so I can’t really ask for more.
OVERALL – 3/5
Overall, if you’ve enjoyed the previous seasons and/or specials, “The Universe: The Complete Season Five” is a pretty good season exploring more elements of the universe and educating viewers on some real interesting scientific aspects mixed with some cool graphics to aid the visuals and show what happened – or what could/will happen – to our universe and plant earth.
Brian Oliver, The Movieman
Published: 01/05/2011