IMAX: Hubble (BD) [Blu-ray]

I think I have been a little unfair towards the collection of IMAX 3D Blu-rayreleases that have been available for the past few years, giving morepreference to movie releases when compiling my list of top 3D titles. Afterall, I am guessing most consumers who are gauging 3D Blu-ray purchasesare looking for the most bang for the buck and tend to pick movies overdocumentaries. After all, these IMAX Blu-rays are very expensive whenconsidering they only have a running time of 45 minutes. That's a hugedeterrent for anyone looking to keep their entertainment purchases withinbudget.The good news is, if you wait long enough, the price of these IMAX titlesusually always hit the $20 mark, which I think is the perfect price point formost individuals, including myself. You see, I never received an advancedscreener of Imax Hubble 3D, so I took my time and waited for the eventualprice drop. For those of you reading this review, I am about to persuade youto open your wallets and make a very wise $20 investment that will harnessthe full power of your 3D display.With the space shuttle program winding down in May of 2009, Imax Hubble 3Darchives the mission of 7 astronauts and their last chance to save the ailingHubble Telescope's warped mirror. With state-of-the-art instruments on board,their mission is to improve the telescope's discovery capability.The best word to describe the experience of watching this mission unfold is"stunning." Donning 3D eyewear, I was simply amazed at how my display wasturned into a perfect picture-window where I felt instantly connected to the eventson screen. The IMAX footage itself is incredibly awe-inspiring -- so crisp andultra-detailed -- that I felt as if I could reach out and touch the telescope layingbefore me. An astounding level of depth -- almost limitless -- creates an immersiveenvironment like no other.Some of the best moments to savor....* There's an amazing shot of the pool in which the astronauts use for weightlesstraining. We are actually introduced to it at water level, just before going under.The perspective of depth within the room combined with the gorgeous blue colorof the water at eye-level is breathtaking to see.* Approximately 19 minutes into the documentary there is a shot from, I believe,the Space Shuttle Endeavor. A long rescue arm extends downwards, with theEarth hovering just beneath. On a large screen, it is perhaps the most incrediblesight you will ever witness on your display. Just sit back and savor the reach.* At Approximately 27 minutes, there are more stunning shots of the Hubbletelescope floating above earth, but with the addition of a very thin tether thatplaces itself most prominently forward in view, creating an additional layeredobstacle that only furthers the 3D enhancement.I mentioned limitless depth earlier in the review, and it plays the most essentialpart of this 3D experience. You really get a sense of the vastness of space,watching our earth and the man-made creations above it, floating in what can bebest described as black nothingness. If you want to test the level of black yourdisplay can produce, this is the perfect demo disc. I am very fortunate to have aplasma that was able to produce the inkiest levels of black. When you see that typeof blackness surrounding the Earth, it's...well...something you really need to see foryourself.While watching some of this awesome footage, you begin to take notice of itemsthat pop themselves forward. Look at how the open panel doors of the Hubbletelescope extend themselves outward. Various tools that the astronauts use forrepair also protrude forward. This isn't an overly gimmicky presentation -- andit need not be as the visuals from space are inspiring enough to watch on their own.Some may complain that a lot of spectacular 3D footage is bogged down by thepersonal moments spent with the astronauts aboard the space shuttle. Personally,I found these moments rather cool to watch. Some may also object to the amountof computer-generated 2D static images taken from the Hubble telescope that wereconverted to 3D by pulling apart stars and nebulas, giving them more texture anda feeling of space as it really is. Personally, I really enjoyed these re-imagined images.All I can say is be patient. As we near the end of this documentary, we find ourselvespeering into the edge of the observable universe, looking at images 10 billion lightyears away. I have never dropped acid in my life, but as the camera pulls back on amultitude of star fields, I can just imagine what the drug-induced experience musthave been like.The audible experience of Imax Hubble 3D is just as immersive as the video. Thesoothing narration by Leonardo Dicaprio is delegated to the center channel. The frontsand rears provide an enveloping array of effect sounds. I love the way that the voicesof the astronauts and mission controllers were placed squarely into the rears. Thisprovides a constant level of vocal cross-direction. Do yourself a favor and turn upyour receiver/amps during the launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. It will be quitean amazing experience to watch and feel, thanks to the strong rumble of the LFE channel.Imax Hubble 3D arrives as a single Blu-ray disc with both 3D and 2D featurepresentation. It may have originally come with an outer cardboard sleeve -- I amnot certain -- but with the discounted price it comes in a standard case. There is areally great added feature that takes viewers behind-the-scenes of filming thisImax documentary. There is also a Hubble Mission Logs Webisode Gallery included.What more can I say to persuade you to drop $20 on the best IMAX feature I havehad the pleasure of reviewing thus far?If you have been spending all your money buying and watching 3D feature films, Iurge you to give these IMAX documentaries your highest consideration -- particularlythis one. They really unleash the full potential of your 3D display. These are the themoments that you just sit back in your chair, gasp in admiration, while continuallyuttering the word, "WOW!"

First off: You need 3D on your home TV and surround sound. Good surround sound. If you have this, this video will expand your brane. I've seen it twice on the 60' IMAX screen at the California Science Center, and with my home rig, this is a scaled-down but equally awesome experience, right here in my man cave. I have a 60" Panasonic 3D flatscreen and real surround speakers, not those little boxes which come in a kit.The sequence of events is fascinating, and the space shuttle launch, especially the one seen from an up-close camera, will blow your windows out. You have to keep telling yourself that the images of planets and star clusters and galaxies are REAL ones, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. The video is not only visually and sonically superb, it is perilously educational. Show it to your kids and grandkids.I did another interesting thing. After seeing this on the big screen, I took the subway up to Hollywood and saw the movie "Gravity" at the Chinese theater, also with a big IMAX screen, 3D, and surround sound. The fake scenes in the movie are exactly the same as the real ones in this video. Both are absolutely amazing.Get 3D and surround sound at home! Then, get this video!

This is an amazing 3D video. Got my new Viera 3D TV and this was the first movie I HAD to have. I had seen it in iMax and loved it. It's better at home where you can talk and be comfortable.With home 3D active shutter glasses, it's more "alive" then iMax which uses passive 3D glasses, which are cheaper. My 65" Panasonic Viera TV is huge and this fills it with incredible motion and beautiful scenes. The space repairs are amazing, and 3D does these astronaut heroes justice as they provide repairs that allow us to see outer space as never before. The Hubble is a scientific wonder, and has provided oodles of information for astronomers. Now you can see the heroes work to keep it doing its job.FYI: THe Hubble was made with a mirror that was misshapen, and didn't work as planned (D'oh!!). The first repair literally applied a contact lens to correct the refractive error. The second repair was to replace dying parts, which is the main focus of this video.I've watched it three times because it's not the STORY that matters here; it's the space images, which never get old. Our blue orb never looked this good.Enjoy, and pass the popcorn please.

This IMAX documentary about the last (but perhaps not final) Hubble repair mission is one that should be seen in 3D. There is some great footage of the repair mission itself, plus some excellent computer animation that plays well in 3D. There are some very good computer animated 3D sequences; one - a deep dive into the heart of the Orion Nebula - would not play quite as well in 2D 4K.IMAX: Hubble 3D is not just eye candy, however. The narration (by Leonardo Dicaprio) is well written and attempts to expand the perception of the viewer - extrapolating cosmic distance scales and how that translates into the age of the light. The photons, crossing many light years - require decades, centuries, even millennia to reach the optics of the telescope. It's all kind of mind blowing, when you consider the notion that the most distant objects are appearing to astronomers as they were when those photons left these galaxies 12-13 billion years in the past (basically ancient light, far beyond the age of our own sun/solar system, etc.).It's a very good IMAX documentary that plays better in 3D (if you still have a TV that can play 3D blu rays, anyway). Until there are more modern 4k TV sets that support 3D, this is as good as it gets (though the release of Avatar: The Way of Water might precipitate a bit more interest in new 4K 3D TVs).