Rating: 
Summary: DVD is a bust!
Review: After having this phenomenally outstanding production on DVD replaced three times, I finally came to the conclusion that the DVD was simply a terrible transfer. The resolution is awful. What a shame to do this to such an outstanding film. Skip the DVD until it's redone.
Rating: 
Summary: a health teacher in middle school says
Review: As a middle school health teacher, I am always on the lookout for videos that will educate AND hold the kids attention. The Miracle of Life does both well. A few caveats: the beginning few minutes give a very strong evolutionary flavor--can be easily zapped through if so desired. The birth at the end of the video, while very well done and not scary for adults, is a little much for young viewers--I omit it for my 8th graders. There is no doubt left by the video about when life begins--the moment of conception is the beginning of life. I would have liked more fetal development, personally, but the parts on the reproductive systems and how they work is nothing short of outstanding. I love the sense of wonder and awe this video leaves my students with. This would be outstanding for any health program, 8th grade or older.
Rating: 
Summary: Awesome!
Review: Awesome pretty much covers it. We purchased this to assist us in our 'talk' with our sons. It is perfect. The words may be a bit over their heads at first, but we will be viewing it with them and explaining in 'kid terms' what is happening. The DVD chapter search will be quite helpful. Love it - Love it - Love it! Even after all my research into the subject, I even learned some interesting facts. I will enjoy viewing it again and again.
Rating: 
Summary: For schools, not new moms
Review: Good video for scholastic purposes, but disappointing for expectant mothers... I bought this with the idea of seeing what my baby would look like at various stages of pregnancy, but that isn't what this offers. After a long explanation of the fertilization process, they skipped quickly over the actual fetus growth process and straight to birth.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as stated...
Review: I bought this DVD a short while back from Amazon with great expectations. This video was made in the early eighties and it shows it's age. This video was marketed as a great aid for expectant parents. On that premise, I decided to purchase it. The video starts off talking about cells and how life got started on earth a million years ago. I was disappointed to see that the first 30-45 minutes didn't really talk about babies at all, but more the fertilization process. There is a short segment at the end that shows a few different stages in the pregnancy, but not nearly enough. I also bought Life's Greatest Miracle by NOVA at the same time. I was a little disappointed in that one too, but it shows more of what I was expecting to see. Whatever you do, don't buy both as I did...A lot of the stuff is redundant. Hope this helps.
Rating:
Summary: Not as good as stated...
Review: I bought this DVD a short while back from Amazon with great expectations. This video was made in the early eighties and it shows it's age. This video was marketed as a great aid for expectant parents. On that premise, I decided to purchase it. The video starts off talking about cells and how life got started on earth a million years ago. I was disappointed to see that the first 30-45 minutes didn't really talk about babies at all, but more the fertilization process. There is a short segment at the end that shows a few different stages in the pregnancy, but not nearly enough. I also bought Life's Greatest Miracle by NOVA at the same time. I was a little disappointed in that one too, but it shows more of what I was expecting to see. Whatever you do, don't buy both as I did...A lot of the stuff is redundant. Hope this helps.
Rating:
Summary: slightly misleading
Review: I bought this video because I wanted to learn more about pregnancy and childbirth after I found out I was pregnant. Based on the video's cover, I expected it to be about humans. The video is so broad and offers only a few minutes of actual footage that I was interested in. I felt like I was in science class and bored for the most part. It is an informative video, but not if you want to know about what is happening with your developing baby.
Rating:
Summary: Spellbinding, incredible photojournal of life's beginning
Review: I first saw this movie when it aired on PBS many years ago and again when I was expecting my now 13 year old daughter. This is an absolutely spellbinding movie. I came looking for it as my sister who is expecting her 1st baby has never seen it. I am going to be buying it myself so that I can show it to my daughter. Some have complained that it doesn't show enough of the birth process. View it for what it IS: an incredible feat of engineering & direction in viewing God's ultimate engineering & direction. Phenomenal photography!
Rating:
Summary: slightly misleading
Review: I first saw this one almost twenty years ago. It had a profound effect on me then, and it still moves me now. This is the documentary that shows you the birds and the bees. It was done before the days of computerized special effects, and was a landmark for it's day. Even today, it holds up quite well. The presentation does make its stand on evolution vs. creation early by stating that life began in the sea billions of years ago with one-celled organisms that formed there. It partially does this to show how these cells are basically the same as those in our own body. So whether or not this is your belief, let it go, and proceed with the rest, which beautifully illustrates how babies are made. We first get how each camp's plumbing is layed out, before any contact is made. We learn how, even with the success of the population's reproduction rate, things do have to fall into place for everything to work. When we come to the actual mating part, it is tastefully done, although it does seem to indicate that all humans are wonderful and loving when it comes to sex. Once man and woman are joined, the filming is terrific in showing that a lot of work still needs to be done to get junior going. If I were a little guy with a tail realizing I had to swim the equivalent of sixty miles with a few million of my little buddies with the best scenario being only one of us will succeed might make me rethink the process, but indeed the guys do make the journey. We see how the connection is made, and then how the cell-dividing process starts. Once again, the camerawork is excellent, and we see different fetal stages which lead all the way to junior's entering of the big, bad world. This is terrific stuff. The only drawback to this is that I didn't find it a great tool for sex education. It might work for someone over ten, but our kids, ranging from 4-9, just drifted away to do other things when we put it on. But for adults, something so simple, yet so powerful provides a great occasional reminder of where those birds, bees, rabbits, and storks get their employment papers.
Rating:
Summary: Still holds up after the years
Review: I first saw this one almost twenty years ago. It had a profound effect on me then, and it still moves me now. This is the documentary that shows you the birds and the bees. It was done before the days of computerized special effects, and was a landmark for it's day. Even today, it holds up quite well. The presentation does make its stand on evolution vs. creation early by stating that life began in the sea billions of years ago with one-celled organisms that formed there. It partially does this to show how these cells are basically the same as those in our own body. So whether or not this is your belief, let it go, and proceed with the rest, which beautifully illustrates how babies are made. We first get how each camp's plumbing is layed out, before any contact is made. We learn how, even with the success of the population's reproduction rate, things do have to fall into place for everything to work. When we come to the actual mating part, it is tastefully done, although it does seem to indicate that all humans are wonderful and loving when it comes to sex. Once man and woman are joined, the filming is terrific in showing that a lot of work still needs to be done to get junior going. If I were a little guy with a tail realizing I had to swim the equivalent of sixty miles with a few million of my little buddies with the best scenario being only one of us will succeed might make me rethink the process, but indeed the guys do make the journey. We see how the connection is made, and then how the cell-dividing process starts. Once again, the camerawork is excellent, and we see different fetal stages which lead all the way to junior's entering of the big, bad world. This is terrific stuff. The only drawback to this is that I didn't find it a great tool for sex education. It might work for someone over ten, but our kids, ranging from 4-9, just drifted away to do other things when we put it on. But for adults, something so simple, yet so powerful provides a great occasional reminder of where those birds, bees, rabbits, and storks get their employment papers.
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