DVD and Book Doubles

DVDs are opening up a new vista of science education for everyone.   Commentaries, subtitling and documentaries can be used to greatly enhance our understanding of what we see. I have selected a number of films that I feel are outstanding.    Most of these films are base on a book.  Both the film and the  book will be available in the library.  I hope that they prove to be inspirational.    Club members who feel inspired - please feel free to write a review.

THE HISTORY OF SPACEFLIGHT

For all Mankind - a compilation of footage from the Apollo missions presented as one.   Subtitling allows you to know who is saying what.  This is a good companion to the dramatisations  of 'Apollo 13' and 'From the Earth to the Moon'.   However there are books available that give all of the technical details of each mission.  If you would like to read one of these see Mr. Cripps.

Apollo 13 - Commander Jim Lovell's autobiography gets the Hollywood treatment.  He even does a Hitchcockesque appearance at the end of the film.   The jewel of this DVD is the commentary by Jim and his Wife Marilyn; it turn a good movie into a priceless historical document.   Director Ron Howard also gives a good commentary. 

From the Earth to the Moon - A brilliant series put together by the team that brought you Apollo 13.  Using Andrew Chaikin's excellent book, 'A Man on the Moon', as a basis, it tells the story of the space race from Sputnik  to Apollo 17.   A long overdue series that pays tribute to the heroism of astronauts, scientists and engineers.   Tom Hanks introduces each of the 12, hour long episodes.  He also co-wrote the script for three of the episodes, directed one and wrote and stars in the last one.   He was also executive producer of the series.   His, and many others, dedication has helped produce an outstanding work.

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October Sky - this film should be a part of the science national curriculum.  The problem would be that it could lead to a few blown up students.   Based on Homer Hickam's autobiography, it follows the rocket development program of a bunch of teenagers as they join the space race after seeing Sputnik in the October sky over the West Virginia coal fields.  It's this sort of life changing experience that our club hopes to achieve, but hopefully with a greater chance of living through it.  Homer was also inspired by his physics teacher, Freida Riely.

The Right Stuff - fantastic stuff.   From the breaking of the sound barrier by Chuck Yeager to the end of the Mercury missions, this epic movie captures both the spectacle and the humanity  of an heroic time.   Based on Tom Wolf's book and made in 1983, the film still looks and sounds great .   It won four Oscars.

Don't worry about the 15 classification, by today's standards, there's nothing that warrants it. (can I get in trouble for saying that?)

ASTRONOMY

The Planets - the recent BBC series.   Wonderful images and  you get to hear from the astronomers themselves about their discoveries.   Revel in the sights and then take your kit outside and see them for yourself.

SCI-FI

Contact - Read the book after you've watched the film.   One of the 20th centuries greatest astronomers, Carl Sagan, wrote this.   Sadly the movie took out the mathematical twist in the tail.   Acting honours go to Jodie Foster who plays the central character, an astronomer, as a real person, unencumbered by stereotypes, doing justice to Sagan's vision.

2001: A Space Odyssey - after we showed this movie at school (projected and in surround sound) there was a chorus of rubbish from the younger members of the audience (not astronomy club members).   The only member there said nothing for a long time.  He just stared into space.   I asked him what he thought.  "It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen" he eventually got out.   That sums up 2001.   You need to  immerse yourself and experience something that is designed to be disorientating and puzzling in the extreme.   You're supposed to think "what the hell's going on?", just as the character's are doing. Unlike most films that take this perspective, 2001 does not reveal all at the end.  It doesn't reveal anything!   If you want to know what happens, read the book that was written after the film was made.

2010:The year we make contact - the sequel to 2001.   A good Sci-Fi film with none of the inspiration of the original.   Great to watch after an evening's viewing of the Jovian system through a telescope.