Space Station

This 3-D Blu-ray has footage so crystal clear of astronauts floating in space thinly attached to protrusions of the Space Station that I cringed in my chair and felt a visceral terror come over me as I looked out at the vastness of space in which they were working. We're so fragile! The 3-D is overpoweringly real-seeming because I knew these scenes were actually shot at the Station and at the launching and preparation locales; I felt (though of course I knew better)I might be in danger of plummeting to the Earth so beautifully pictured below.Yes, this is a short film, but it's worth every penny for those who can give serious consideration to this amazing accomplishment of mankind. The scenes inside the Station, the many demonstrations of weightlessness, the occasional humor such as the weightless passing along of a woman along with the cargo as everyone (including the woman) smiled riveted my attention on the fact that this is an outpost of humanity in the vast isolation that surrounds us. How easy to feel small in that context.The scenes inside the Station are so clear, I felt I could reach out and touch things, a feeling that gave me a better understanding of the living and working conditions in such cramped space. This film and the 3-D Hubble film are ones I feel are proud and vital additions to my collection.This endeavor is a technical miracle, and the filming of it in such sharp detail is a blessing. That humans from different political divisions, philosophies and agendas could cooperate to bring this to pass is a strong and hopeful sign that humanity recognizes its essential homogeneity. Someday we may all be able to come together after all.I recommend this film highly if you want to feel what it might be like in space and are interested in man's progress to the stars. I viewed it on my 55" LG 3-D TV with passive glasses and with my home theater sound on. As we used to say in the '60's, "What a trip!"

I bought this because I wanted a program source to try out my new 3D Blu-ray player. It was a good choice. The 3D effects come across very clearly, especially in the scene where someone throws an orange at the camera.I have two reasons for giving it only four stars. First, I wish they had had more scenes of the interior of the space station, to show what life is like in free fall. One scene shows a man shaving with a safety razor. In our world, if he wants to momentarily have that hand free, he would put the razor down on the sink. In free fall, you just let go of it in the air two feet from your face and it will stay there, perhaps rotating slowly. I would have wanted more like that, and fewer long shots of the exterior where you don't see much 3D anyway. Secondly, I wish they had explained things more. NASA, in all its publicity material, has always been careful not to overestimate the intelligence or curiosity of the average American, and we see that influence here. For example, in one scene they show an astronaut exercising while he breathes pure oxygen, so he won't get the bends when he goes out in a space suit. Well, why would you get the bends from that? Obviously the pressure in the space suit is less than normal atmospheric pressure. Well, how much less, and why did NASA decide to do it that way? NASA thinks most viewers have zero curiosity about details like that, and who knows, maybe they're right.

I recently upgraded my home entertainment system, and part of that involved the addition of a blu-ray player and a larger high-definition display.I've had several of the IMax movies for a number of years. On a traditional picture-tube TV (even a very, very high-quality one) I'm sure you'd never notice the difference between the BD and the DVD versions of this.When I upgraded, I discovered that some of my films on DVD were "non-anamorphic" transfers, and some were 4:3 "full screen" transfers... which are nice enough on the old display, but totally unacceptable when dealing with 1080p displays.Interestingly, most movies (if provided in "anamorphic widescreen" format) on DVD look perfectly acceptable... I can't really tell the difference between a DVD and BD in most cases. Definitely not worth "updating" to BD for all of those... though I suspect I'll never buy another DVD again if there's a BD available.But some films just DEMAND the high-definition experience. The "Lord of the Rings" movies (once they finally have a BD version of the extended cuts... not out yet, mind you) are among those. And almost EVERY "Imax" movie does.Unlike with most DVDs-to-BD comparisons, the difference between BD and DVD video on these is very, very apparent, and the picture quality of the BD transfers is just STUNNING. I'm sure that many other movies share this same "level of detail" quality... but the majority don't, so DVD is perfectly fine for most. But here... it makes a huge difference.If you have the chance to update to BD for ANY Imax film - do it. It's worth the money... it's like a whole new experience.

The 3D effects using my Cinemizer glasses with this documentary are awesome. The sense of perspective and depth is perfect, making me feel I'm there, right beside the astronauts. I'll watch this over and over again as it's literally "out of this world". Top marks!

The footage itself is excellent but not a lot of it . Expensive for what it is

One of the very best 3D films I have purchased. Outstanding clarity and if you watch this in a dark room you could believe that you were in space on board the station.Very good commentary from Tom Cruise. I have watched this three times over two days and its going to be watched a lot more.HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Great dvd and imax dts x sound out of this world.

THIS IS AMAZING DVD TO WATCH.