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Wonders of the Universe
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray ALL - America - Warner Home Video Review written by and copyright: Anthony Arrigo (27th March 2014). |
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The Show
 The universe is vast and complex; a collection of stars, galaxies, and phenomena so expansive that the average person can have difficulty comprehending all of it. There’s just SO MUCH out there – and it operates on such a massive timetable – that summing up the main focus points and having it make sense is often a challenge scholars and professors have sought to ameliorate. Professor Brian Cox stepped up to the plate for BBC in 2011, narrating and explaining the “Wonders of the Universe” (2011) in a epic miniseries that attempts to condense the gargantuan history and theories about this universe in which we live. Daunting as the task may be, Cox is an energetic, youthful presence whose Justin Bieber hair, polished teeth and casual style of dress belie his 43 years of age. Truthfully, I half expected to see some old codger gravelly narrating viewers through the history of the cosmos; Cox looks more like the kind of person a network would hire to read cue cards and look pretty while talking about subjects he barely understands. The juxtaposition is a little jarring, though that in no way should detract from the easily digestible information pouring from Cox’s mouth. His passion is infectious, making each topic more fun & exciting than just listening to a narrator guide us along. Four episodes are included with this miniseries, though you can choose to watch all at once with no breaks. That is, assuming you’ve got a 4-hour block of time to kill. The ideas dovetail into one another well enough that you wouldn’t even notice the transitions if there weren’t title cards. The first part, "Destiny", focuses on the universe as a whole. After filling us in on the accepted details of the universe’s age and general makeup, Cox breaks down some of his own theories as to how all of this got started in the first place and how people are intrinsically a part of everything around us, even the stars. "Stardust", the second segment, takes a look at how humans got here, what we’re made of (universally speaking), and the never-ending process of the universe’s constant recycling of itself. It’s mind-blowing to consider the number of years some of these events can take to occur, such as us seeing the light from a dying star on Earth. Sure, it looks like a tiny red speck on the night sky, but the reality is a massive star many times larger than our Sun exploded with ferocity to produce a light 10,000 times brighter than our center star. And here it comes to us, as a tiny spot of light. The third piece, "Falling", is all about gravity. Cox says it can be easy to define gravity, or to prove it by example, but once he delves into the science behind it all you realize there’s so much more to it than previously thought. The Zero G flight he takes to conduct his own experiment looked extremely fun, even if its nickname is Vomit Comet. Finally, "Messengers", the last part of the mini-series, talks about the importance of light in our universe and how it has a profound effect on everything. Cox continues his genial way of breaking things down to layman’s terms (or as close as you can get) so that all of this hard, obtuse science can make sense on a relatable level. Once the ground work has been laid, he then gets into some of the more radical theories regarding light and its properties. “Wonders of the Universe” is great mind material for those who want to know more about how each of us as individuals fit into this massive machine. Cox almost comes off as a goof because he isn’t fitting into the mold we’ve been conditioned to expect a scientist to fit, but once he starts letting his expertise and opinions be known it’s very clear the guy is just an anomaly in the community. Big ideas are presented in such a way that you can get a real sense of how everything fits together, before Cox moves on to blowing your mind with theories we may never be able to prove.
Video
Originally filmed as a television production, the mini-series is presented with a 1.78:1 1080i AVC MPEG-4 image that looks very much like something you’d catch on your cable box in HD. Given the documentarian nature of the production, the astronomy and nature porn shots are as gorgeous as they should be. CGI effects were used to bring our universe to life, with fantastic definition amongst all the minute details making up the cosmos. Panning isn’t very smooth, however, and a number of shots have a jittery look as the camera moves across, say, a grouping of mountains or a plain. Having been shot on HD digital video, the source used for this Blu-ray is generally pristine and devoid of dirt and debris. Don’t expect to be blown away, but do expect a very picturesque presentation.
Audio
The only audio option is a lossy English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo track. As this is a heavily narrated feature, dialogue registers clean & clear from the front speakers. It’s on par with broadcast quality television – get the job done and nothing more. No subtitles are included.
Extras
There is no bonus material.
Packaging
The single disc comes housed in a standard Blu-ray keep case.
Overall
Cox makes learning about the world – and worlds – around us fun and engaging. This epic miniseries presents many large ideas and theories, but in a manner that the average viewer can grasp the concepts and is prepared for the more esoteric ideas that spring forth.
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