Universe, The: 7 Wonders Of The Solar System 3D

The Universe: 7 Wonders Of The Solar System 3D is a documentary production of A&E's History Television Network. The program chronicles the era of space discovery in which 21st century spacecraft and sophisticated imaging technology are venturing into uncharted territory every day, with much of the extraordinary phenomena happening right in our own cosmic backyard. Take an exhilarating, unprecedented 3-D tour of the seven most amazing wonders of our solar system, beginning with a trip to Enceladus, one of Saturn's outer rings, which contains mountain ranges that rival the Alps: dive into Jupiter's Great Red Spot, the eye of the biggest storm in the solar system; soar through the Asteroid Belt, made of millions of rocks left over from the formation of the solar system; trek up Mount Olympus, the largest volcano located on Mars; have a close encounter with the searing surface of the sun; and finish the journey by exploring our very own home—planet Earth. Narrated by Erik Thompson. (Gary Reber)

There are no special features.

The 1.78:1 1080p MVC 3-D picture is comprised of images of real scientists on Earth explaining the seven wonders of the solar system and events as they occur on-screen intercut with computer-animated graphics and effects viewed from a digital spaceship. The 3-D effects are, at times, quite dramatic and amazing in depicting the magnitude and shape of objects that comprise our universe. The scene of depth and perspective is superb, as well as the sense of volume and dimension. The Sun, Earth, and other planets actually are perceived as spheres, rather than flat planes, and at various times actually protrude out from the screen, for dramatic effect. The planets and asteroids actually float against a deep black backdrop of space, populated with seemingly millions of stars and dense debris hurtling toward you at an arm's distance away. Such depth is impressive and demonstrates the immense power of 3D, to project realism. Unfortunately, the animated imagery is not always stable, and scenes often display shimmering and double image ghosting artifacts that can be distracting. The live-action imagery is less impacted with such artifacts and generally appears quite stable and realistic. Resolution is generally quite good, and colors are richly hued and bright with deep, solid blacks. While not exhibiting the most satisfying 3-D image quality consistency, this is quite a spectacular and unique visual experience that constantly reveals the vastness and wonder of the solar system in the far, far more memorable 3-D context. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack delivers a forceful, low-frequency presence throughout that, at times, sounds distorted. The low-frequency emphasis permeates the electronic music score and the sound effects, as the sound booms throughout the soundfield. Even Erik Thompson's narration sounds boomy and far forward, as well as loud. The music sounds spacious, with a wide soundstage presence and aggressive surround presence. The aggressive surrounds are energized with various directionalized sound effects, such as the roaring engines of the spacecraft. While the sound is decidedly weighted down in low-frequency energy, the effect feels appropriate, to dramatize the wondrous, unearthly visuals. (Gary Reber)